PANEL WHO SAID YES

So who are the figures at the heart of the watson appointment? we reveal the ten directors — and aren’t there some cosy connections?

DAVID MARTIN, 40, general manager of Featured Artists Coalition. Worked in the Department of Health and Social Care under both Labour and Conservative administrations.

CRISPIN HUNT, 52, vocalist with alternative rock band Longpigs, now a songwriter and producer who has worked with Lana del Ray and Ellie Goulding. Hunt is the stepson of former Labour minister Mark Fisher. Delighted at Watson’s appointment, describing him as the ‘right person for the moment and beyond. Congratulations’.

PAUL PACIFICO, 44, head of the Association of Independent Music. Last week, he re-tweeted Watson’s idea for a ‘Marshall Amp’ plan to revive the music industry post-Covid. Welcomed his appointment.

CAMERON CRAIG, 56, Grammy award-winning producer who has worked with Adele, Amy Winehouse, Grace Jones, Tina Turner and Annie Lennox. Tweeted support for Watson when he was appointed.

ANNABELLA COLDRICK, 43, chief executive of the Music Managers Forum. Coldrick featured in a picture with Paul Pacifico and Cameron Craig which was posted on Facebook in February 2017, when UK Music held a dinner for the Labour Party front bench, including Watson.

PETER LEATHEM, 54, chief executive of Phonographic Performance Ltd. Tweeted his congratulations to Watson on his new job.

GED DOHERTY, 62, chairman of the British Phonographic Industry. He is said to have described the damage caused by Watson’s appointment as ‘equivalent to Momentum and the Labour Party’.

HORACE TRUBRIDGE, 63, general secretary of the Musicians’ Union. Appeared in a Labour For A Public Vote video on YouTube.

ROBERTO NERI, 47, chair of the Music Publishers Association. Posted on Twitter his congratulations to Watson.

ANDREA MARTIN, 60, chief executive of PRS For Music. No obvious links to either Watson or the Labour Party.