Please click on an award from the list above to go straight to the criteria for it.

Definitions of Eligibility

1. All projects and music related to the person being nominated must have been commercially available to download and/or purchase as a physical or digital product between 31st July 2011 and 1st August 2012. For the avoidance of doubt "commercially available" means paid for and not free or given away as a gift or cover mount.

2. Apart from the Best International Producer, International Recording Engineer and the Joe Meek Award, nominees must be UK passport holders. In the case of an award for a production team, i.e. producer, recording engineer and mix engineer, 2 out of 3 must be UK passport holders. If the same engineer recorded and mixed the project, then either the producer or the engineer must be a UK passport holder. In the case that one person was producer, engineer and mixer, then he/she must be a UK passport holder. Those with dual nationalities will only be eligible for the UK categories.

3. Where applicable, for the individual being nominated in categories except Best International Producer and Best International Engineer, at least 51% of the studio time must have been spent in the UK.

4. Greatest Hits compilations will not be considered unless at least 50% of the tracks are new material.

Criteria

UK Producer of the Year
For a producer who is a UK passport holder for qualifying productions as defined above.

This person has overall creative and technical control of the entire recording project and the individual recording sessions that are a part of that project. He or she is present in the recording studio or at the location recording, and works directly with the artist and engineer. The producer makes creative and aesthetic decisions that realise both the artist's and label's goals in the creation of the musical content. Other duties include but are not limited to: keeping budgets and schedules, adhering to deadlines, hiring musicians, singers, studios and engineers.

The following credits are eligible: Producer, Co-Producer, Vocal Production

The following credits are not eligible for Producer categories: Executive Producer, Assistant Producer, Associate Producer, Additional Production Strings (or any other instrument)

International Producer of the Year
For a producer who is a non-UK passport holder for qualifying productions as defined above.

Criteria as per UK Producer of the Year

Breakthrough Producer of the Year
For a producer who is a UK passport holder for qualifying productions as defined above.

This person should have achieved significantly increased recognition during the current year for the criteria as defined above in UK Producer of the Year.

Recording Engineer of the Year
For an engineer who is a UK passport holder for qualifying productions as defined above. The engineer must have recorded all of the releases under consideration.

This person is present in the recording studio or at the location recording, and is responsible for the process of recording a project as well as technical issues and decisions. He or she operates (or oversees the operation of) the equipment during the recording process and makes creative and aesthetic choices in order to realise the sound and concepts the artist and producer envisage.

The following credits are eligible: Recording Engineer, Recorded By

The following credits are not eligible:
Digital Audio Workstation Engineer/Operator, Assistant Engineer, Tape Operator, Mix Engineer or Programmer.

Mastering Engineers are only eligible in the category of Best Mastering Engineer.

International Recording Engineer of the Year
For a non-UK based individual for qualifying productions as defined above. The engineer must have recorded or mixed all of the releases under consideration.

This person is present in the recording studio or at the location recording, and is responsible for the process of recording or mixing a project as well as technical issues and decisions. He or she operates (or oversees the operation of) the equipment during the recording or mixing process and makes creative and aesthetic choices in order to realise the sound and concepts the artist and producer envisage.

The following credits are eligible:
Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, Recorded By, Mixed By

The following credits are not eligible:
Digital Audio Workstation Engineer/Operator, Assistant Engineer, Tape Operator, Programmer.

Breakthrough Engineer of the Year
For an engineer who is a UK passport holder for qualifying productions as defined above.

This person should have achieved significantly increased recognition during the current year and must have recorded and/or mixed all of the releases under consideration.

This person is present in the recording studio, at the location recording or mixing location and is responsible for the process of recording or mixing a project as well as technical issues and decisions. He or she operates (or oversees the operation of) the equipment during the recording or mixing process and makes creative and aesthetic choices in order to realise the sound and concepts the artist and producer envisage.

The following credits are eligible:
Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, Recorded By, Mixed By

The following credits are not eligible:
Digital Audio Workstation Engineer/Operator, Assistant Engineer, Tape Operator, Programmer.

Mix Engineer of the Year
For an engineer who is a UK passport holder for qualifying productions as defined above. The mixer must have mixed and not recorded all of the releases under consideration.

This person is responsible for taking previously recorded material and creating a mixdown of the original separate tracks to create a finished product (either stereo or multi-channel) that can then be mastered and distributed.

The following credits are eligible: Mixed By, Mixer, Mix Engineer

Mastering Engineer of the Year
For an engineer who is a UK passport holder for qualifying productions as defined above.

The mastering engineer must have been responsible for the processing and and preparation of production masters for commercial releases.

Re-mixer of the Year
For a UK passport holder for qualifying productions as defined above.

This person is responsible for taking previously recorded material and creating a completely new version of the track using what are generally understood to be "re-mixing" studio techniques.

The following credits are eligible: Re-mix Engineer, Re-mixer

UK Album of the Year
For qualifying productions commercially available as a physical product or as a digital product between the dates defined above.

A maximum of 3 trophies will be presented to the producer, engineer and mixer.

UK Single Song Release of the Year
For qualifying productions available for purchase as a physical product or as a download whose first date of release or availability falls between the dates defined above.

A maximum of 3 trophies will be presented to the producer, engineer and mixer.

Live Production of the Year
For qualifying productions available to view between the dates defined above.

The project must have been recorded in front of a live audience. The award is given to the production team.

Studio of the Year
For the best UK commercial studio which exists primarily as a rental facility for the recording and/or mixing of music.

The A&R Award
For a UK passport holder who is judged to have been essential in the creative process of production across a particular or various projects in the past year.

Nominations may include, but are not limited to, label executives, publishing executives and managers.

The Unsung Hero Award
For a UK passport holder who is judged to be deserving of praise for having made a difference to a particular or various projects in the past year.

This person will have assisted in in making the production process flow more easily and creatively. Nominations may include, but are not limited to, assistants, engineers, bookers, studio managers, managers and management assistants, technicians or anyone who operates behind the scenes in the production process.

MPG Inspiration Award

This award is in the gift of the Music Producers Guild Awards Committee and will be awarded to a person in production in recognition of an inspirational body of work over several years in UK music production.

MPG Innovation Award

This award is in the gift of the Music Producers Guild Awards Committee and will be awarded to a person in production whose work is seen to extend the boundaries of music production through innovative ideas and the creative use of technology.

Outstanding Contribution to UK Music

This award is in the gift of the Music Producers Guild Awards Committee and is awarded to a person who had made an outstanding contribution to the UK music industry.