Viv Broughton

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Wikipedia

Viv Broughton
Born (1943-05-24) 24 May 1943 (age 82)
Other namesViv Andrews
OccupationsMusic entrepreneur and writer
Known forOwner and CEO of The Premises Studios
Notable workToo Close to Heaven: The Illustrated History of Gospel Music (1996)

Viv Broughton (born 24 May 1943) is a British studio owner, music entrepreneur and writer, who is CEO of The Premises Studios, described by London Jazz News as "a vitally important and popular London recording and rehearsal venue".[1] A one-time early member of rock group The Pretty Things, Broughton went on to help launch The Voice newspaper in 1982, as well as being a gospel historian, and author of the Channel 4 book Too Close to Heaven: The Illustrated History of Gospel Music (1996).

Background

Early career

Broughton had an early career as a musician in the 1960s, under the name Viv Andrews, playing with David Bowie[2] and with rock group The Pretty Things as a drummer.[3][4]

In 1982, he helped launch The Voice,[5] a weekly newspaper aimed at the British African-Caribbean community, being brought in as marketing manager by founder Val McCalla, and from April 1983 Broughton wrote a column in the newspaper called "Soul Stirrings", which featured many up-and-coming artists.[6] He was also a mentor and manager to groups and singers including Mica Paris,[7][8] who has said: "Viv Broughton has done a lot for gospel music, and there has been a total lack of recognition for his incredible contribution to pushing and contributing to its growth."[9]

Black Gospel

As a gospel music historian, Broughton is the author of the books Black Gospel: An Illustrated History of the Gospel Sound (1985) and Too Close to Heaven: The Illustrated History of Gospel Music (1996), which tied in with a Channel 4 television series.[10] According to Tony Cummings of Cross Rhythms magazine, he "brings real overview to a story populated with hundreds of major figures and as a starting off point in exploring the absorbing history of possibly THE most important musical stories of the 20th century it's unlikely there'll be a better book than this....Britain's Viv Broughton is to be congratulated for coming up with a vivid history of a music in a work that no American writer has come close to equalling."[11]

The Premises

Since 1996, Broughton has been owner and chief executive of The Premises Studios near Haggerston, in Hackney, London, transforming it into a musical institution that is much sought after by high-profile artistes for rehearsal space and recording, with innovative ventures including the installation of solar panels and the opening of a café.[12][13] In addition, he launched The Premises Music Education Programme, partnering with other not-for-profit organisations to provide workshops and courses.[14] Broughton once characterised The Premises as "…between a hotel and a crèche for noisy overgrown children".[15] In a November 2025 article in The Observer, he was quoted as saying: "What we’ve established here is a seven-day-a-week art centre that operates entirely self-sufficiently... It's a business model for how an art centre can function without being subsidised, and I don't think there's anything like it anywhere in Britain."[16]

Tomorrow's Warriors

Broughton is a trustee of jazz music education and artist development organisation Tomorrow's Warriors.[17] He served as chair of the board until September 2025, when he was succeeded in the role by Tove Okunniwa MBE.[18][19]

Bibliography

  • Black Gospel: An Illustrated History of the Gospel Sound, Blandford Press, 1985, ISBN 978-0713715408.
  • Too Close to Heaven: The Illustrated History of Gospel Music (A Channel Four Book), Midnight Books, 1996, ISBN 978-1900516006.

References

  1. ↑ Conway, Peter (21 April 2020). "RIP Julia Craik (Managing Director of The Premises Studios, Hackney)". London Jazz News. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "Ep04 Viv Broughton, CEO The Premises Studios". Listen Notes. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  3. ↑ "The Pretty Things / Philippe de Barge acetate 1968". Willy-rock.blogspot.co.uk. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  4. ↑ Simpson, W.: "Heaven in Hackney", pp. 24–25. Musician Magazine, 2008.
  5. ↑ Muir, Hugh (29 September 2003). "Who will revive the Voice?". The Guardian.
  6. ↑ Smith, Steve Alexander (2009). "Viv Broughton". British Black Gospel: The Foundations of this Vibrant UK Sound. Monarch Books. pp. 78–79.
  7. ↑ Sauvebois, Marion (2 July 2015). "Mica Paris out to prove love conquers injustice". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  8. ↑ Freyne, Patrick (8 June 2019). "Mica Paris: 'Bankruptcy just means you made too much money'". Irish Times.
  9. ↑ Fletcher, Juliet (3 December 2020). "Mica's journey from Gospel to Gospel". Keep the Faith Magazine. No. 129. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  10. ↑ Viv Broughton, at Amazon.
  11. ↑ Cummings, Tony (1 October 1996). "Viv Broughton - Too Close To Heaven: The Illustrated History Of Gospel Music". Cross Rhythms. No. 35. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  12. ↑ "The Premises recording studio celebrates 25 years". Hackney Citizen. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  13. ↑ Adams, Steven (3 October 2008). "Rockin' in the office". The Guardian.
  14. ↑ Sutherland, Steve (13 October 2023). "The Premises Studios". Hi-Fi News & Record Review. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  15. ↑ Boeglin, Claudine (4 July 2019). "Indie Series: Premises Studios, between hell and heaven". Dandy Vagabonds. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  16. ↑ Blythe, Finn (23 November 2025). "The corner cafe where music history is made". The Observer. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "Trustees and Committee Members". Tomorrow's Warriors. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  18. ↑ Flynn, Mike (22 September 2025). "Tomorrow's Warriors Announces New Leadership in Landmark Move for UK Jazz". Jazzwise. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "Tomorrow's Warriors reveals new appointments to board and senior management team". MusicWeek. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.