Robert Wilson (music entrepreneur)


Robert Allan David Wilson, MBE is an entrepreneur, musician and philanthropist who lives in Knebworth, Hertfordshire.
He was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours, 2016 for services to the music industry and charity.

Music industry

Until May 2018, Wilson was the Chair of Sound Technology Ltd which he founded in February 1978. It is currently one of the largest independent distributors of musical instruments and professional audio products in the UK and Republic Of Ireland and earned a lifetime achievement award by NORD in 2018.
For the last 40 years, Wilson has been Director of the Music Industries Association a UK trade association. It is the only one servicing and representing the interests of all UK businesses selling musical instruments and associated products. In 2003, Wilson was recognised for his 25 years' service, and in 2006, received a lifetime achievement award. In 2019 he officially retired from MIA.
Robert continues to play an important part in supporting the music industry.

Charity work

From 1980 to April 2017, Wilson was a Director for Music for Youth, a national youth arts charity giving young people free access to life-changing opportunities to perform & discover music across the UK.
Wilson was the Director of NAMM from 2008-2011. The National Association of Music Merchants is a not-for-profit association that promotes the pleasures and benefits of making music and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry. As president in 2005 he contributed to their Oral History project and again in 2018.. Wilson received awards in recognition of his dedicated service as a Director and for his excellent service in the Music Products Industry. In 2020 he was awarded the NAMM Oral History Service Award.
He is a Member of KickingBack, a not-for-profit charity events and private functions dance band based in Hertfordshire.