Paul Conroy
Encyclopedia
Paul Conroy is an English music executive with a long and varied career of managing labels
. He went from general manager of pioneering indie
Stiff
to senior positions with majors like Virgin Records
, WEA and EMI
.
scene. In 1975 they collaborated with Jake Riviera
to put on the Naughty Rhythms package tour, with pub rock stalwarts Kokomo
, Dr. Feelgood
, Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
. Conroy became the manager of The Kursaal Flyers
, who got signed to Jonathan King
's UK Records
and had a hit with the song "Little Does She Know". In an idiosyncratic twist that presaged the common touch of many of his later promotional successes, Conroy had the band perform on Top of the Pops
surrounded by laundry machines and giant detergent boxes.
In early 1977, Conroy went to work for Stiff Records where he became the general manager. Between 1985 and 1990 he was first marketing director and then managing director of the US labels division of WEA Records in London. He was the president of Chrysalis Records International
from 1990 to 1992. Conroy joined Virgin Records UK as managing director in 1992 and was promoted to president in 1997 before leaving in early 2002.
Later in 2002 Conroy and his wife Katie, a former EMI International VP, launched Adventures in Music, which comprised three divisions - Adventure Records, Management and Publishing.
Conroy served as chairman of the Brit Awards
committee from 1997 to 2000, is one of the BPI
Council's longest standing members, and, as of 2002, was the current chairman of the BPI PR committee.
.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. He went from general manager of pioneering indie
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
Stiff
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
to senior positions with majors like Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, WEA and EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
.
Career
Conroy's introduction to the music business came as a college social secretary in the early 1970s. His first job was working as a booking agent for the Charisma Agency, where he worked with Nigel Kerr. Together they built the agency up into a major force on the burgeoning pub rockPub rock (UK)
Pub rock was a rock music genre that developed in the mid 1970s in the United Kingdom. A back-to-basics movement, pub rock was a reaction against progressive and glam rock. Although short-lived, pub rock was notable for rejecting stadium venues and for returning live rock to the small pubs and...
scene. In 1975 they collaborated with Jake Riviera
Jake Riviera
Jake Riviera is a music business entrepreneur best known for his management of such performers as Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe and as co-founder of pioneering British indie label Stiff Records.Riviera was in school bands and local groups in north-west London in the 60s, and became road manager of...
to put on the Naughty Rhythms package tour, with pub rock stalwarts Kokomo
Kokomo (band)
-Career:Formed in May 1973 by ex-members of the pop group Arrival , Kokomo's ten-piece line-up became: Dyan Birch , Frank Collins , Paddy McHugh , Tony O'Malley , Alan Spenner , Neil Hubbard , Mel Collins , Jody Linscott , Terry Stannard and Jim Mullen...
, Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood may refer to:In music:*Dr. Feelgood , an album by American band Mötley Crüe**"Dr. Feelgood" , a single and the title track from that album*"Dr. Feel Good", a song by Travie McCoy on the album Lazarus...
, Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers were one of the main British pub rock groups of the early 1970s. Later managed by Jake Riviera, who first worked for the band as a roadie, they reached their peak as part of the "Naughty Rhythms Tour" of 1975, along with other stalwarts of the same scene, Dr...
. Conroy became the manager of The Kursaal Flyers
The Kursaal Flyers
The Kursaal Flyers were a British pop and country music band, formed in Southend-on-Sea in 1973, who "bridged the gap between pub rock and power pop".-Original members:*Paul Shuttleworth , vocals...
, who got signed to Jonathan King
Jonathan King
Jonathan King is an English singer, songwriter, impresario and record producer. He is also the author of three novels, Bible Two and The Booker Prize Winner , and Beware the Monkey Man , and an autobiography, 65 My Life So Far .King first came to prominence as an...
's UK Records
UK Records
UK Records was launched in 1972 by Jonathan King to distribute his own releases and some other artists. The abbreviation UK stands for "United King". The label was distributed at first by Decca Records and, after 1976, by PolyGram...
and had a hit with the song "Little Does She Know". In an idiosyncratic twist that presaged the common touch of many of his later promotional successes, Conroy had the band perform on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
surrounded by laundry machines and giant detergent boxes.
In early 1977, Conroy went to work for Stiff Records where he became the general manager. Between 1985 and 1990 he was first marketing director and then managing director of the US labels division of WEA Records in London. He was the president of Chrysalis Records International
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
from 1990 to 1992. Conroy joined Virgin Records UK as managing director in 1992 and was promoted to president in 1997 before leaving in early 2002.
Later in 2002 Conroy and his wife Katie, a former EMI International VP, launched Adventures in Music, which comprised three divisions - Adventure Records, Management and Publishing.
Conroy served as chairman of the Brit Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
committee from 1997 to 2000, is one of the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
Council's longest standing members, and, as of 2002, was the current chairman of the BPI PR committee.
Recent activity
Conroy now resides in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. In 2011, after he encouraged them to enter, the Wallingford Parish Church Choir won a competition to record an album for Decca RecordsDecca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
.