YolanDa Brown to be awarded Freedom of the City for her commitment to Newcastle

Musician YolanDa Brown OBE DL has had her nomination for the Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne approved by City Council, recognising her commitment to Newcastle and the North East, her distinguished national leadership in music and her eminent services to younger people, females and communities in Newcastle and beyond.

Musician YolanDa Brown OBE DL has had her nomination for the Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne approved by City Council, recognising her commitment to Newcastle and the North East, her distinguished national leadership in music and her eminent services to younger people, females and communities in Newcastle and beyond.

YolanDa is an internationally acclaimed, double MOBO Award winning musician and a tireless advocate for music education recognised in the 2023 New Year Honours with an OBE for services to music, music education and broadcasting.

Beyond her achievements on stage, YolanDa serves as Chair of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), the representative voice of the UK’s record labels, the organisation behind the BRIT Awards and the Mercury Prize and as a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London. She has also given distinguished service across the sector, including to Youth Music, Arts Council England’s National Council, PRS Foundation, London Philharmonic Orchestra’s advisory board and as Chancellor of the University of Kent.

A champion for the importance of music education, in 2021 YolanDa was invited by the Department of Education to sit on the advisory panel of the National Plan for Music Education, and in November 2022 she was awarded the  Music Week – Women in Music ‘Music Champion Award’.

YolanDa is also a passionate advocate of the city of Newcastle and spends much of her time here exploring partnerships with charitable organisations and helping to promote music education to young people.  Last week, she was announced as a Patron of the Newcastle United Foundation, a charity that uses the power of football to connect, motivate, and inspire people across our region. She played a key role in bringing the 2025 Mercury Prize to the city, the first time it had ever taken place outside London. The event was critically acclaimed, drew audiences from across the globe and an economic and social impact for the city and region of over £1.4m. YolanDa is also an avid supporter of Newcastle United.

YolanDa embodies inclusivity and reflects the values held in Newcastle. During the pandemic, she rolled out free online music lesson plans with Sony Music and Twinkl, resources used by an estimated 30,000 primary pupils and she co‑founded the Drake YolanDa Award to support emerging musicians aged 16–30.

YolanDa’s nomination was proposed by Leader of the Council, Councillor Karen Kilgour and seconded by Councillor Alex Hay. Cllr Kilgour said: “YolanDa’s contribution to Newcastle has been real, recent and transformative. In 2025, through her leadership and partnership building, our city hosted the first‑ever Mercury Prize outside London.

“Working with Generator, she helped create the ‘Mini Mercury Choir’, giving 68 children from across the North East a unique platform to learn, perform and be inspired.

“By honouring YolanDa Brown with the freedom of our city recognises her outstanding service to the arts and young people, and celebrates her commitment to Newcastle and the North East. It also underscores our ambition as a Music City—supporting inclusive growth, inspiring our young people and championing female entrepreneurship”.

YolanDa Brown OBE DL said: “Newcastle is one big family, a city that oozes love. Every time I arrive it feels like a warm hug. I love the people, the humour, the energy of the city and I absolutely love the football club.

“To be awarded the Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne is deeply meaningful. Newcastle is a city that believes in community, champions talent and shows up for its people no matter what age or background. I have seen first-hand what can happen when partners across music, education, business, culture, government and sport come together with shared ambition.

“This honour strengthens my commitment to keep building opportunity, amplifying local voices and helping the next generation believe their future can be extraordinary.  I can’t wait to continue working closely with everyone in Newcastle and bring more exciting new opportunities to this wonderful city”.

The Honorary Freeman status is the highest honour the council can bestow on an eminent individual or group, and YolanDa will be joining other honorary freeman, details of who are carved into the walls of the banqueting hall in the Civic Centre. A date for the ceremony to confer Freedom of the City will be confirmed in the coming months.