Robert Wilson (music entrepreneur)
Robert Allan David Wilson, MBE, born in 1951 in the Scottish Borders, is an entrepreneurial business leader, musician and philanthropist. He lives in Knebworth, Hertfordshire. He was awarded an MBE in the 2016 Queen's New Years Honours for services to the music industry and charity.[1]
Music Industry
[edit]
Since 2023, Wilson has served as Chairman of Headline Audio,[2] a distributor based in Milton Keynes that distributes Nord keyboards and Solid State Logic (SSL) products in the UK and Ireland. Founded in Sweden in 1983, Nord is known for its high-quality, innovative digital keyboards, including the Nord Stage, Nord Electro, and Nord Grand, which are widely used by musicians in various genres around the world. SSL, headquartered in Oxford, manufactures professional tools for music, live sound, and broadcast.
Robert Wilson MBE founded Sound Technology Ltd in February 1978,[3] where he served as Chairman until May 2018.[4] Under his leadership, Sound Technology Ltd became one of the largest independent distributors of musical instruments, professional audio products and lighting in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
Wilson also served as a Director of the Music Industries Association (MIA), the UK’s trade association for musical instrument and related product businesses, for over 40 years. His contributions were recognized in 2003, and he received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. Wilson retired from the MIA in 2019. [5][6][7]
Wilson continues to play an important part in supporting the music industry.[8][9]
Wilson also recently appeared on Antiques Roadshow with a painting of Lauder Castle, reflecting his appreciation for art and history.
Charity work
[edit]Wilson was a Director of Music for Youth, a national youth arts charity, from 1980 to April 2017. He also served as a Director of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) from 2008 to 2011 and contributed to the NAMM Oral History project in 2005 and 2018,[10] receiving the NAMM Oral History Service Award.[11]
Headline Audio supports Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity, which operates Future Dreams House, a breast cancer support center in King’s Cross, London.
References
[edit]- ^ "Knebworth man recognised in New Year's Honours List with MBE for service to music industry and charity". 31 December 2015.
- ^ "Headline Audio".
- ^ "Company Profile".
- ^ "Robert Wilson MBE bows out". Musicinstrumentnews.co.uk. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Robert Wilson – 44 years of service to the MIA and 50 years to the music industry". Mia.org.uk. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Wilson, founder of Sound Technology and first UK director of NAMM, Announces Retirement". MMR Magazine. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Robert Wilson legt Vorstandsamt bei der MIA nieder". Das-musikinstrument.de. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Audio Collaborative 2018 - Vox Pop Interviews". YouTube. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ https://www.musicinstrumentnews.co.uk/2023/09/04/new-distribution-company-announced-headline-audio/
- ^ Robert, Wilson (24 July 2005). "NAMM Oral History Project". Namm.org. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ "The 2020 NAMM Oral History Service Award presented to Robert Wilson MBE". 29 January 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.