Julie's Bicycle Chairman honoured in Queen's Birthday Honours List 2011
Tony Wadsworth Awarded CBE
Tony Wadsworth, Chairman of Julie's Bicycle, has been awarded a CBE as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours List in recognition of his services to the UK music industry.
Tony - who is currently Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and a former Chairman and CEO of EMI Music UK & Ireland - has over three decades experience working in the music industry and has overseen the careers and success of some of the world’s biggest acts including Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Gorillaz, Blur, Crowded House Kylie Minogue, The Rolling Stones & The Beatles among others.
Tony is also currently a BRIT Trustee and a BRIT School Governor. He is a trustee of the EMI Music Sound Foundation, a charity devoted to improving young people's access to music, and a trustee of the EMI Archive Trust. He has an honorary Doctorate in music from the University of Gloucestershire and holds the post of Visiting Professor in the music and business schools at his old university in Newcastle. At the 2008 Music Week Awards he received the prestigious Strat Award, one of the most coveted in the UK music industry in recognition of his outstanding leadership.
Tony’s tenure as Chairman of Julie’s Bicycle has been instrumental in raising awareness of environmental sustainability and galvanising action among companies operating in UK music industry to understand and reduce their environmental impacts. From major labels and international artists, to independents and small-scale festivals, Tony has provided leadership and inspiration for companies to work with Julie's Bicycle and make sustainability a core business driver.
Tony reacted to the news of his honour by saying , “I feel both delighted and humbled to be recognised for my work in an industry that I so passionately believe in and where I have enjoyed the privilege of working with some of the world's most inspiring creative talents.”
Alison Tickell, director of Julie's Bicycle, said "Julie's Bicycle is delighted that our chairman Tony Wadsworth has been honoured with a CBE. He brings extraordinary skill, integrity, and determination to help the music industry tackle its environmental impacts. Tony's contribution to the music industry must include his committed leadership which has already made it more environmentally sustainable."
KT Tunstall, who has been working with Julie's Bicycle to green music industry practices, said "I was really pleased that Tony got a CBE. He has contributed so much to music over the last 30 years, and as Chairman of Julie's Bicycle he is one of the few people successfully galvanising the industry to become more environmentally aware."
Geoff Taylor, CEO of The BPI, said "We are delighted that Tony’s exceptional contribution to the creative, commercial and charitable achievements of the music industry have been recognised with this Honour. He is a great ambassador for our sector, who lives and breathes music - we are very proud of him."
