COLDPLAY TO WIN THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL BEST BRITISH ACT AWARD AT O2 SILVER CLEF AWARDS
14 May, 2013
Nordoff Robbins have today announced that the incredibly successful and internationally acclaimed band, Coldplay, are to receive the Royal Albert Hall Best British Act Award at this year's Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards.
The star-studded event, in aid of music charity Nordoff Robbins, a favourite charity of the music industry, will take place on Friday 28 June 2013 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
The band, who formed in 1997, grabbed the world's attention with their single, 'Yellow', in 2000. Since then they have sold out stadiums all over the world and performed at some of the most important events of a generation including Live8 and the 2012 Paralympics. With 5 consecutive no. 1 albums, over 60 million album sales and multiple awards including 8 Brit Awards – winning Best British Group three times - and 7 Grammy Awards from 25 nominations, the band have remained one of the biggest acts in the world for over a decade.
Chris Martin of Coldplay says: 'It means a huge amount to us to be named Best British Act by Nordoff Robbins at the 2013 O2 Silver Clef Awards. Nordoff Robbins is an organisation that lies very close to our hearts. They provide life-changing music therapy for thousands of people each year and we're humbled to collect this award in their honour.'
David Munns, Nordoff Robbins Chairman, said: 'Coldplay are one of the British music industry's great successes. With over 60 million album sales and five consecutive no.1 albums, I can think of no band better placed to win the Royal Albert Hall Best British Act Award. They have dominated the British music scene for a decade and their music has influenced a generation.
Since the Silver Clef Awards began 38 years ago, the event has raised over £8 million for Nordoff Robbins, allowing us to transform the lives of many thousands of disadvantaged and vulnerable people with music therapy. But we still have a long way to go to ensure we can deliver our music services to all those who need them.
This year, we hope to raise £500,000 from the Awards to fund 20,000 life-transforming music therapy sessions for children and adults across the UK.'
Overall 10 awards will be presented. Those already announced include Labrinth, who will be awarded the American Express Innovation Award and Alison Balsom who will win the PPL Classical Award.
Shadi Halliwell, Head of Brand, O2 said: 'We've worked with Nordoff Robbins for over 10 years and we're as enthusiastic about our partnership now as we were on that very first day. We believe that music can make a difference and so we are proud to be associated with such invaluable work. The commitment and energy that Nordoff Robbins put into improving the lives of others is inspirational and we're delighted to support an event that helps to celebrate that.'
Jasper Hope, Chief Operating Officer, Royal Albert Hall says: 'I can think of a no more deserving act than Coldplay to receive this year's Royal Albert Hall Best British Act Award. We are delighted to present them with this well-deserved award and continue to be passionate supporters of Nordoff Robbins and the exceptional work they do to change lives for the better through music.'
Music charity Nordoff Robbins uses music to transform the lives of people of all ages all over the UK. Supported heavily by the music industry, where they are the charity of choice at the BRITs and the MITs, Nordoff Robbins provide over 50,000 music therapy sessions annually in a variety of settings across the UK including schools, day centres, hospitals and care homes, in addition to their main centre and units.
The annual Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards and Lunch, which began in 1976, is now the jewel in the charity's fundraising crown and a highlight of the UK music industry’s calendar. Sponsored by O2 for the past 10 years, and now in its 38th year, the event has raised over £8 million for Nordoff Robbins since its inception. Last year's winners included Kylie Minogue, Jessie J, Emeli Sandé, Michael Bublé, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Conor Maynard, Fatboy Slim and Laura Wright. Honourees in previous years include The Who (awarded the very first Silver Clef Award in 1976), Elton John, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Sting, Take That, Muse and many more.
The event is a highlight in the music industry calendar, recognised for its A-list attendees as well as the impressive auction prizes up for grabs at the lunch.
The Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards 2013 event is hoping to raise £500,000 to fund 20,000 life-transforming music therapy sessions for children and adults across the UK.
www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk
For further information please contact:
DawBell PR
020 3327 7159
Maria Barham
maria.barham@dawbell.com
Claire Walley
claire.walley@dawbell.com
Nordoff Robbins PR
Lucy Jackson
lucy.jackson@nordoff-robbins.org.uk
020 7428 0061 / 07872 970636
Liam McMahon
liam.mcmahon@nordoff-robbins.org.uk
070 7428 2758
About Nordoff Robbins
Nordoff Robbins is a music therapy charity, dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable children and adults. They deliver over 50,000 music therapy sessions every year to people with a range of challenges such as autism, dementia, depression and physical and learning disabilities.
Music therapy is a specialist use of music to help people in many different ways – for some it has physical benefits, for others emotional or social ones and helps many to communicate where they've struggled to do so previously.
They carry out their work in their own music therapy centre and units, in schools, day centres, hospitals and care homes. They also train music therapists to Masters level.
Nordoff Robbins receives no government funding. They derive a significant amount of their income from individual sponsors and events such as the Silver Clef Awards and the Music Industry Trust Awards, which enable them to continue to build awareness of their services and transform lives.
The Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards, held annually at the London Hilton on Park Lane, honours artists from across the music industry, whilst raising much-needed funds for Nordoff Robbins. The event, which has raised £8 million for Nordoff Robbins since its inception in 1976, is a chance for the charity to give something back to the music industry, from which they receive significant support throughout the year.
The event is attended by artists, celebrities and the great and the good of the music industry.
Last year's winners include Michael Bublé, Kylie Minogue, Emeli Sande and Andrew Lloyd Webber and winners in other years include Muse, The Who (who won the first Silver Clef Award in 1976), Elton John, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Sting, Take That and many more.
The Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards 2013 event is hoping to raise £500,000 to fund 20,000 life-transforming music therapy sessions for children and adults across the UK.
www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk
About O2
O2 is the commercial brand of Telefónica UK Limited and is a leading communications company with over 23 million customers – read more about O2 at www.o2.co.uk/news.
O2 runs 2G and 3G networks and was the first to trial 4G/LTE, reaching speeds of over 100Mpbs, as well as owning half of Tesco Mobile. O2 employs over 11,000 people in the UK, has 450 retail stores and sponsors The O2, O2 Academy venues and the England rugby team.
Telefónica UK Limited is part of Telefónica Europe plc which uses O2 as its commercial brand in the UK, Ireland, Slovakia, Germany and the Czech Republic and is a business division of Telefónica SA.
About Royal Albert Hall
Opened in 1871 as part of Prince Albert's vision for a centre to promote the understanding and appreciation of the Arts and Sciences, the Royal Albert Hall is one of the world's most famous stages.
Each year its breathtaking auditorium hosts more than 370 shows and the magical atmosphere combined with some of the world's greatest artists has long created legendary events. The very best live performances are now enjoyed by over 1.5 million people each year in the Hall and by millions more around the world through broadcasts, recordings and new media channels. A registered charity that operates without public funding, the Hall, in addition to hosting incredible shows in its main auditorium, is dedicated to inspiring creativity through more than 130 smaller events a year in the Elgar Room and other spaces and by running a thriving education department, as well as supporting a wide range of charities with their valuable work both on and off the stage.
www.royalalberthall.com