Mushroom Music's Korda Marshall Receives Honorary Doctorate Of Music

Mushroom Music’s Managing Director – International, Korda Marshall, has received the University of West London's highest honour: the Honorary Doctorate of Music for his achievements and services to music.

Being awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Music puts Marshall in esteemed company alongside The Who’s Pete Townshend, who studied at the prestigious University of West London with music icons Freddie Mercury and The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood.

Marshall’s illustrious career of signing big names in rock and pop began at RCA in 1983. He went on to work at Atlantic Records, Warner Music Group, BMG, and Mushroom Records and launched the record labels Infectious and Contagious.

Throughout his career, Marshall signed or worked with artists including Eurythmics, Take That, Madonna, R.E.M., My Chemical Romance, The Darkness, Muse, Rick Astley, Garbage, James Blunt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, The Temper Trap, DMA’S, alt-J, Bloc Party, Morrissey, Blondie, The Prodigy, Pendulum, You Me At Six, and more.

In a press release, Marshall described his latest award as a “great honour.”

Adding that his career achievements “owe a great deal” to his Bachelor of Arts degree from Canterbury Art College, Marshall continued: “It has stood me in great stead over the years as it's often difficult to quantify an arts education, but the lawyers, accountants, businessmen and other disbelievers tend to take you more seriously if they know that you studied at a college and have a degree to your name.”

“Music and the arts are such an important part of our lives and our culture, especially in these very easily connected digital times,” Marshall’s statement continues. “With emerging AI, it is now more important than ever that authentic musicians and artists enjoy the gravitas and support of governments and the broader education environment worldwide, particularly in schools and colleges where maths, science, and the increasing emergence of tech businesses is enabling the stealing of artists copyrights for their own political AI agenda.”

Marshall concluded, “I’m very proud to have been given this award and look forward to working with and helping develop the next generation of artists, producers, managers, and music entrepreneurs together with the amazing lectures and teachers at the college.”

Sharing support for his colleague, Mushroom Group Chief Executive Matt Gudinski said, “Korda is a highly regarded member of the Gudinski and Mushroom family. He has made a remarkable contribution to the global music industry, and I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of this honour.”

Marshall also received congratulations from the artists he’s worked with throughout his career.

In a statement, Blondie said, “Congratulations on being awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of West London! In addition to being an A&R Icon, a mentor, a friend and an inspiration to all artists throughout your esteemed career we respectfully recognize your achievements and services to music. Korda, you are an inspiration, and we could not be happier for you on this worthy and well-earned accomplishment.”

Garbage singer Shirley Manson commented, “Korda Marshall has been the one true constant over the course of my music career. In a sea of corporates who rarely give a damn about artists, Korda distinguishes himself as one who always does. A long-term strategist, risk taker, art lover. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work so closely with him for nigh on four decades. Lucky me.”

Sharing his own ambitions in a message to Marshall, The Darkness ringleader Justin Hawkins said: “I loved working with Korda - you hear stories about maverick A&R genius types that put their arses on the line for acts that don’t necessarily fit in, and he demonstrated exactly that type of belief in The Darkness; a potentially career-busting pub rock band from Lowestoft.

“I can remember pulling at a bit of ceiling in a venue in Peterborough, ending up with the whole thing collapsing on me at the end of the set. I only did that to impress Korda, because I knew he was there and I wanted to make an impression. He inspired me to bring the house down time and time again.

“Congratulations Korda! And I look forward to joining you as an Honorary Doctor in the near future…”