Latham Gaining Influence

Live Nation U.K. President Paul Latham is gaining influence in the London music business, according to the city’s Evening Standard newspaper.

He’s one of the new entries on a list of 50 people compiled by a panel of the paper’s contributors.

Although the paper says “live music – be it opera or rock festivals – is proving more popular than ever,” Latham and AEG Live Europe managing director Rob Hallett are the only two from the contemporary side of the business to make the Top 50.

The paper compiles a list of London’s 1,000 most influential people and splits them into 22 categories.

Hallett, who came in fourth place last year, which was the first time the list was published, is No. 39 and Latham is a place behind him.

Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge comes out on top of the music list, as he did last year. Sony Music U.K. chief Ged Doherty is No. 13, Warner Music Europe president John Reid is 15th, and new EMI supremo Guy Hands is 16th, although he also made 19th place on the financial list.

Simon Fuller of 19 Entertainment came in third and “X Factor” founder Simon Cowell was 22nd, but came in at No. 2 on the TV and radio list.

Although artists occupy many of the top slots – with Coldplay at No. 4 followed by Amy Winehouse (6), Madonna (7), Mark Ronson (11), Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke (13) and Damon Albarn (21), a couple of PR gurus made a bold showing.
Outside Organisation chief exec Alan Edwards came 26th, and MBC Publicity director Barbara Charone was No. 31.