Meet Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, Uk Music’s new chief govt | Media

Uk Songs lastly has a new leader with the appointment of Uk government advisor Jamie Njoku-Goodwin as the trade body’s main government, Tunes Week can reveal.

Even though not a hugely large-profile title to all in the new music biz, Njoku-Goodwin is an completed at the rear of-the-scenes operator as just one of the British isles government’s most senior advisers, and has most just lately been working as a exclusive advisor to Wellbeing Secretary Matt Hancock. He earlier worked at the Section For Digital, Lifestyle, Media & Activity, the remit for which covers the tunes business.

From Oct, Njoku-Goodwin will change Michael Dugher, who stood down in January. He will sort a political heavyweight left-correct mix with not long ago-appointed British isles New music chairman Tom Watson, who welcomed the new CEO to the crew.

“On behalf of all my colleagues on the British isles Songs Board, I’m delighted to welcome Jamie Njoku-Goodwin to the team,” claimed Watson. “Jamie is a very first-course appointment and provides renewed management to Uk Music at a very important time for the business.”

When welcomed by most in the biz, the appointment of Watson was criticised by a tiny group of senior audio figures involved – amongst other issues – above no matter whether the former Labour Social gathering deputy leader could command guidance from the Conservative govt he expended so extended opposing. Njoku-Goodwin, meanwhile, has powerful political connections among coverage-makers across Downing Avenue, Whitehall and Westminster. That could prove critical as the biz lobbies for support amidst the existing coronavirus crisis and an imminent Brexit.

“His knowledge of functioning at the heart of Govt will be priceless to the business as we make the case to ministers that our sector requirements additional support as we return to currently being a net contributor to the country’s financial state,” mentioned Watson.

“Jamie is well recognised to our members as he has generally been a passionate supporter of new music, both of those in his professional roles in Govt, significantly although at the Office For Electronic, Media & Activity and also as a musician himself.”

Prior to signing up for the governing administration, Njoku-Goodwin labored for controversial election strategist Sir Lynton Crosby and as a political advisor for the Conservatives. He was appointed by the United kingdom Songs board immediately after an intensive method that the trade human body reported captivated around 200 applicants.

Even though functioning British isles Music may well look clear-cut in contrast to staying at the centre of the government’s battle towards Covid-19, Njoku-Goodwin will not have the luxurious of easing himself in to one particular of the industry’s most high-profile roles. He will direct the biz’s lobbying efforts about further more assistance for the stricken are living sector and its tries to strike an effective write-up-Brexit deal that allows British audio to keep on to thrive internationally. Many will also want him to handle a British isles edition of the European Copyright Directive, which the governing administration has no recent strategies to apply, and assist reunite the member bodies just after the rows over Watson’s appointment.

“Be it by way of the £5.2 billion it generates for the economic climate, the 190,000 work it sustains throughout our state, or the image of British exceptionalism it broadcasts all-around the world, the songs marketplace is one of our most critical countrywide belongings – and some thing we ought to all be hugely very pleased of,” claimed Njoku-Goodwin.

“United kingdom Tunes has a crucial role in fighting for the passions of the audio field, and I am delighted to be using the helm of the organisation at these types of an important time.

“There are significant challenges going through commercial new music, like the impression of coronavirus, the relevance of copyright, and the need for far more motion on range and inclusion,” he extra. “But for all the troubles, there are also huge chances – and I am confident that, with the suitable assistance, the new music business can be the British good results story of the 2020s.”

Njoku-Goodwin is an completed, qualified pianist and conductor, while his Twitter bio lists him as a “failed musician, onetime chess hustler, entire-time politico”. His Instagram account characteristics various posts from gigs and new music market situations. He has a diploma in music and a masters in intercontinental relations from the College Of Nottingham, and sits on the advisory boards of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and English Nationwide Opera.

The appointment indicates that Tom Kiehl, acting CEO since Dugher’s departure and who has proved an effective leader during the coronavirus crisis, returns to his job as deputy CEO and director of public affairs.

“I would like to thank the past CEO Michael Dugher and Tom Kiehl for all their fantastic get the job done in producing British isles Audio the power that it is,” said Njoku-Goodwin. “I search forward to functioning closely with the Govt, audio makers and tunes lovers to help the songs industry and capitalise on the huge opportunity that it offers to the United kingdom.”

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