Robert Wilson (music entrepreneur)
Robert Allan David Wilson, MBE (born in 1951 in the Scottish Borders) is an entrepreneurial business leader, advisor, creative thinker, musician and philanthropist. He lives in Knebworth, Hertfordshire. Robert Wilson MBE has been a long-standing director of the Music Industries Association (MIA), National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), Music For Youth (UK Charity) and the Confederation of European Music Industries (CAFIM), as well as organising a large number of industry trade shows through the years.
Robert Wilson MBE has been a long-standing director of the Music Industries Association (MIA), National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), Music For Youth (UK Charity) and the Confederation of European Music Industries (CAFIM), as well as organising a large number of industry trade shows through the years.
He was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Years Honours, 2016, for services to the music industry and charity.[1]
Entrepreneur and business leader
Robert is an entrepreneurial business leader with more than 40 years’ experience of founding and leading companies and charitable organisations, growing them into successful and significant enterprises. He founded Sound Technology Ltd, which ultimately became one of the largest distributors of musical instruments, professional audio and lighting products in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
With a strong focus on defining the strategic direction for large corporations as well as SMEs, Robert provides tactical input and holds a number of long standing directorships. He has well developed business instincts and strong ability to recognize opportunities. Robert is currently Chairman of Soltech Systems Ltd.
Robert is currently Chairman of Soltech Systems Ltd.
Soltech is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of blinds, curtains, control systems and associated window treatments. The company announced the completion of its management buyout at the end of 2021, backed by Managing Director Guy Simmonds and Chairman Robert Wilson MBE. The full story appeared in January’s issue of Blinds and Shutters [10] magazine and various other press [11,12].
Charity work and altruism
Robert has a passion for altruism and has launched two major charities. These include Music for Youth, a national youth arts charity giving young people free access to life-changing opportunities to perform and discover music across the UK.
He was the Director of NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) 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.[8] He 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.[9]
In 2020 he was awarded the NAMM Oral History Service Award.[9]
Music industry
Robert Wilson’s career in the music industry began with the distributor Rose-Morris, which he left to pursue his own vision embracing not just traditional musical instruments but also high-tech products, using his rare gift for spotting a developing technology at its earliest stage. He was Vice-Chairman of Alesis and with his international role developed an early example of ‘disruptive technology’ through its revolutionary Alesis Digital Audio Tape (ADAT) technology, this not only demonstrated Robert’s ability to spot a winner early on, but also his ability to understand the potential of emerging technology – in the case of Alesis; literally changing the way recording was done throughout the world.
He was Vice-Chairman of Alesis and with his international role developed an early example of ‘disruptive technology’ through its revolutionary Alesis Digital Audio Tape (ADAT) technology, this not only demonstrated Robert’s ability to spot a winner early on, but also his ability to understand the potential of emerging technology – in the case of Alesis; literally changing the way recording was done throughout the world.
Alesis wasn’t the only technology company he helped achieve prominence – Sound Technology became one of the only distributors in the world to cover all aspects of music technology, from professional stadium PA and lighting to acoustic instruments. Robert played a key role in the traditional field as well, for example, representing for many years Taylor Guitars as it blazed a trail through the UK and international markets.
As the driving force behind Music For Youth and one of the team that has made Music For All such a success, he also played a key role in establishing a run of successful consumer MI industry shows.
Until May 2018 [2], Robert Wilson MBE 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] and earned him a lifetime achievement award by NORD in 2018. Robert was a member of the Board of the Music Industries Association (MIA), a UK trade association, for 44 years, from 1975 to 2019. MIA is the only one servicing and representing the interests of all UK businesses selling musical instruments and associated products. In 2019, Robert officially retired from MIA.[4][5][6]
Robert was a member of the Board of the Music Industries Association (MIA), a UK trade association, for 44 years, from 1975 to 2019. MIA is the only one servicing and representing the interests of all UK businesses selling musical instruments and associated products. In 2019, Robert officially retired from MIA.[4][5][6]
Robert continues to play an important part in supporting the music industry.[7] He is a director of the National Association of Music Merchants (USA).
He is a director of the National Association of Music Merchants (USA).
Achievements
- Founded Sound Technology Ltd
- Awarded MBE 2016
- NAMM Oral History Service Award
- Nord Lifetime Achievement Award
- Driving force behind Music for Youth
- Director of the Music Industries Association (MIA)
- Director of National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM)
- Director of Music For Youth (UK Charity)
- Director of the Confederation of European Music Industries (CAFIM)
- Chairman of Soltech Systems (2021 – present)
Music industry
Robert is a talented guitar player and member of KickingBack, a not-for-profit 9 piece band playing charity events and private functions mostly based in and around Hertfordshire.
References
2. Robert Wilson MBE bows out. Retrieved 24 July 2020
4. Robert Wilson – 44 years of service to the MIA and 50 years to the music industry. Retrieved 24 July 2020
5. Wilson, founder of Sound Technology and first UK director of NAMM, Announces Retirement. Retrieved 24 July 2020
6. Robert Wilson legt Vorstandsamt bei der MIA nieder. Retrieved 24 July 2020
7. Audio Collaborative 2018 - Vox Pop Interviews YouTube. Retrieved 24 July 2020
8. NAMM Oral History Project. Retrieved 2018-01-16
9. The 2020 NAMM Oral History Service Award presented to Robert Wilson MBE. Retrieved 24 July 2020
10. https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/66311427/blinds-shutters-issue-1-2022
11. h ttps://www.insidermedia.com/news/south-east/mbo-at-maidenhead-blinds-firm
12. https://buildingspecifier.com/soltech-set-for-growth-after-announcing-mbo/