Music publisher Steve Lewis: ‘Being honoured by Paul McCartney’s LIPA is better than a knighthood’

30 July 2019 - Press release

Former Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd Managing Director Steve Lewis has described being made a Companion of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) as “one of the proudest moments of my career”.
 
Steve, who joined Virgin while still at school in 1969, received the honour from Sir Paul McCartney at LIPA’s graduation ceremony in Liverpool on Friday 26 July. Steve says: “With the greatest of respect to Her Majesty (a very nice girl), having this honour conferred on me by Sir Paul was even better than receiving a knighthood.”
 
LIPA awards Companionships for two reasons: outstanding achievement and making a practical contribution to the Institute’s learning. Steve has nearly 50 years of music industry experience and visited LIPA earlier this year to take part in a Q&A session with students studying the Management degree. Steve says he was impressed. “The students are taught by people with real experience in the industry as performers and managers themselves.
 
“They not only acquire the necessary technical knowledge but are also prepared for the real-world challenges they will meet in the workplace.”
 
Steve was Deputy MD of the Virgin label and MD of Virgin Music (Publishers), CEO of the Music Division of Chrysalis Group Plc and Founder/CEO of Stage Three Music. Steve continues to work as a music publisher in partnership with Andre de Raaff's CTM and sits on the boards of several music tech companies. He hopes to spend more time with LIPA Management students in the future and believes the course is playing an important role. “It is training the next generation of managers and with so many graduates already working within the industry, LIPA is already established as a vital contributor to its future.”
 
LIPA’s Management of Music, Entertainment, Theatre & Events degree course enables students to develop a deep understanding of business, management and marketing and then apply these skills to real projects and productions at LIPA and the outside world.
 
Steve was one of nine Companions at this year’s ceremony, receiving the honour alongside Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry and Mike Batt. Orange amplifiers founder and CEO Cliff Cooper was made an Honoured Friend.