Robbie Williams announced as Album Icon for National Album Day

Robbie Williams has been announced as Album Icon, the chief ambassadorial role for National Album Day on October 17. He joins PinkPantheress, Max Richter, and Melanie C, who were previously announced as Album Champions.

National Album Day is a UK event celebrating the music format. Launched in 2018, the event includes new releases and reissues, with the spotlighted artists and albums bearing a theme each year, such as 'Nineties', 'Women in Music', or 'Debut Albums'. This year's theme is 'Icons'.

Irish artists are among the icons selected, with exclusive limited editions of Fionn Regan's The End of History and Thin Lizzy's Nightlife to be released.

Robbie Williams holds the record for most BRIT wins, with 18 BRIT Awards. He has also won five Ivor Novellos and had 16 number 1 albums. Six of these are among the Top 100 best-selling albums in UK history. He is also a philanthropist, as a UNICEF ambassador, Official FIFA Music Ambassador, and co-founder of the charity Soccer Aid.

"Ask any artist, albums still matter", Williams said of his role as Album Icon. "That's why I’m happy to be part of this year's National Album Day celebrating the art of the album, and just how important they are... AND speaking of albums - they're re-issuing one of mine, you might know it... Sing When You're Winning."

His 2000 album will be reissued as a collectible limited-issue vinyl for the occasion.

National Album Day is organised by the BPI, the UK association of record companies and independent labels which funds the BRIT Awards, together with the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), who also organise Record Store Day. The event is supported by BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, among others.

The reissue of Sing When You're Winning, a 2LP red and blue vinyl set, is available for pre-order here.