John Mostyn (music manager)

John Mostyn
Origin Cheshire, England (Based in Birmingham)
Associated acts Fine Young Cannibals
The Beat
Inner City
Ocean Colour Scene
Website www.mostyn.net

John Mostyn is a prominent music industry figure in the West Midlands, most notable for managing The Beat and later, Fine Young Cannibals.[1]

Mostyn discovered Detroit based group Inner City, who under his direction had the hits 'Big Fun' and 'Good Life'.[2]

Arguably, Mostyn's most notable success was with Fine Young Cannibals, whom he managed after The Beat separated. With Mostyn as manager the band enjoyed huge success, including a Billboard number 1 album with their album The Raw And The Cooked, which has been certified Platinum 11 times around the world.[3] The band initially had great difficulty securing a recording contract. As described in an interview[4] with John Mostyn : -

"We'd gone, in three months, from every record company rejecting them to every record company wanting them; that's what managers do."

Mostyn is also credited with launching Ocean Colour Scene, via his own Phffft label.[5]

Though not originally from Birmingham[6] Mostyn has spent most of his professional life in Birmingham.[2] John has had considerable influence in the area's music industry, reportedly bringing over £30 million into the local economy.[1] John was also involved in the launch of 2 Tone Records, as referenced in his biography at mostyn.net : -

"Gerry Dammers of the then unheard of ‘Specials’ bought a copy of their first single to John and announced that he was concerned that they would be able to sell their first pressing of a thousand. John immediately booked the band on a national tour and Chrysalis records picked up the band and the ‘Two Tone’ label. The Two Tone explosion was under way."[7]

John has recently been working as tour manager for James Hunter.

John Mostyn is now running Bob Lamb's (ex-UB40 producer) studio in Birmingham, now known as Highbury Studio.[8] The studio has been used in the past by such notable acts as Duran Duran, Ocean Colour Scene and Stephen Duffy.[9] Currently it hosts some of Birmingham's finest artists such as Ruby Turner, Alternative Dubstep Orchestra, and Goodnight Lenin.[10]

Associated Acts

The Beat
The Specials
Fine Young Cannibals
Inner City
Ocean Colour Scene
James Hunter
Trio Gitano

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.channel4.com/4talent/feature.jsp?id=11606
  2. 1 2 "Mostyn's Birmingham." http://www.iproduce.org/journalism/index.php/2007/05/07/mostyn_s_birmingham
  3. ↑ Fine Young Cannibals
  4. ↑ http://www.birminghammusicheritage.org.uk/fine_young_cannibals_videoplayer/video_player.html
  5. ↑ http://www.creativerepublic.org.uk/node/114
  6. ↑ http://www.thesistercities.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&catid=42&Itemid=55
  7. ↑ http://johnmostyn.wordpress.com/biography/
  8. ↑ http://www.highburystudio.com
  9. ↑ http://highburystudio.com/studio-history/
  10. ↑ http://highburystudio.com/blog/

External links

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