12 April 2012

Music of every kind co-exists happily in London, from classical to experimental and clubs to rock 'n' roll - with plenty of room for the simply unclassifiable. Besides the intrinsic pleasure it brings, music is also worth £1.5bn to the our economy. Here are the people plucking the strings.

THE TOP FIVE

Lucian Grainge, 47
UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP INTERNATIONAL, CHAIR AND CEO
With the biggest market share in the UK, being the boss of Universal Music involves shifting seriously large quantities of albums. He's got Amy Winehouse, Razorlight, Snow Patrol and Keane, and with imminent buy-ups of other labels including Sanctuary and V2, the company's dominance gets ever stronger.

Thomas Ades, 38
COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR
Won fame with an opera on oral sex and respectability with Shakespeare's Tempest at Covent Garden. He's a loner and rather shy, but he's also artistic director of the Aldeburgh Festival and in such high demand as a conductor and pianist that his composing output is thinning out - as often happens to jump-start British composers.

Sir Simon Rattle, 52
CONDUCTOR
Although based in Berlin where he directs the prestigious Philharmonic, Rattle wields immense influence in his home country both personally and through a network of management and media acolytes known as Rattlesnakes. His word is law in most music circles and he can name his own financial terms - and he probably needs to after a second divorce costing £4m. Lives with Czech mezzo Magdalena Kozena and their baby.

Rob Hallett, 49
AEG LIVE (EUROPE), MD
As head of the European arm of American sport and concert promoter AEG, Hallett has been overseeing the most important addition to London's live music landscape in years - the O2 Arena. He's already brought Barbra Streisand, Justin Timberlake, Prince, Bon Jovi and the Rolling Stones to town, and plenty more of the world's biggest stars, including Led Zeppelin, are going to follow.

Vladimir Jurowski, 36
LONDON PHILHARMONIC AND GLYNDEBOURNE, MUSIC DIRECTOR
Rejuvenated the Philharmonic, which yields him pole position on the South Bank. Lives half the year in Sussex, where he has bought freshness to Glyndebourne, and half in Berlin, sending his 10-year-old daughter to Rudolf Steiner schools in each. Sought by US orchestras, but deeply rooted in Europe. His father, Marek, is a respected conductor in Berlin.

Damon Albarn, 39
MUSICAL POLYMATH
Having dominated Britpop with Blur, then conquered America with the cartoon hip hop of Gorillaz, Albarn composed Chinese-style opera Monkey: Journey to the West and created a masterpiece of an album The Good, the Bad & the Queen. His vocal passion for African musicians has helped move World Music closer to the mainstream.

Antonio Pappano, 47
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, MUSIC DIRECTOR
A tremendous team player who has advanced the careers of British singers while rather neglecting his own. He ought to be in contention for a big American band but he devotes so much loving attention to his London company that he has no time to tour.

Bernard Doherty, 57
LD COMMUNICATIONS, DIRECTOR
Wherever there's a massive music event, Doherty will be backstage with a headset and a clipboard. He co-ordinated media access to Live Aid in 1985, Live 8 and Live Earth, as well as the Concert for Diana and the Brit Awards. Also represents the Rolling Stones.

David Pickard, 55
GLYNDEBOURNE, GENERAL DIRECTOR
A carefully understated figure who has helped add youth appeal to a toff festival with a bold choice of directors and new-media plans. Was criticised for this season's stark and sanguinary staging of a Bach oratorio, but the Glyndebourne audience is younger than ever and the future looks secure.

Ged Doherty, 49
SONY BMG MUSIC ENT UK, CHAIRMAN AND CEO
When two of the world's biggest major labels merged in 2004, Manchester-born Doherty ended up in charge in the UK. A former booker of punk bands, he has risen through the ranks to become the man tasked with Sony BMG's transformation into a more rounded entertainment organisation.

Roger Wright, 51
RADIO 3, CONTROLLER
Freshened up the station with world music and takes over next year as Controller of the BBC Proms. This gives him considerable clout in making reputations. Runs vibrant young artist scheme and draws much web flak for altering time-hallowed evening line-up. An enthusiastic weekend cricketer.

Marcus Davey, 39
THE ROUNDHOUSE, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Has made the Roundhouse a place of music and dance after years of dereliction. Tall, bald and married to baroque cellist Tatty Theo, Davey is in tune with the street. The ground floor of his Roundhouse is populated by youngsters who have been kicked out of school, making their own music and videos.

Simon Fuller, 47
19 ENTERTAINMENT, CEO
Not his first appearance in this publication. Having discovered electronic artist Paul Hardcastle (his company is named after the No1 single), Fuller went on to guide the Spice Girls to global stardom and to change the way stars are created, with the Idol talent shows developed with Simon Cowell.
See also Fashion,TV & Radio

Alison Howe, 38
LATER... WITH JOOLS HOLLAND, CO-PRODUCER
The woman who picks the bands for this hugely influential long-running music show can launch an aspiring songwriter to major stardom. Known for sticking her neck out on unproven talent, notable past spots include KT Tunstall, Corinne Bailey Rae and Mika.

Nicholas Kenyon, 56
BARBICAN, DIRECTOR
After 10 years of the Proms, and before that Radio 3, Kenyon has succeeded Sir John Tusa but it won't be easy. He walks into a funding squeeze, suspicious staff and competition from the South Bank. Kenyon is the insider's insider, a man with more home phone numbers at his command than BT.

Alan Edwards, 52
OUTSIDE ORGANISATION, CEO
A veteran music publicist who started in punk, Edwards started Outside in 1995 with a view to representing more than just bands and ended up having a major hand in the success of Brand Beckham and the Spice Girls. He still controls media access to David Bowie, Prince and Paul McCartney.

Howard Goodall, 49
FILM AND TV COMPOSER AND BROADCASTER
The Blackadder theme really made his name and he has now become Channel 4's face of classical music, extending his brief to campaign, Jamie Oliver-like, for better music in schools. As a presenter he admirably resists dumbdown, act-up orders from directors terrified of going over the heads of viewers.

Adam Driscoll, 39, Dean James, 47
MAMA GROUP, CO-CEOS
The company behind the Barfly chain of tiny venues across the UK. The group recently bought a range of London venues from Mean Fiddler including the Forum, Borderline and the Mean Fiddler itself. Its influence over the London live scene will grow accordingly.

Bryn Terfel, 41
OPERA SINGER
The baritone is the biggest and most dramatic opera figure of his generation, a down-to-earth trouper who loves a drink and a laugh and is keenly aware of his market value. Married to childhood sweetheart Lesley, he caused ructions by pulling out of a Covent Garden Ring cycle that had been built around him in order to attend to a minor family ailment.

Seb Rochford, 33
DRUMMER
As a central member of the musicians collective F-ire he is a lynchpin of the new London jazz scene. Sound musical credentials (two Mercury nominations). The next Evelyn Glennie, and then some.

David Bowie, 60
STARMAN
The winner of the Lifetime Achievement award at last year's Grammys continues to offer a near peerless musical blueprint to new bands. His endorsement of admirers such as the Dandy Warhols and Arcade Fire was a key factor in their success. His rekindled relationship with producer Tony Visconti has resulted in more inspirational new material.

Tony Hall, 57
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, CEO
This former head of BBC news brought peace where there was strife and technological progress in a place stuck in the 19th century. Covent Garden is going on the screen through his purchase of the Opus Arte DVD label and although his salary practically doubled the going rate in top arts jobs, he's considered good value.

Madonna, 49
POP ICON
Robbie Williams summed it up with his last single: "I love you baby, but face it, she's Madonna". Still in a different league after more than 20 years at the top of pop's tree. Every female pop singer, and plenty of males, must concede that she's an influence.

Graham Sheffield, 50
BARBICAN, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
The man in charge of London's cultural brief for the 2012 Olympics. Sheffield is credited with saving the Barbican when the Royal Shakespeare Company quit by making it London's only centre for international and experimental theatre.

Barbara Charone, 55
MBC, JOINT DIRECTOR
Chicago-born Charone would have enough clout as Madonna's British publicist alone. Take into account other clients including Christina Aguilera, Rod Stewart, James Blunt and REM and the former head of press at Warner Records is one of the most powerful women in the industry.

Katharine McDowell, 47
LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, CEO
She and husband Ian Ritchie (he inherited her previous job as director of the City of London Festival) are a couple with clout. She also used to be in charge of music at the Arts Council. McDowell is a lone woman in the male world of orchestra management. She's presently managing LSO's conductor transition from Colin Davis to Valery Gergiev.

Laurence Bell, 41
DOMINO RECORDING CO, FOUNDER
From licensing albums from American bands such as Sebadoh and Pavement in his Putney flat 15 years ago Bell has created the most influential independent label in Britain. Franz Ferdinand and The Arctic Monkeys have made Domino the label of choice for hot bands.

Lord and Lady Hollick, both 62
BENEFACTORS
Former boss of United Business Media Clive and his wife Sue are the Blair/Brown arts favourites. Oversaw the £115m renovation of Festival Hall before leaving the South Bank chair. They hold seats on many boards including English National Opera.

Sir Mick Jagger, 64
ROLLING STONE
An astute businessman, producing films and taking greater charge of his finances since the retirement in May of exotic business manager Prince Rupert Loewenstein. A new Stones documentary by Martin Scorcese is set to keep the band at the forefront of the music world. And still those huge tours keep rolling.

Marshall Marcus, 52
SOUTHBANK, HEAD OF MUSIC
The former violinist and head of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is the real power behind Jude Kelly's music programme. He has confounded sceptics by brokering peace between the LPO, Philharmonia and London Sinfonietta.

Kanya King, 38
MOBO AWARDS, FOUNDER
King remortgaged her house to finance the first awards for Music of Black Origin in 1996, and was made an MBE in 1999 for her work supporting the black music scene in Britain. A respected spokeswoman on broader black issues, she has played a vital role in gaining exposure for Britons in an area still dominated by Americans.

Raymond Gubbay, 61
IMPRESARIO
Populist who is prepared to put money ahead of mouth. Lost oodles on a Savoy opera company that did popular works with unknown singers but added a vital dimension to the debate over whether opera should receive so much state funding. Still ambitious to change the world but makes his money filling the Albert Hall with Tchaikovsky firework spectaculars.

Sir Paul McCartney, 65
BEATLE
Pop's wealthiest man wrote songs that formed the basis for almost everything that has come since. He's still being adventurous with the way his songs are distributed by licensing his latest album, Memory Almost Full, to be sold in Starbucks, not record stores. Plenty will follow.

>Alfred Brendel, 76
PIANIST
Prickly sage living in Hampstead who influences music policy over many dinner party tables. An Austrian of mixed ancestry, he flourished in the heyday of records with endless cycles of the great classical masters.

Conor McNicholas, 34
NME, EDITOR
When a band makes the cover of the music weekly that has outlived Melody Maker, Sounds and even Smash Hits, they're going places. McNicholas has overseen the expansion of the brand into a weekly club night in Camden and popular annual tours for new bands. He's loved and loathed in equal measure.

Katharine Jenkins, 27
OPERA SINGER
Purists sniff at the girl who has never sung an opera in her life but she has sold five million aria albums to people who think she's the next Callas. Jenkins is either the future of classical music - sweet, vacant, half-trained - or its nemesis.

George Michael, 44
SONGWRITER AND PERFORMER
Nothing can stop the Wham! frontman turned global solo megastar; neither arrests for cannabis possession and public lavatory indiscretions, nor even the mediocre political single Shoot the Dog. Every new male pop singer wants a career like his.

Oliver Knussen, 55
LONDON SINFONIETTA, CONDUCTOR
Huge (physically and in character) and has powers of persuasion over many of the people in this list. His third symphony of 1979 is widely performed but he has yet to write a fourth and may have British composer disease: too much, too young.

Andy Parfitt, 49
RADIO 1, 1XTRA, AND TEENS, CONTROLLER
A song's appearance on Radio 1's A-list virtually guarantees a high chart placing. Parfitt has been overseeing the ethos of the BBC's premier station for young people for almost a decade, and enhanced its credibility by launching the popular 1Xtra station for new black music.

Prince Charles, 58
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA, PATRON
A friend of Valery Gergiev, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, dozens of cellists and do-gooders, Charles is always ready to throw a palace party for a worthy musical cause. He genuinely loves the stuff and has the clout to get Chinese comet Lang to play a new concerto he commissioned for the late Queen Mother in a remote Norfolk church.
See also Environment & Society

John Reid, 46
VICE CHAIRMAN, WARNER MUSIC INTERNATIONAL AND PRESIDENT, WARNER MUSIC EUROPE
Reid's organisation is home to British success stories including Muse, James Blunt and David Gray. Previously chairman/CEO of PolyGram Canada and president of Island Def Jam Records USA, he's now charged with taking one of the world's biggest record companies into the download age.

Wasfi Kani, 51
GRANGE PARK OPERA, FOUNDER
A former city whizzkid who became an opera conductor, gave performances in prisons and founded Grange Park Opera, one of the country cousins to Glyndebourne. Potentially a future head of ENO. Kani is also a voracious fundraiser.

Richard Russell, 36
XL RECORDINGS, DIRECTOR
Having started out selling mix tapes at Camden Market, Russell took over indie label XL when the company's only notable band was The Prodigy. It's now the only company to sign to for truly individual artists. The White Stripes, Basement Jaxx and Mercury winner Dizzee Rascal all call it home.

Clio Gould, 39
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC, LEADER
The first woman leader of a London orchestra is a trail-blazing soloist in new works and a professor at the Royal Academy of Music. Clio is one of Britain's most important trainers of young string players and most effective orchestral personalities.

Jeff Smith, 46
RADIO 2, HEAD OF MUSIC.
If Radio 1 aids the rise of big singles, at 2 Smith has a major influence on pushing artists up the far more lucrative album chart, publicising musicians for a more mature, wealthier audience.

UP AND COMING


Robin Ticciati, 23
CONDUCTOR
Star of Glyndebourne on Tour, he is talked of by orchestral musicians as the British Dudamel though the evidence is still gut-instinct. He is in concert training with a provincial orchestra in Sweden and has a Rape of Lucretia coming up in Vienna.

Simon Taylor-Davis, 25, James Righton, 24, Jamie Reynolds, 27, Steffan Halperin, 22
KLAXONS
With their dayglo outfits and fondness for sirens this trio may have kick-started nu-rave, but their Mercurywinning debut album, Myths of the Near Future, gives the impression they are capable of transcending fads and becoming one of Britain's most important bands. Whatever they do next will quickly be copied.

Mark Ronson, 32
PRODUCER
Born in London but raised in New York, Ronson has returned to lend his horn-led funk sound to multiple British singing stars and seen it dominate the charts. Both Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen owe their accessible but edgy pop hits to him.

Carolyn Sampson, 33
SOPRANO
She has the voice and the personality to dominate the field. Louder than the average baroque singer, she is bright, charming and thoughtful with a career balanced delicately between Britain, Germany and France. She is ready to move up a grade into big-house contemporary roles.

M.I.A., 30
SINGER
A British musician of Sri Lankan roots with a truly international sound, Maya Arulpragasam's music incorporates reggae, rap, dance music and Baile funk. Though she has yet to score a crossover hit over two remarkable albums, she inspires both newer bands such as CSS and established stars including Timbaland and Missy Elliott, with whom she has recorded.

Do you agree with the list above? Who else deserves to be included? Use the reader comments form below to nominate your own influential person and tell us what you think.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in