The Story of Darcus Beese
We go behind the scenes and celebrate the career of music industry great, Darcus Beese
Black Music Magazines Through The Last 40 Years (2022) by Laura BrosnanTRENCH
Rarely in the UK music scene do we tell the stories of those behind the curtain, those who built the infrastructure enabling artists to thrive today. In the vast network of music executives and label heads, Darcus Beese’s name carries significant weight.
Person Doing Tricks With Cassette Tape by Ashutosh SonwaniTRENCH
Responsible for the careers of Amy Winehouse, Jessie J and Florence + The Machine, and having a hand in those of Drake, Nicki Minaj and The Weeknd, Beese has kept his finger on UK music’s pulse, pinpointing diamonds and highlighting their strengths.
Mangrove 9 Protest (1970/1970) by The National ArchivesNotting Hill Carnival
The son of the honourable Darcus Howe and Barbara Beese—both of whom were intimately involved in Britain’s Black Panther Party and members of the Mangrove Nine in the 1970s.
Mangrove Community Association (1983/1983)Notting Hill Carnival
Beese brought the revolutionary zeal in his DNA to music boardrooms, first interning at Island Records as a teenager in the late 1980s.
Working his way up, as an A&R Director he signed the late, great Amy Winehouse, securing his status as one of the most intelligent and savvy minds in the industry. Beese later became President of Island Records working with established acts like Robbie Williams and Dizzee Rascal.
He developed new stars such as Disclosure and Jessie Ware while welcoming international stars like Ariana Grande and Post Malone to the UK market.
Producer Jae 5's equipment in his music studio by Laura BrosnanTRENCH
Now Executive Vice President at Warner Music UK, with a new imprint of his own to boot, Beese’s impact on British music is tenfold.
By William J SumitsLIFE Photo Collection
From the critical and commercial success of the artists he’s championed to the OBE next to his name, honoured in 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music.
An Image of Glowing Abtract Lights by andre-moura-4021521.jpegTRENCH
Establishing a balance between complimenting the stars of today and nurturing those of tomorrow, Beese has been a model example of a trusted executive who gets it right.
A person who understands the importance of making artists all they can be, blazing a trail for other would-be executives to follow—a true mark of a man who has dedicated his life to music and rearranged the building blocks of the scene.
This digital work has been produced in collaboration with PRS Foundation and POWER UP. The article first featured in TRENCH x Union Black's Chapter One: Game Changers zine.
Words by Yemi Abiade
Photography by Laura Brosnan [Frank Archives]
Videos by Island Records, Radar
Commissioned by TRENCH
