London-based artist manager Colin Lester has been made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s New Years Honours List.

The OBE is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service.

Lester, who is the founder and CEO of JEM Artists has received the honour in recognition of his services to the music industry and to charity.

Craig David, the UK artist Lester has represented as manager for over two decades, has also been honoured in this year’s list with an MBE for services to British music.

Colin Lester began his career as a musician in the late 1970s before making the move into artist management.

In 1994 he launched Wildlife Entertainment, which represented such artists as The Brand New Heavies, Travis and the Arctic Monkeys before launching a label, Wildstar Records, which released Craig David’s debut album Born to Do It and achieved sales in excess of 13m copies.

In October 2008 Lester launched a new company, CLM Entertainment, while in 2010 he became CEO of Twenty First Artists, the management company owned by Universal Music Group.

JEM Artists was launched in 2015 and represents a roster of internationally successful artists, songwriters and producers including Craig David.

Colin Lester said: “I have spent my entire professional career in the music industry and I’ve never had to work a day in my life. To be recognized with an OBE is a huge honour and I would like to dedicate it to my family, all the artists I have had the privilege to represent and the amazing charities I am proud to support.”

“I have spent my entire professional career in the music industry and I’ve never had to work a day in my life.”

Colin Lester

Other music industry figures named in the Queen’s New Years Honours List include Steven Kapur – also known as Apache Indian – who receives an MBE for services to music and to young people.

Yasin El Ashrafi, the founder of HQ Recording Studio in Leicester, is awarded an MBE for services to young people, music and mentoring.Music Business Worldwide