Baltic Studios, an independent recording studio in East London, has been named on the shortlist for the MPG Awards 2026 in the Small Commercial Studio category. The nomination, voted on by members of the Music Producers Guild, places Baltic alongside Snap! Studios and ARC Abbey Recording Studios as one of the UK’s most respected independent recording facilities. The ceremony takes’ place on 16 April 2026 at The Troxy in London, and it marks’ a significant moment for Baltic Studios.
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What Are the MPG Awards?
The MPG Awards, now in their 18th year, are run by the Music Producers Guild and celebrate the best of British production talent working behind the scenes. Unlike fan-voted ceremonies, the MPG Awards shortlist is decided by industry professionals: the producers, engineers, and mixers who actually work in studios day to day. That peer-recognition model is what gives the awards their weight. Categories span Producer of the Year, Breakthrough Engineer, Album of the Year, and the studio categories that recognise the physical spaces where records are made.
This year’s ceremony is supported by Dolby, Mix With The Masters, PPL, PRS for Music, Neve, and Neumann, among others. Dolby’s involvement as a headline sponsor reflects the growing importance of immersive audio formats within professional music production, something Baltic has invested in directly through its Dolby Atmos-equipped Studio 3.
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What the Nomination Means for Baltic Studios
Being shortlisted in the Small Commercial Studio category puts studios like Baltic in a select group. The award is judged by a dedicated panel of professional producers and recording engineers who may visit each shortlisted facility in person, assess the space, and vote independently. The nomination signals that Baltic’s rooms, equipment, and engineering team are operating at a level recognised by the people who matter most: the professionals who book studio time.
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Why a Recording Studio in East London Matters to the Music Community…
East London has long been home to a distinctive creative ecosystem. From experimental electronic production to classical music, from grime to electronic, the area has shaped some of the UK’s most important musical movements. But the infrastructure that supports that creativity, the studios, the engineers, the technical investment, doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.
Recording studios have long been a gathering point for musicians, producers and engineers – physical spaces where ideas are exchanged in real time, where tacit knowledge is passed between collaborators, and where music is shaped through shared, embodied experience. Beyond their technical function, studios act as cultural meeting grounds, fostering community, dialogue and creative cross-pollination.
Baltic’s work with its Access to Music program, its partnership with NTS Radio, and its involvement with Power Up – PRS for Music Foundation, nonclassical and ESEA Music all contribute to this picture. Baltic’s studios aren’t just a room for hire. It’s embedded in the local music community, and that’s exactly what the MPG’s studio award is designed to recognise.
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What Makes Baltic Stand Out
Baltic offers three distinct studio spaces, each designed for different stages of the recording and production process. Studio 1 is built around a custom SSL G Series console, with an extensive collection of outboard gear and microphones across a live room, control room, and three isolation booths. Studio 2 is a large, open-plan space with high ceilings and natural daylight, centred on an EMT A100 console. It functions as an all-in-one environment suited to bigger tracking sessions, orchestral recording, writing camps, and filming. Studio 3, developed in partnership with Digby Smith, is equipped with a 7.1.4 ATC Atmos system for Dolby Atmos spatial audio production, making it one of a small number of independent facilities in London where artists can record, mix, and master in immersive formats.
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Looking Ahead to 16 April
The MPG Awards 2026 ceremony will bring together some of the most accomplished names in UK music production. This year’s shortlist includes nominees like Catherine Marks and James Ford for Producer of the Year, Olivia Dean, Biffy Clyro and Sam Fender in the Album of the Year category, and Disclosure for Self-Producing Artist. Closer to home, Baltic’s own in-house engineer Evie Clark-Yospa has been shortlisted for Breakthrough Engineer of the Year. It’s a strong field across every category, and Baltic is proud to be part of it.
Interested in recording at Baltic Studios? Get in touch to book a session or discuss your project.