Events Management Knowledge
Provided by London Metropolitan University
Rob Dickins CBE
Rob was born in East London in 1950. His father, a saxophonist, was co-founder of the NME – the New Musical Express – and started the Popular Music charts in 1952. His brother was an agent for the WHO and JIMMY HENDRIX. Rob thus grew up in an environment in which he lived and breathed popular music.
In 1968 he attended Loughborough University where as well as studying he ran the Film Society, the Folk Club, the Jazz Club, and was Social Secretary of the Students Union. He engaged many of the leading groups of the day turning the operation from loss into profit.
He obtained his degree in 1971 and joined Warner Brothers’ Music Publishing House. Within three years he was made Managing Director. The company was in a pitiful state, but under his leadership the company moved from 11th to 1st within three years, and maintained this position for the next 7 years. In 1979 he was made International Vice President. During this time his signings included MADNESS, THE SEX PISTOLS and WHITESNAKE.
In 1983 he became Chairman of Warner Music UK, turning it from a loss-making company to one of the most profitable in the UK. His early signings included HOWARD JONES, PRINCE , and MADONNA. He personally brought SIMPLY RED, MIKE OLDFIELD, ENYA, and the girl band CATATONIA to the UK market.
Rob was Chair of the British Phonographic Institute 1986 –1988 and again between 1997 – 2000 dealing with many difficult issues such as chart-fixing, copyright and piracy.
In 1998 Rob formed his own record company – INSTANT KARMA. He continues to run this company and an associated publishing company Dharma music.
Recently, recognition and awards have been showered upon Rob Dickins – A CBE in the 2002 Queens Birthday Honours List, appointed Chairman of the National Museum of Childhood 2002, member of the Board of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Trustee of the National Foundation for Youth Music.
He is currently acting a key advisor on the setting up of a Museum of Rock and Roll at the O2 Center in south east London.
My colleagues in the London Metropolitan Business School have been seeking to create links between the University and successful industry practitioners and in Rob Dickins they could not have found a more suitable partner. We are delighted that Rob has accepted an invitation to become a Visiting Professor attached to our very popular Music and Media Management Degree program and we look forward to the exciting contribution he will make.