SESAC Performing Rights and Sound City have named Ruby Duff and Lo Lauren as the first-ever recipients of two awards created to honour the memory and legacy of John Sweeney, the widely respected music executive and tireless champion of songwriters and emerging artists, who passed away in June 2025.
Both awards were presented last weekend as part of Sound City 2026 - the nineteenth edition of Liverpool’s city-wide showcase festival, dedicated to discovering and championing new and emerging music. This year’s festival was also the opening weekend of the first ever Liverpool Music Month, the city-wide celebration of Liverpool’s extraordinary music culture.
The occasion also marked the launch of the John Sweeney Stage, a new fixture in Sound City’s programme, named in his honour.
Ruby Duff was named the inaugural recipient of the new annual John Sweeney Impact Award, while Lo Lauren received the John Sweeney Legacy Prize, a one-time bursary honouring artists with a direct connection to John’s work at Sound City. Both awards were decided by a distinguished panel of judges drawn from across the music industry.
Duff says: “Being the first recipient of the John Sweeney Impact Award feels incredibly special. It’s both surreal and deeply personal, having known him as someone who so genuinely championed emerging artists. This award will allow me to elevate my live performances, spending some on better equipment and touring resources, while also giving me the means to build a home recording setup. Ultimately, it creates a path toward producing more work consistently and building a sustainable career as an artist and songwriter”.
Lauren adds: “John Sweeney was one of the first to book me for a show and so it really is such an honour to receive this award. In music it can often feel like nobody’s listening, so knowing I have champions in my corner really means a lot. I’m about to release my second EP and I’m very excited to put this towards bringing that project to life”.
Each award carries a bursary of £5000, given unconditionally with no restrictions on how it is spent - an approach that is rare in the music industry, where funding typically comes with conditions and reporting requirements, and one that directly reflects John Sweeney’s own belief in trusting artists to make the right decisions for their careers.
The Impact Award was presented on stage by John’s daughter, May Sweeney, and John’s long time collaborator and successor in his SESAC role, Chris Sheehan, and will continue to be presented annually at Sound City, including at the festival’s landmark 20th anniversary edition in 2027.
Commenting on the new awards, Sam Kling, Chief Creative Officer of SESAC, says: “John’s impact on our industry is enduring. Over the course of a decades-long career, he helped shape the UK music community with vision, integrity, and a deep commitment to creators, earning the respect and admiration of peers worldwide. He was a tireless champion of songwriters and artists at every stage of their journey. It is especially meaningful to see his legacy continue through the John Sweeney Stage at Sound City - a platform he believed in and supported so passionately”.
Becky Ayres, Managing Director of Sound City, adds, “Sound City has always been about one thing: finding and championing the artists that matter. John Sweeney understood that instinctively, and for years he was one of the people who made our partnership with SESAC feel like so much more than a business relationship. The passion and care John put into programming the SESAC stage was remarkable. Losing him has been a real blow to everyone who knew him and worked with him and we’re honoured to help ensure his name and legacy live on as part of Sound City. Ruby and Lo are both artists that John loved, and we can’t wait to see what they do next”.
And Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO City Of Music, Liverpool says: “John Sweeney was exactly the kind of person Liverpool Music Month exists to celebrate - someone who gave his all to finding and championing great songwriters, and who instinctively understood the musical culture of Liverpool and the role it plays for nurturing and developing new talent. Sound City has been a key part of Liverpool’s music story for nineteen years because it shares that same belief. Honouring John’s legacy here, at the start of Liverpool Music Month, feels entirely right”.
