UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP UK CELEBRATES BRITISH TALENT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC

OLIVIA DEAN, FLO, SEKOU & HOLLY HUMBERSTONE PERFORM AT EXCLUSIVE GLOBE x ABBEY ROAD EVENT IN LOS ANGELES – WITH A SURPRISE APPEARANCE FROM ELTON JOHN

 SAM FENDER WINS 2025 MERCURY PRIZE IN NEWCASTLE

L-R: FLO, Olivia Dean, Sekou, Holly Humberstone

 

LOS ANGELES, October 17, 2025 – Universal Music Group UK, the UK’s leading music company, last night celebrated British talent on the global stage with two major international moments: in the US, an exclusive showcase took place in Los Angeles with performances from Olivia Dean, FLO, Holly Humberstone and Sekou, as well as a surprise appearance from Elton John.

Sam Fender received a rapturous response when it was announced that he’d won the coveted Mercury Prize for his latest album People Watching. It followed a sensational performance of the title song the in front of a home crowd in Newcastle.

Meanwhile in LA at Candela La Brea – dubbed the ‘Abbey Road Tavern’ for this one-off event – there were intimate performances from four of the UK’s hottest new stars: Olivia Dean, FLO, Holly Humberstone and Sekou. There was also a special appearance and Q&A with British music iconic Elton John.

The event was held in partnership Abbey Road Studios, the world’s most famous recording studios, and Globe – the award-winning creative and partnerships division of UMG UK.

Dickon Stainer, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK, said: “Today was a glimpse into the extraordinary talent being signed by our UK labels. These artists mark a new era in the special bond between British talent and the creative and commercial powerhouse which is the US. And deepest thanks to the legendary Elton John for his words this evening.”

The LA event began with a performance from FLO – the highest charting British R&B girl group in the last 23 years, now with over a billion career streams. Fresh off the back of their latest tour, the trio performed ‘Losing You’ and ‘Access All Areas’. They were followed by Sekou, who recently opened for FLO and Reneé Rapp on their European tours. He sang his powerful ballad ‘Better Man’ as well as his recent single ‘Catching Bodies’. Holly Humberstone then stepped into the spotlight with a taster of her new music.

A surprise interlude followed in which Elton John was warmly welcomed to the stage. A champion of young British artists, Elton has just marked the 10th anniversary of his Rocket Hour radio show. Elton spoke about his passion for UK talent and today’s vibrant music scene.

Closing the show was Olivia Dean, riding high off the back of her latest album The Art of Loving – which reached No.1 in five countries and is currently No.7 in the US – and hit single ‘Man I Need’, which is the highest charting song from a UK act on Spotify’s Global charts this year. In the UK, Olivia’s album garnered the biggest opening week for a British female artist since Adele in 2021. Olivia is about to tour the US supporting Sabrina Carpenter, including five shows at Madison Square Gardens.

Olivia Dean’s sensational vocals proved a fitting conclusion to the showcase, which celebrated the power of British music to connect with fans across generations and around the world.

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About Universal Music Group

At Universal Music Group, we exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalogue of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. For more information on Universal Music Group visit www.universalmusic.com.

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