Musicians star in gong show: performers outshine industry executives in New Year's Honours List.(Digest)

Veteran artists Eric Clapton and Ray Davies led the way in a bumper New Year's Honours List for musicians and performers, but which saw little representation by music industry executives.

The pair were joined in the list by former Radio Authority CEO Tony Stoller, now external relations director of new broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, who was also awarded a CBE. Stoller headed the Radio Authority from June 1995 until its replacement by dream at the end of last year.

Patricia Hodgson CBE, former head of the Independent Television Commission, becomes a Dame of the British Empire for her services to broadcasting, while Charles Beare, chairman of instrument manufacturer J&A Beare, received an OBE for his services to the music industry, as did Hywel Davies, recently chairman of the Llangollen International Music Eistedfodd, for services to music and international relations.

However, it was the creative community, particularly composers and singers, who took the lion's share of this year's music-related awards. In addition to the CBEs awarded to Davies and Clapton, film/TV music composer Debbie Wiseman--soundtrack composer of films such as Tom & Viv, Freeze Frame and Wilde--received an MBE for her services to the film industry.