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Honorary Doctor of Music, 2012
Bio | Citation

Ellis Rich is a musician, businessman, and CEO of The Independent Music Group, a large and successful independent music publishing company. His first steps into the music industry were as a copyist and arranger with Feldman's Music and he transcribed rock group Queen's hits for sheet music, including Bohemian Rhapsody. In 1972 Ellis achieved chart success for himself in the guise of Sovereign Collection, with the top 30 hit Mozart 40.

In 1975 Feldman's Music, was acquired by global music corporation EMI and Ellis was appointed International Professional Manager. He succeeded in signing a number of bands that would go on to become household names, such as Blondie and Little River Band.

In 1981 Ellis left EMI to set up as an independent publisher, forming E&S Music with Simon Cowell. The pair enjoyed considerable chart success with a number of artists before parting company. In 1987 he founded The Independent Music Group, a worldwide consortium of independent music publishers. This organisation managed the commercial international rights of music publishers and under the leadership of Ellis the group prospered and remains successful today with Ellis as Chief Executive Officer.

The Independent Music Group now manages a worldwide network of music publishers, owning or administering over eighty thousand copyrights. In addition to his duties as CEO of the Group, Ellis has also served as Chairman of the Performing Right Society, Director of The Mechanical Copyright Protection Society, Director of The Music Publishers' Association and Director of Small Green Shoots, a charity helping young people enter the music industry.

In 2011 he was awarded an OBE for services to the music publishing industry, the first of its kind.

Areas Of Interest: Music, Business
Faculty: Lord Ashcroft International Business School
Citation:

"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Ellis Rich OBE for the award of Doctor of Music, honoris causa.

Ellis Rich is a musician, businessman, and CEO of The Independent Music Group, a large and successful independent music publishing company.

Born and bred in Essex, Ellis showed early musical talent as a classical and jazz pianist. His first steps into the music industry were as a copyist and arranger with Feldman's Music. It was here that Ellis transcribed rock group Queen's hits for sheet music, including Bohemian Rhapsody. In 1972 Ellis achieved chart success for himself in the guise of Sovereign Collection, with the top 30 hit Mozart 40. Yet it was his flair as a businessman that was to prove the driving force behind Ellis's future career.

In 1975 Ellis's employers, Feldman's Music, was acquired by global music corporation EMI and Ellis was appointed International Professional Manager. It was a role that suited him well and he succeeded in signing a number of bands that would go on to become household names, such as Blondie and Little River Band.

In 1981 Ellis left EMI to set up as an independent publisher, forming E&S Music with Simon Cowell. The pair enjoyed considerable chart success with a number of artists before parting company. Ellis was involved in discovering Mel and Kim, another successful pop act and consequently was invited to form Supreme Songs.

Ellis's work through the 70s and 80s provided the perfect grounding for his next project, which came in 1987 when he founded The Independent Music Group, a worldwide consortium of independent music publishers. This organisation managed the commercial international rights of music publishers and under the leadership of Ellis the group prospered and remains successful today with Ellis as Chief Executive Officer.

Based in Loughton, The Independent Music Group now manages a worldwide network of music publishers, owning or administering over eighty thousand copyrights. In addition to his duties as CEO of the Group, Ellis has also served as Chairman of the Performing Right Society, of which he still remains a director, Director of The Mechanical Copyright Protection Society, Director of The Music Publishers' Association and Director of Small Green Shoots, a charity helping young people enter the music industry.

In 2011 he was awarded an OBE for services to the music publishing industry, the first of its kind.

Ellis Rich has been a leading figure within the global music industry for many years, protecting the interest of musicians, helping to discover new songwriters and bringing them to the attention of audiences around the world. He has maintained strong links with our region and his achievements in a notoriously challenging industry provide a fine example for our students.

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Ellis Rich OBE for the award of Doctor of Music, honoris causa."

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The 2013 Graduation Ceremony dates can be found here

2013 ceremony dates