Music mogul awarded honorary degree
Musician, artist and music manager Colin Lester has been awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Music from Southampton Solent University in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the music industry.
Colin began his career as a musician in the late 1970s before making the move into artist management. His first musical venture was as a guitarist with the London glam rock outfit The Eyes, who signed their first recording contract in 1979.
In 1994 his management company Wildlife Entertainment launched The Brand New Heavies, where he also went about signing artists such as Carleen Anderson, Travis and the Arctic Monkeys before launching Wildstar Records in 1998.
The university awards honorary degrees to academics and professionals who have made an outstanding contribution in their field of expertise during its annual graduation ceremonies which take place at Southampton Guildhall from 18-22 November 2013.
More than 2500 students are graduating from Southampton Solent University with degrees and professional qualifications in subject areas ranging from journalism to sport science, fashion to yacht-design, and business management to TV and film production.
During 1999 Colin discovered and signed 18-year-old Craig David, who was himself awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Solent University in 2008. Craig’s Wildstar debut, Fill Me In made him the youngest male solo artist ever to achieve a number one single. His subsequent hits, 7 Days and Walking Away, boosted sales of his debut album, Born to Do It to over seven million copies. Under Colin’s management, Craig David has sold in excess of 13 million records worldwide.
Colin launched CLM Entertainment in October 2008 and became CEO of Twenty First Artists, the globally renowned artist management company owned by Universal Music, in 2010.
Over the last 20 years he has managed the successful careers of numerous UK and international artists and sold well over 35 million records creating revenue in excess of $100 million.
In recognition of his contribution to the music industry he has been awarded The Peter Grant Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Music Managers Forum (MMF) and is a recipient of the prestigious Gold Badge Award from The British Academy of Songwriters and Composers Association (BASCA).
Colin was made a Visiting Fellow of Southampton Solent University in 2008, where he regularly lectures on Music Management and the Record Industry.
On receiving his award he said: “This is an incredibly proud day for me. To be recognised in this way is humbling and I am very grateful to everyone at Southampton Solent University for this wonderful honour. I love working and interacting with the students at the university and they are the inspiration for ‘The Colin Lester Digital Entrepreneurship Award,’ which aims to harness and support the incredible creativity and talent that I see there.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8031 9040 or press.office@solent.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University offers more than 23,000 students over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects such as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, health, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. The university was awarded the 2013 Quality Assurance kitemark for quality and standards of teaching and learning. Solent was voted one of the most creative universities in the UK in a Which? University 2013 poll of students.
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