John O'Driscoll Preston (1950–2017) was a British music industry executive.
John Preston | |
|---|---|
| Born | John O'Driscoll Preston 1950 Nottingham, England |
| Died | 2017 |
| Education | Shrewsbury School |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Oxford University of Liverpool |
| Occupation | Music industry executive |
| Title | Chairman, BMG |
| Term | 1989-98 |
| Spouse | Roz Preston |
Early life
editJohn 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
editPreston 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 was 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
editPreston was married to Roz.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Denselow, Robin (1 December 2017). "John Preston obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d e 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.