Martin Talbot

Chief Executive - Official Charts Company

As chief executive of the Official Charts Company, Martin Talbot oversees one of the global entertainment industry’s premium charts and data businesses. In more than 15 years steering the company’s brand, operations and commercial strategies, he has overseen development of the company’s consumer-facing operations, helping build OfficialCharts.com into a 2.3m visits-a-month consumer website and launching the UK’s now-iconic Official Number 1 Award (currently sitting on the shelves of Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Foo Fighters, both Gallagher brothers and over 300 more artists).

In the same period, he has also overseen the company’s expansion to become a genuine international business (growing from UK-only charts and data organisation into France and Ireland) and helmed the evolution of the Official Charts to integrate audio and video streams in a period of huge change for the entertainment sector. In 2026, his company will also launch a state-of-the-art new data system and platform for the entertainment sector.

Talbot can draw on more than 30 years of experience in the music industry, having previously edited Music Week, launched editing European sister title Fono and writing for the NME. His musical heroes range from Soulwax, Orbital, Stevie Wonder, LCD Soundsystem, Donny Hathaway and Prince, to Joni Mitchell, Crosby Stills & Nash, Ben Folds, Jenny Lewis, Laura Marling, Midlake, Snapped Ankles and Low.