John Mostyn (music manager)

John Mostyn is a prominent music industry figure in the West Midlands, most notable for managing The Beat and later, Fine Young Cannibals.[1]

Mostyn discovered Detroit based group Inner City, who under his direction had the hits 'Big Fun' and 'Good Life'.[2]

Arguably, Mostyn's most notable success was with Fine Young Cannibals, whom he managed after The Beat separated. With Mostyn as manager the band enjoyed huge success, including a Billboard number 1 album with their album The Raw & the Cooked, which has been certified Platinum 11 times around the world. The band initially had great difficulty securing a recording contract. As described in an interview[3] with John Mostyn : -

"We'd gone, in three months, from every record company rejecting them to every record company wanting them; that's what managers do."

Mostyn is also credited with launching Ocean Colour Scene, via his own Phffft label.[4]

Though not originally from Birmingham[5] Mostyn has spent most of his professional life in Birmingham.[2] He has had considerable influence in the area's music industry, reportedly bringing over £30 million into the local economy.[1] Mostyn was also involved in the launch of 2 Tone Records, as referenced in his biography at mostyn.net : -

"Gerry Dammers of the then unheard of ‘Specials’ bought a copy of their first single to John and announced that he was concerned that they would be able to sell their first pressing of a thousand. John immediately booked the band on a national tour and Chrysalis records picked up the band and the ‘Two Tone’ label. The Two Tone explosion was under way."[6]

Mostyn has recently been working as tour manager for James Hunter.

Mostyn is now running Bob Lamb's (ex-UB40 producer) studio in Birmingham, now known as Highbury Studio.[7] The studio has been used in the past by such notable acts as Duran Duran, Ocean Colour Scene and Stephen Duffy.[8] Currently it hosts some of Birmingham's finest artists such as Ruby Turner, Alternative Dubstep Orchestra, and Goodnight Lenin.[9]