John Preston (music executive)

John O'Driscoll Preston (1950–2017) was a British music industry executive.

John Preston
Born
John O'Driscoll Preston

1950
Nottingham, England
Died2017
NationalityBritish
EducationShrewsbury School
Alma materTrinity College, Oxford
University of Liverpool
Occupationmusic industry executive
TitleChairman, BMG
Term1989-98
Spouse(s)Roz Preston

Early life

John O'Driscoll Preston was born in Nottingham, the son of Major Ian Preston, a Royal Artillery officer who later worked for an Edinburgh brewery, and an actress mother who insisted on using her unusual middle name, Michael Preston (née Cochrane).[1] He was educated at Shrewsbury School followed by Trinity College, Oxford, where he studied history, and University of Liverpool, where he earned a degree in Latin American history in 1972.[1]

Career

Preston started his career with Bruce's Record Shops in Scotland, then joined EMI in 1977.[2]

In 1984, he was managing director of Polydor Records UK.[2] Preston was the managing director of RCA Records UK from 1985 to 1989, and chairman of BMG from 1989 to 1998.[1]

Preston chaired the UK Labour Party's Rock the Vote campaign for Tony Blair.[1]

Preston worked with musicians including Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, M People and Take That.[2] Music industry people he gave early career opportunities to include Simon Cowell, Hugh Goldsmith, David Joseph, Jeremy Marsh and Korda Marshall, and he the first chairman of a record company to promote two women to the level of label managing director, Lisa Anderson at RCA, and Diana Graham at Arista.[2]

Personal life

Preston was married to Roz.[2]

gollark: Er, skynet access?
gollark: Sort of and yes.
gollark: It's actually fairly OSey.
gollark: It's not a custom shell.
gollark: Sure you can.

References
  1. Denselow, Robin (1 December 2017). "John Preston obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  2. Smirke, Richard (21 November 2017). "Former BMG Chairman John Preston Dies at 67; Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart Lead Music Industry Tributes". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
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