Jon Webster
Jon “Webbo” Webster has worked for two people most of his life - himself and Richard Branson. The former paid better.
Most of his career was spent at Virgin, both retail where he began as a shop assistant in 1975, and at Virgin Records where he started in 1981 as Sales Manager where he progressed to Managing Director in 1988. In 1983 he was instrumental in devising the Now! That’s What I Call Music brand. He was a member of the BPI Council from 1985 – 1992.
Following the EMI purchase of Virgin in 1992 Jon left corporate life, set up his own company, and worked with Virgin acts Genesis, Peter Gabriel, UB40, Mike and the Mechanics and others. In 1992 he founded the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. From 1992 – 2002 he wrote the “Webbo” column for Music Week.
From 2000 Jon moved into management with D*Note and Francis Dunnery (former singer with It Bites) setting up the internet sales label Aquarian Nation.
In May 2005, after 13 years working for himself, Jon was appointed Director, Independent Member Services at the BPI, the UK record industry trade body. In October 2007 he embraced the artist centric future when he was appointed CEO of the Music Managers Forum.