British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is the British recorded music industry's Trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards, the Classic BRIT Awards, National Album Day, is home to the Mercury Prize, and co-owns the Official Charts Company with the Entertainment Retailers Association, and awards UK music sales through the BRIT Certified Awards. Structure Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all three "major" record companies in the UK (Warner Music UK, Sony Music UK, & Universal Music UK), and over 450 independent record labels and small to medium-sized music businesses. The BPI council is the management and policy forum of the BPI. It is chaired by the chair of BPI, and includes the chief executive, chief operating officer (COO) and the general counsel. In addition it includes 12 representatives from the recorded music sector, six from major labels, two each from the three major companies, and six from the independent sector, which are selected by voting of all BPI independent label members. As of 2021, the council members were: YolanDa Brown (chair, from July 2022), Geoff Taylor (chief executive), M.J. Olaore (COO), Kiaron Whitehead (general counsel) Major labels: Jason Iley and Jessica Carsen (Sony), David Joseph and Selina Webb (Universal), Tony Harlow and Jo Bartlett (Warner) Independent labels: Alice Dyson (One Media IP), Fred Jude (Snapper Music), Henry Semmence (Absolute Label Services), Nick Hartley (PIAS Group), Pat Carr (Remote Control Agency), Stefania Passamonte (Master Chord Records) History It has represented the interests of British record companies since being formally incorporated in 1973 when the principal aim was to promote British music and fight copyright infringement. In 2007, the association's legal name was changed from "British Phonographic Industry Limited (The)" to "BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) Limited". In September 2008, the BPI became one of the founding members of UK Music, an umbrella organisation representing the interests of all parts of the industry. In July 2022, YolanDa Brown was appointed chair of BPI, replacing Ged Doherty who served in that role the previous seven years. Awards It founded the annual Brit Awards for the British music industry in 1977, and, later, The Classic BRIT Awards. The organising company, BRIT Awards Limited, is a fully owned subsidiary of the BPI. Proceeds from both shows go to the BRIT Trust, the charitable arm of the BPI that has donated over £26m to charitable causes nationwide since its foundation in 1989. In September 2013,