Last night, Tommas Arnby, manager of Grammy Award-winning artist YUNGBLUD was recognised as the International Music Manager of the Year at the 2026 MUSEXPO & A&R Worldwide Awards Gala.
The prestigious event, held annually in Burbank, California, the Media Capital of the World, celebrates the visionaries bridging the gap between music, technology, and global artistry. Arnby was honoured for his artist-first approach and his instrumental role in navigating YUNGBLUD’s global rise.
Speaking recently about his management journey and view of the UK music industry, Tommas Arnby said, “Everything that works in the music industry is always one degree of separation from failure. The UK music industry should be more about believing the impossible is possible. Great artists need to be empowered to evolve over time rather than being judged by the commercial results immediately.”
Arnby is the founder of Locomotion (Music, Entertainment, and Recordings) and Co-Founder & CEO of Special Projects. His career began as a musician and member of the DreamWorks-signed band Subcircus, providing him with a creator-centric perspective.
Following a stint in A&R at Sony Music where he worked with legends like David Bowie and developed acclaimed artists such as Beth Hart, Arnby transitioned into management. Today, he strives to blend creative intuition with global business strategy to drive cultural change.
Arnby’s win comes at a milestone moment for YUNGBLUD, with Bludfest expanding into Europe this year and the artist set to embark on 11 sold-out UK arena shows this April.
YUNGBLUD recently made history as the first British artist to earn three Grammy nominations in the Rock category in a single year, and took home the award for Best Rock Performance. 2025 saw the 28-year-old score two UK Number 1 albums in a single year, break into the Billboard Top 10, and reach Number 1 on the Billboard Rock & Alternative chart.
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