Clive Rich Biography

Rich Futures is run by Clive Rich, a highly experienced entertainment and digital media lawyer. He has a 25 year pedigree in the Music, Entertainment and Digital sectors as a lawyer, negotiator and strategic director. He is a resourceful and creative negotiator with a record of generating new business quickly and profitably.

Over the years he has drafted and crafted deals for some of the biggest names in the business including Simon Cowell, Sony, My Space and the Royal Opera House. He has also closed deals on behalf of clients with the likes of Annie Lennox, Simply Red, il Divo, Robbie Williams, Apple, Tesco, t-Mobile and Virgin…and not forgetting the production agreement for Britain’s Got Talent and the promoter’s agreement for the X-Factor Tour.

Clive negotiated BMG’s agreements with 19 Entertainment for Pop Idol recording rights worldwide – an agreement which has since generated well-over US$500 million of contribution for BMG worldwide. For a full selection of some of the major deals Clive has been involved with as a lawyer, click here.

Clive also created and ran Sony BMG’s Futures Division between 2004 and 2006. The division was responsible for all Sony BMG’s new and developing business – including its Digital Music business, TV programming and brand partnerships. During this period, Futures developed a USD 50 million annual turnover, including a six-fold increase in Digital income. It was also instrumental in the successful development of Simon Cowell’s ‘Syco’ TV Joint venture with Sony BMG.

Whilst at BMG Clive also masterminded a highly successful Executive Negotiation Training Programme. This became BMG’s most successful training programming over a 10-year period.

Clive introduced a ground-breaking new artist recording contract while a Legal and Business Affairs Vice President at BMG UK. This initiative set a new benchmark for standards of transparency, perceived fairness and ease of use in UK recording agreements.

Other highlights of Clive’s earlier career include negotiating many major, multi-territory deals for BMG with Dido, Westlife, MTV and Italian superstar Eros Ramazzotti.

In the nineties Clive chaired PPL, the cross-industry society which licenses the UK Record Industry’s recordings to users such as BBC TV and Radio, ITV and independent local radio. Clive helped grow annual revenues to £60 million. Clive has also held Business Affairs posts with BMG Music Publishing, WEA Records and K-tel.

He is a qualified Barrister and was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford and the Inns of Court School of Law.