With over forty years’ experience in the music industry, Steve Lewis Services offers in-depth knowledge and expertise as well as a raft of international contacts, to clients and partners who require:

Strategic planning and advice for music and media related tech companies
Guidance on media banking, corporate finance as well as private equity contacts and specialist know-how.
Non-Executive Director in media-related businesses
Advice and assistance in all aspects of music management from structuring and negotiating publishing and recording contracts, through to production, artist management, agreements, etc.
High level project management
Supervision of all music-related litigation
An expert witness; experienced in assisting and instructing solicitors, writing detailed reports and testifying in court.

Music has been a constant passion throughout my life. I’ve worked in all areas of the music industry including retail, artist management, record labels and music publishing and sat on almost all the music industry organisation boards including the BPI, MPA, PRS, MCPS and AIM. I remain active in music publishing.

Technology always has and continues to affect how music is made, distributed, marketed, promoted and consumed. I’ve collected vinyl all my life. I enjoy the sound quality, the artwork and being a collector but life is improved by also having 45 million songs on my phone that I can listen to anytime, anywhere I want.

A new music industry ecosystem is emerging, bringing with it an exciting range of possibilities, removing or reducing barriers to entry for creators and improving the experience of music lovers. I advise tech companies on strategy and the complex world of music rights and find nothing more exciting than working with young entrepreneurs and creators to realise their own potential and that of their work.

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Testimonials

‘I have known Steve since he was 16 years old when he was very much involved in the birth of Virgin. You will find few people in the music business or elsewhere with the breadth, width, and depth gained over four decades, of his knowledge of the business not to mention his integrity- a rare quality in the entertainment business! I would without hesitation recommend him. And because of his integrity he has not paid me a penny to write this’

— NIK POWELL CO-FOUNDER VIRGIN GROUP, DIRECTOR NATIONAL FILM AND TELEVISION SCHOOL, CHAIRMAN SCALA PRODUCTIONS

“Steve Lewis was CEO of Chrysalis Group’s Music Division from 1993 to 2001. He restructured the division bringing in some key executives, many of whom stayed with the company for a substantial period of time. He was instrumental in attracting a $20m investment from Pony Canyon, a division of the Japanese media group Fuji Sankei, which co-funded the new record company Echo. Throughout his time at the company, Steve played a full role as a main board director and we were sorry to see him go when he chose to leave the company.”

— CHRIS WRIGHT CBE, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN CHRYSALIS GROUP, CHAIRMAN BMG CHRYSALIS

“Ingenious was the first investor in Stage Three Music Ltd. in 2002. I was Chairman from the outset until our successful exit in 2010. Steve and I shared a vision of a different type of publishing company and he made that vision reality. As CEO, Steve recruited a first class team of executives in the UK and US, made 13 successful catalogue acquisitions and assembled a writer roster of outstanding quality. Staff, writers and investors were all delighted with the outcome and the high standards he brought to every area of the company’s activity.”

— PATRICK MCKENNA FOUNDER/CEO INGENIOUS MEDIA, CHAIRMAN YOUNG VIC THEATRE, CHAIRMAN HATRICK PRODUCTIONS, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR GOLDSMITHS COLLEGE INSTITUTE FOR CREATIVE AND CULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

“Stage Three was one of the most balanced, high quality and well run catalogues BMG has acquired. Steve Lewis selectively built one of the leading UK independent music publishing companies in just seven years, assembling a unique catalogue of music rights and representing some of the most iconic names in the industry: Aerosmith, Eminem, Eric Clapton, Take That and ZZ Top.”

— HARTWIG MASUCH, CEO OF BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT

“I have known Steve Lewis for over 30 years – his career has extraordinary breadth and depth being in time artist manager, label executive, and latterly one of the most successful music publishers in Britain. My research into the DNA of a great music publisher reveals two defining characteristics – a strong personality and business acumen – and this is demonstrated by an understanding of and working with artists and writers, lawyers and financiers, understanding the complex international structure of musical rights management. Steve has these characteristics in spades.”

— STEPHEN NAVIN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE MUSIC PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION.

Throughout his 40+ years in the music industry, Steve has worked with some of the biggest and best known artists in the world. He has consistently delivered innovative and thoughtful methods of exploiting his artists’ work – bringing new income streams or better exploiting the existing streams whilst at the same time maintaining artistic integrity – no mean achievement.

— NICK PRICE, MANAGING DIRECTOR & HEAD OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, HSBC PRIVATE BANK UK

“Steve’s strategic advice and practical help enabled me to stabilise the company and successfully address various complex issues with writers and staff during a recent period of change at
Perfect Songs and the SPZ group of companies. The clarity of his thinking, the extent of his contacts and the depth of his experience was invaluable”

— TREVOR HORN CBE, LEGEND, HIT SONGWRITER, ARTIST, RECORD PRODUCER, OWNER PERFECT SONGS, STIFF RECORDS, ZTT RECORDS

“As well as being an outstanding music executive, Steve understands how the media finance sector works and how, as bankers, we view the music industry. He is also one of the best connected players in media”

— SIMON BUMFREY, HEAD OF TELCOMS, MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY, BANK OF IRELAND

“I’ve known Steve Lewis for more than 30 years. He is one of the few people who understands both the music and the business. He has a unique understanding of the attributes of songwriters, artistes and record producers”

— STEVE LEVINE, LEGENDARY RECORD PRODUCER (CULTURE CLUB, BEACH BOYS AND MANY MORE), SONGWRITER, CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSIC PRODUCERS GUILD

“I’ve known Steve for more than 30 years. He is one of those rare executives who is equally at home in the dressing room or the board room and is highly regarded by songwriters and artists as well as executives.”

— RICHARD GRIFFITHS, OWNER MODEST MANAGEMENT (ONE DIRECTION, JLS, ALISON MOYET, LEONA LEWIS

“Over the years, Steve has really helped me gain a better understanding of the music & entertainment industries. As a corporate banker I have always been very impressed by Steve’s financial literacy & commercial judgement.”

— JOHN DIXON, HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOMS, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND CORPORATE & INSTITUTIONAL BANKING.

“Having acted for Steve for 35 years I know he has experience in all areas of the music industry and beyond. He is one of the most accomplished and well respected executives with whom I’ve worked”.

— HOWARD JONES, LEADING MUSIC INDUSTRY LAWYER, MANAGING PARTNER SHERIDANS

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