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David Joseph (businessman)

(Redirected from David Joseph (executive))
For the Antiguan cricketer, see Dave Joseph. For the Canadian basketball coach, see David Joseph (basketball). For the American lawyer, see David C. Joseph.

David Joseph CBE is a British senior executive and Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). He was Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK from 2008 to 2024 and has been involved in the UK music industry for over 20 years.[1] He holds a number of charitable non-executive positions, including Chair of the Grenfell Foundation and was a member of Arts Council England's National Council from 2013-2021.[2]

David Joseph

Biography

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Early Career

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David Joseph began his career at RCA Records where he was head of artist development, working with artists including Take That, Kylie Minogue and Annie Lennox.

Universal Music

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Joseph joined Universal Music in August 1998 as general manager of the company's Polydor label. In February 2002, Joseph became managing director and later co-president of Polydor. In March 2008, he assumed the role of chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK, overseeing the labels 0207 Def Jam, Island, Polydor, Capitol, Decca and EMI, as well as the world's most famous recording studios Abbey Road.[3] Joseph remained in post until 2024.

During his tenure, Universal Music UK represented successful artists from across the musical spectrum including The Rolling Stones, Elton John, U2, Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons, Take That, The 1975, Sam Smith, Stormzy, Sam Fender, Dave, Lewis Capaldi, Michael Kiwanuka. It also released the music of artists such as Drake, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, and Rihanna. Its catalogue includes the music of Abba, The Beatles and Queen.[4]

BRIT Awards and Unity

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In 2005, Joseph became a member of the BPI Council. From 2010 to 2013 he chaired the Brits Committee, which oversees the Brit Awards.[5] Under his leadership, the BRITs was moved to the O2 arena.[6] 2012's show attracted its biggest television audience since 2005.[7]

In 2020, Joseph oversaw another successful overhaul of the BRIT Awards, which included standout performances from the likes of Dave, Stormzy and Celeste. As reported in Billboard, the show was met with “widespread praise from the UK music industry, with many observers hailing at it as the best BRITs in years”.[8]

In 2013 Joseph worked with Doreen Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon to gather music industry support for Unity, the O2 concert marking the 20th anniversary of Stephen Lawrence's murder.[9]

Film and Media

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In 2015, Joseph became the executive producer of Amy, the documentary film about the late singer Amy Winehouse, directed by Asif Kapadia. Amy became the highest-grossing British documentary of all time, taking £3 million at the box office in its first weekend and has won many awards, among them Best Documentary at the 69th British Academy Film Awards, Best Music Film at the 58th Grammy Awards and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 88th Academy Awards.[9]

Charitable and Public Roles

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In September 2013 he was appointed as a member of the council of Arts Council England where he served two terms.[10] In 2017, Joseph became a trustee and Vice Chair of the Grenfell Foundation, an organisation which supports survivors, bereaved families and the community to remember the event of 14 June 2017 and to keep the memory of their loved ones in hearts and minds.[11] Joseph was appointed Chair of the organisation in December 2024.[12]

Joseph was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to the music industry.[13]

Advocacy and initiatives

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In 2019, Joseph gave an interview in The Evening Standard on the importance of embracing neurodiversity in the workplace.[14] The following year he launched Universal Music’s Creative Differences project, led by the publication of the first handbook for embracing neurodiversity in the creative industries, which was widely covered across BBC networks.[15] He discussed the issue again in 2023 on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.[16]

In 2021, Joseph became an ambassador for the Autism Centre of Excellence (ACE) at Cambridge University. [17] He also supported initiatives on the role of music in health and wellbeing, speaking at the launch of the Power Of Music report in 2022 and its follow up event in 2023[18][19]

The Royal Society of Arts

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In September 2024, Joseph announced that he would be stepping down as Chairman & CEO of Universal Music UK after 26 years at the company. He subsequently began a Master's in Religion & Theology at King's College London.[20]

In June 2025, The Royal Society of Arts announced that he had been appointed as the new chief executive of the RSA. He took up the post in September 2025.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "David Joseph, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK, is leaving the company". Music Business Worldwide. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  2. ^ "About". Grenfell Foundation. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Lucian Grainge promotes David Joseph to Chairman/CEO of Universal Music UK". Ifpi.org. 10 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Our artists | Umusic – The official home of Universal Music UK". Umusic. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  5. ^ "David Joseph Appointed Chairman of BRITs Committee | The BRIT Awards 2013". Brit Awards. 15 March 2010. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  6. ^ Sherwin, Adam (14 February 2011). "Adam Sherwin interviews David Joseph, head of the British arm of Universal Music | Business". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Brit awards TV audience 'the biggest since 2005'". BBC. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  8. ^ "How David Joseph Rebooted The Brits: Fewer Awards & Ads Plus Total Creative Control for Artists". Billboard. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Events | The O2". Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  10. ^ "David Joseph CBE | Arts Council England". www.artscouncil.org.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2020.[dead link]
  11. ^ "The Grenfell Foundation - How We Help". The Grenfell Foundation. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  12. ^ "About". Grenfell Foundation. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  13. ^ "No. 61450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N9.
  14. ^ Edwardes, Charlotte (24 June 2019). "Universal Music CEO David Joseph: Why I'm standing up for difference". London Evening Standard. No. June. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  15. ^ Izundu, Chi Chi (17 January 2020). "Does your company nurture neurodiverse talent?". BBC News. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Best of Today - Professor Jason Arday Guest Edits Today - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Autism Centre of Excellence". 4 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Power Of Music report" (PDF). Music For Dementia. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Two major new music initiatives launched to help people living with dementia". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Universal Music UK CEO & chairman David Joseph to step down after 17 years". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  21. ^ "RSA announces David Joseph as new chief executive". The RSA. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
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