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
Until May 2018,[2] Wilson was the Chair of Sound Technology Ltd which he founded in February 1978. It is currently one of the largest independent distributors of musical instruments and professional audio products in the UK and Republic Of Ireland. [3][4] He earned a lifetime achievement award by NORD in 2018.
For the last 40 years, Wilson has been Director of the Music Industries Association (MIA), a UK trade association. It is the only one servicing and representing the interests of all UK businesses involving musical instruments and associated products. In 2003, Wilson was recognised for his 25 years' service, and received a lifetime achievement award in 2006. In 2019 he officially retired from MIA[5][6][7]
Wilson continues to play an important part in supporting the music industry.[8][9]
Charity work edit
From 1980 to April 2017, Wilson was a Director for Music for Youth, a national youth arts charity giving young people free access to life-changing opportunities to perform & discover music across the UK.
Wilson was the Director of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) from 2008-2011. NAMM is a not-for-profit association that promotes the pleasures and benefits of making music and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry. As president in 2005 he contributed to their Oral History project and again in 2018.[10] Wilson received awards in recognition of his dedicated service as a Director and for his excellent service in the Music Products Industry. In 2020 he was awarded the NAMM Oral History Service Award.[11]
References edit
- ^ "Knebworth man recognised in New Year's Honours List with MBE for service to music industry and charity". 31 December 2015.
- ^ "Robert Wilson MBE bows out". Musicinstrumentnews.co.uk. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Company Profile".
- ^ "Headline Audio".
- ^ "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.