Internationally renowned US vocalist Melody Gardot will be honoured with the Gold Award at this year’s Jazz FM Awards with PPL and PRS for Music. Gardot will collect the award at the ceremony at KOKO in London – this year hosted by musician, actor and comedian Ben Bailey Smith (AKA Doc Brown) – on Thursday April 24th 2025.

The Gold Award is one of the event’s highest honours, celebrating extraordinary and sustained contributions to the world of music. It recognises artists who have demonstrated unparalleled artistic excellence, a deep passion for composition, improvisation and performance, and an enduring impact on the global music landscape. The accolade has previously been awarded to some of the most influential figures in music, including Charlie Watts, Courtney Pine, Ramsey Lewis, Jacob Collier and Pat Metheny.

With a career spanning nearly two decades, Gardot has captivated audiences worldwide with a distinctive blend of jazz, blues, and cinematic storytelling. Hailed by The Guardian as “a remarkable artist”, she has released a string of acclaimed albums which have established her as one of the most compelling and sophisticated jazz musicians of her generation.

Melody Gardot: ‘It is a tremendous privilege to be recognized by Jazz FM, an institution that has long supported and celebrated the artistry of jazz. The genre has always been about innovation, connection, and emotion, and I am truly grateful to be part of this extraordinary tradition.’

Nick Pitts, Content Director of Jazz FM and Magic Classical: ‘Melody Gardot is a true artist in every sense of the word. Her music transcends borders and genres and connects with audiences across the globe. We are thrilled to present her with the Gold Award in recognition of her remarkable contribution to jazz and her unwavering dedication to the craft.’

The 2025 Jazz FM Awards will celebrate a dynamic mix of pioneering artists and rising stars nominated across multiple categories including Ezra Collective, Michael Kiwanuka, Nubya Garcia, Samara Joy, corto.alto, Emma Rawicz and Meshell Ndegeocello. The ceremony will be hosted by musician, actor and comedian Ben Bailey Smith (AKA Doc Brown) who has also recently been confirmed to present a second Jazz FM series of his “Vinyl Hour”, which celebrates his thousand-strong LP collection of jazz and soul.

Jazz FM Awards 2025 with PPL and PRS for Music – Nominees List

UK Jazz Act of the Year – PUBLIC VOTE

Sponsored by: Rathbones

corto.alto Ezra Collective Nubya Garcia

Album of the Year – PUBLIC VOTE

Alice Zawadzki, Fred Thomas, Misha Mullov-Abbado – Za Górami Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching Meshell Ndegeocello – No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin Nubya Garcia – Odyssey

Samara Joy – Portrait Shabaka – Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace

Breakthrough Act of the Year

Sponsored by: Arts Council England

Mama Terra Ni Maxine Sultan Stevenson

International Jazz Act of the Year

Sponsored by: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

Lakecia Benjamin Meshell Ndegeocello Samara Joy

Vocalist of the Year

Sponsored by: Sounds from Spain by ICEX

Alice Zawadzki

Bryony Jarman-Pinto

Lucy-Anne Daniels

Instrumentalist of the Year

corto.alto

Emma Rawicz

Mark Kavuma

Soul Act of the Year

Sponsored by: Oanda

Allysha Joy Jalen Ngonda

Michael Kiwanuka

Blues Act of the Year

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

Shemekia Copeland Toby Lee

The Innovation Award

Sponsored by: Mishcon de Reya

corto.alto Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band

Orii

The Collaboration Award – NEW FOR 2025 Queer Jazz

Take Five by Serious

Women in Jazz