Steve Levine Appointed Chairman Of The Music Producers Guild

The Music Producers Guild (UK) has announced the appointment of Steve Levine as its new Chairman, with immediate effect.
The appointment follows the resignation of Mike Howlett, who has left the post to take up the position of Associate Professor and Head of Music and Sound at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.
As an award-winning producer of international acclaim, Steve Levine is ideally placed to represent the Music Producers Guild. He is already a member of the Musicians Union's executive committee and a director of PRS, MCPS and BASCA, which he represents on the UK Music board.
Speaking on behalf of the Music Producers Guild, Mike Howlett said: "We are absolutely delighted that Steve has agreed to take on the mantle of MPG Chairman. As well as being a highly respected music producer, Steve is well placed in the music industry and I know he will be a capable and articulate voice to carry forward the Music Producers Guild mission of speaking for the interests of recording professionals.
"The MPG is engaged with industry, with government and with education to ensure that the perspective of creative recording professionals is heard. Issues such as copyright extension, digital rights and the value of intellectual property in music affect all our members. I am confident that Steve Levine will be a strong representative voice in these arenas."
Commenting on his appointment, Steve Levine added: "I am really thrilled that the Music Producers Guild has asked me to be the next chairman. Mike has done a superb job, as witnessed by the huge success of the inaugural Music Producers Guild Awards earlier this year - an event that has significantly raised our profile. I intend to build on the positive effect that the Awards have achieved. My roles on the various music business boards will, I hope, be invaluable to the Music Producers Guild. Most creators share the same aims, trying to earn a living from those creative efforts. In this current climate the role of the record producer has become more important than ever. A whole new generation of artistes require the services of a professional record producer. The Music Producers Guild is best suited to help the record production community achieve their aims."
Steve Levine has been involved in record production since 1975 and has worked with many renowned artists, as well as composing a number of film scores. he produced all of Culture club's classic hits including the band's three multi-platinum albums, and has also worked with artists such as The Beach Boys, China Crisis, Gary Moore, Westworld, Lemmy & Motorhead and Deniece Williams - a project that earned him a Grammy in 1987.
Levine has also appeared on many radio and TV programmes and is a regular speaker at various pro audio seminars. His radio production company, Magnum Opus Broadcasting, produces The Record Producers, a radio documentary series for BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music that focuses on the art of record production from the producer's perspective. Now in its third series, this programme has featured many of the world's best known producers including Trevor Horn, Arif Mardin, Nile Rodgers, Tony Visconti, Hugh Padgham and Stock, Aitken & Waterman. Programmes for the third series, which will be broadcast over coming weeks, focus on Mick Jones, Brian Wilson, 10cc, Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn.
In his capacity as a record producer, Levine is currently working with a number of new bands for his label Hubris Records. Among these are new signings The Glitches, Patch Williams and Natalie McCool.
As the Music Producers Guild's new chairman, Steve Levine will spearhead the Guild's involvement with the Producer Managers Group of the Music Managers Forum which is currently working to find new ways for producers to be remunerated for their work. He will also engage with PPL, which is working with the Music Producers Guild to formulate a new process for registering performer contributions to recordings.
(KMcA/JM)