John Kennedy

After begging for a job in the music industry, John Kennedy has spent more than 45 years in the music industry. The title of this book 'JUST FOR ONE HOUR' is taken from the day Bob Geldof asked him to give one hour of his time for free. That was nearly 40 years ago and probably 20,000 free hours ago! Including helping to stage Live Aid and co-producing Live 8 and executive producing the Live Aid and Live 8 DVDs.Along the way, Kennedy set up a successful music business legal practice...See more

After begging for a job in the music industry, John Kennedy has spent more than 45 years in the music industry. The title of this book 'JUST FOR ONE HOUR' is taken from the day Bob Geldof asked him to give one hour of his time for free. That was nearly 40 years ago and probably 20,000 free hours ago! Including helping to stage Live Aid and co-producing Live 8 and executive producing the Live Aid and Live 8 DVDs.Along the way, Kennedy set up a successful music business legal practice representing many of the top artists songwriters and independent labels of the time.He then went on to be chairman of Polygram films and records before becoming chairman and CEO of the newly created Universal Music UK, the biggest music label in the UK.He then became president and COO of Universal Music International before becoming chairman of the body representing the whole music industry globally.In 1994 he was awarded an OBE by the Queen.In 2006 he was made Chevalier de l' Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government, along with Bob Geldof and Harvey Goldsmith in the same month that all three were given an award as Music Personalities of the Year.For a number of years Kennedy led the ultimately successful campaign to extend the European copyright period for recordings from 50 to 70 years. The extended period is of immense tangible economic benefit to the music industry including both labels and artists.Kennedy continues to work as a consultant in the music industry and has the honour and pleasure of co-managing Richard Ashcroft who was the leading member of The Verve before becoming a successful solo artist. In this memoir John Kennedy mulls that it's been such a great journey - meeting and engaging with real royalty; the Queen, Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Presidents and Prime Ministers, but most importantly of all, music business royalty, and even a Saint, not to mention the occasional sinner. And he hopes the journey is not yet over! See less