The music business is mourning the loss of two hugely important figures from Music Week’s history, with both former editor David Dalton and ex-publisher Tony Evans passing away recently.
David Dalton edited Music Week between 1985 and 1990, halcyon days for the UK biz, before moving to a Music Group editor role in an era of magazine and newsletter launches – Dalton launched Music Business International – and development of industry awards shows. Regarded as a brilliant wordsmith and editor, he played a pivotal role in changes to the ownership and management of the UK charts. He later moved to San Francisco and became CEO of respected US music and radio magazine The Gavin Report. He returned to the UK and based himself in Norfolk, with interests in publishing and online businesses. He leaves a wife, Julia, and a son, Harry.
Tony Evans started his career at Our Price before joining Music Week’s ad sales operation in the ‘80s. He later served on Billboard before returning to Music Week, becoming publisher and taking the title to new commercial heights in the glorious early ‘90s era. In later years he embraced technology in various freelance marketing roles, and worked as corporate development director for digital marketing firm Crimtan. He leaves a wife, Judith Rivers (also formerly of Music Week), and two daughters, Alice and Florence.
Steve Redmond, SVP global corporate communications at BMG, who succeeded Dalton as Music Week editor and worked alongside Evans, said: “This has been an incredibly sad week for everyone who worked at Music Week through those exciting years of the early Nineties. Much like today, this was a period of incredible change and opportunity and David and Tony were right in the thick of it.
“David Dalton combined a sharp wit with a quiet authority which paved the way for much of what we take for granted in the British music industry itself – from the first iteration of what is now the Official Charts Company, to his international perspective, moving to San Francisco to run the hugely influential US tipsheet The Gavin Report.
“Meanwhile, in Tony Evans I personally found the perfect foil. He provided a commercial backbone to Music Week combined with a creative eye rare in magazine publishers – and all at a time of great innovation and larger-than-life characters in British music.
“Both David and Tony will be very warmly remembered.”
Another former Music Week editor, Selina Webb, now EVP of Universal Music UK, paid tribute to Dalton, saying: “An instantly likeable man with a sharp mind and dry wit, David was a supportive and patient boss for this cub reporter in her first job in ‘the smoke’. I’d lost touch with him when he moved to the US, but he was the first to email when the news broke of Prince’s death, remembering what a huge fan I’d been. David was the calm voice of reason at a very lively time for our industry, a gentleman who was liked and respected by everyone. He will be much missed.”
Former MW staffer Nick Robinson, now SVP business development, creative at Kobalt said: “David gave me my first job in the music business and for that I'll always be very grateful. He was a kind, bright and wonderfully unassuming man with an endearing dry wit about him. To me, he was one of the greats of our business but more importantly just a lovely man. RIP.”
The news follows the passing of another former Music Week editor, Rodney Burbeck, in the summer.
Music Week extends its deepest condolences to all the families, friends and colleagues affected.
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