Ellis Rich - PRS Chairman, The International Music Network Ltd and also a
judge for the MP3 Music Awards,
Ellis Rich is a classical and jazz pianist spending many years with his band playing gigs at
various functions and venues.
Starting in music publishing in 1963 in Feldman’s post room, he advanced to the professional
department where he arranged for sheet music. Among his achievements was transcribing
Brian May’s guitar solos on Queen’s hits. He also had his hand-written orchestrations printed.
Progressing to the international division, he became International Manager. The company
was later acquired by EMI Music.
In 1981, Ellis left EMI and took Simon with him
and became E & S Music and had considerable chart success. In 1986,
after involvement in discovering Mel and Kim, Ellis was invited to establish Supreme Songs,
the publishing arm of Supreme Records.
In 1989, Ellis created Independent Music Group, a worldwide music publishing consortium.
The group controls many copyrights including the Supreme, R & E, Beat That and JSE Music
catalogues. Ellis maintains that "without the song there is nothing" and greatly admires the
creative endeavours of writers – "Their songs are their babies and must be treated with the
greatest respect".
Ellis considers it vital for independents to be well represented at PRS and has been pleased
to have done so for the past ten years, six of which as Deputy Chairman (Publisher). As a
musician playing popular and classical music, a writer and hands-on publisher, his extensive
grass-roots experience has been of great value to the board.
Ellis became PRS Chairman in January 2005, embracing the opportunity to be an ambassador
for the value of music in and for our society.Ellis Rich
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