Masayoshi Sukita, a Japanese photographer born in 1938, is being recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award at Abbey Road's annual Music Photography Awards. Beginning his career in Tokyo during the 1960s, Sukita became prominent through his documentation of major rock and pop figures, most notably establishing a decades-long working relationship with David Bowie that began in 1972 and yielded the iconic cover photograph for Bowie's 1977 album Heroes. His portfolio extends across influential musicians including Jimi Hendrix, Marc Bolan, Iggy Pop, Joe Strummer, and Japanese acts like Yellow Magic Orchestra.

The Abbey Road Music Photography Awards, established in 2022 with David Bailey as the inaugural recipient, continue to expand their reach and influence within the industry. This year's competition attracted submissions from photographers across 40 countries, representing a 25 percent increase from the previous year's entries. The awards form part of a broader initiative including exhibitions, educational workshops, and an international festival that took place in New York earlier this year. The 2026 ceremony will occur on September 24 in London, with judging oversight from prominent industry figures including photographer Rankin and musicians Nile Rodgers and Hikaru Utada.