Apple Music just handed London's Olivia Dean a pretty shiny prize: she's the streamer's 2026 Artist of the Year, and the first UK artist to receive the honor!
Her late-2025 album, The Art of Loving, has been a year-long takeover. Her hit "Man I Need" has lived on Apple Music's Daily Top 100 every single day since it first appeared on August 29, 2025. Official Charts says it's the UK's biggest song of 2026 so far, with more than 173 million combined UK streams by the end of September. And her collaboration with Sam Fender, "Rein Me In," became the UK's longest-running Official Singles Chart No. 1 of all time, with 23 non-consecutive weeks at the top, beating a record Frankie Laine's "I Believe" had held since 1953. That duet was also the UK's Official Song of the Summer, with "Man I Need" at No. 2.
The trophy case is getting crowded, too. Olivia won a GRAMMY for Best New Artist and four BRIT Awards, including Artist of the Year, and sold out a global tour. In fall 2025, she opened for Sabrina Carpenter at Madison Square Garden. Less than a year later, she was back for her own four-night residency, then packed London's The O2 Arena for six sold-out nights.
"I love making music," Olivia said. "It's the best thing in the world. I think being Apple's Artist of the Year feels really amazing. To be recognized as an artist that's made an impact is really cool."
Apple Music co-head Rachel Newman put it this way: "What sets Olivia apart is that she speaks from the heart, every time. Her songs make you want to call a friend, dance in your kitchen, and tell someone you love them."
We'll take that kind of prescription any day. Keep it right here for more Dees Daily.