John Northcote CEO Of Academy Music Group 1948-2011

John was one-of-a-kind, an industry professional, an easy-going, all-round good guy, classically handsome, with a kind, caring and unassuming personality.

John will be remembered by many as the man who reinvented the live venue circuit, music was his passion and the driving force in his life, right to the end.

His vision to create a network of entertainment venues across the UK made him such a remarkable figure, alongside his commitment to supporting new music, building smaller venues and ‘giving new bands a platform to play’.

Into his fifth decade in the business, John started out in the 70’s in retail, a savvy marketing exec, with a keen eye on the live sector. Little did he realise then the impact he would have in shaping the map of live music venues as we know it today.

His days at Break For The Border Group in the early ‘90s, were the starting point, with John at the helm of the Border Line in Charing Cross, London’s hippest live music venue, booking the likes of Sheryl Crow, Blur and Lenny Kravitz. By 1994, John made the front page of The Times newspaper (16.12.1994), acquiring Shepherd’s Bush Empire to reopen as a live music venue, quickly followed by the purchase of London’s world-famous Brixton Academy.

By 2000, his on-going unique strategy to expand AMG, working with promoters to establish a network of Academy venues across the United Kingdom took shape, securing investment from SJM Concerts and Metropolis Music, soon followed by Live Nation/Gaiety Investments as shareholders.

The importance of Northcote’s work was recognised by The Sunday Times Profit Track team in April 2006, naming Academy Music Group as one of Britain’s “Top 10 To Watch” private companies and more recently, in May 2011,  The Guardian’s “Music Power 100” with John making the prestigious list.

John’s legacy will be bringing together a group of like-minded individuals in his company, Academy Music Group, who like him, share his love of music, energy and the drive to give talented people opportunities, working together with artists, promoters, agents and labels.

There are few people like John in this industry. His hands-on approach, his innovative thinking, his knowledge, his fun and laughter, his expertise and genuine affections for people and music is a tragic loss.

John passed away in hospital after pro-longed illness and our thoughts are with his family and friends.

He will be greatly missed by all at Academy Music Group, our shareholders and everyone who had the honour of knowing and working with him.

John Northcote is survived by his wife Sanae and children. Our thoughts, respect, grace and love are with them.

Long may his legacy continue.

To learn more about John's contribution to live music culture, please read an interview from Mondiale Publishing's Night Magazine, (November 2008).