The Anchoress, Biig Piig and Rina Sawayama Elected to FAC Board

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), the UK-based non-profit trade body that advocates for the rights and interests of music artists, has announced the election of Catherine Anne Davies (AKA The Anchoress), Jess Smyth (AKA Biig Piig) and Rina Sawayama as Board Directors.

The appointees:

• In addition to her project The Anchoress, Davies has worked as a producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, collaborating with Manic Street Preachers, Simple Minds and more.

• Smyth has released a number of tracks, EPs, mixtapes, and her debut album 11:11 as Biig Piig.

• BRIT Award-nominee Sawayama’s Hold That Girl LP reached Number 3 in the UK charts.

• The trio replace fellow artists Imogen Heap, Katie Melua and Roxanne de Bastion, who reached their maximum term limits.

Advocacy:

• Recent initiatives by the FAC include the UK Artist Touring Fund, which will be operational in Q1 2026 with the goal of helping cover shortfalls in touring budgets.

• The Step Up Fund, the FAC’s annual grants program for independent artists which is backed by Amazon Music, is currently in its fourth year.

What they said:

• David Martin, Chief Executive, Featured Artists Coalition: “This feels like a real passing of the baton, and I am delighted to welcome three renowned, innovative and respected artists to the FAC board. Catherine, Jess and Rina operate across very different genres of music, but all have shown a real bravery to stand up for the rights of artists and campaign for a more equitable industry. I can’t wait to start working with them.”