Gilles Peterson

Artist, Soundscapes

Starting his career installing illicit transmitters and hosting shows for pirate radio station Radio Invicta, Gilles Peterson is a broadcaster, DJ and record collector who’s played a pivotal role in supporting forward-thinking alternative and lesser known music in the UK. Now hosting a slot on BBC Radio 6 Music, he also helms independent record label Brownswood Recordings, and is the founder of online radio station Worldwide FM.

Throughout his career, Peterson has promoted the new frontiers of jazz, hip-hop, and electronic music. With his involvement in Soundscapes, Gilles is steering the London episode of the series. Leading both the attached artists and audience through the underground music scenes in London. Gilles has been recognised for his work with an MBE in 2004, an AIM Award for Indie Champion 2013, the Mixmag Award for Outstanding Contribution To Dance Music in 2013, the PRS for Music Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio in 2014, and The A&R Award from The Music Producers Guild in 2019. He has been behind several game-changing record labels – he founded Acid Jazz in the late eighties, and later he started Talkin’ Loud, whose roster included Incognito, Galliano, Young Disciples, Courtney Pine, MJ Cole and more.