Neil West

Head of Apple Services and Apple Music (2006-2023).
Innovator and Digital Expert. TEDx speaker.

Language:

English

Who is Neil West?

Neil West is a pioneer and key figure in the digital entertainment industry. With 25 years at the forefront of content business transformation, West has been a driving force in changing how the world enjoys music, video, apps, books, and more. His work at Apple, as Head of Music and Head of Services in the UK and Europe, has positioned him as an influential leader in digital transformation and leading customers through change.

What are his conferences like?

Neil West's conferences are known for their inspiring ideas and innovative approach. Sharing stories and learnings from Apple, West offers his audience a unique perspective and hugely valuable lessons. Blending personal stories with trend analysis, West offers insights on the evolution of the digital market, what the future holds, and how all organisations can take inspiration from the world’s most successful company. His engaging style makes his presentations an educational and entertaining experience.

What is his career trajectory?

Neil West's career is remarkable, highlighted by his leadership at Apple, where he led the music team in Europe as iTunes rose to become the world's largest music retailer. He led Apple’s Services businesses — App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Books, Apple Podcasts, Fitness+ — in Southern Europe. Prior to joining Apple he served as European Editor-in-Chief for Rhapsody, the world's first music streaming subscription service. West has also been the Creative Director of San Francisco startup GarageBand.com and Editor-in-Chief of NEXT Generation, the leading US videogames magazine. His #4 position in The Guardian's Music Power 100 is a testament to his influence in the industry.

Selection of conferences:

Keep it Simple: Lessons from Apple

Steve Jobs said “Simple can be harder than complex. But once you get there you can move mountains.” By keeping it simple, Apple has grown into the world’s most successful company.
Humans intuitively understand the power of simple. We respond to simple messages, we thrive on simple food, and we’re programmed to prefer doing less thinking. But it’s easy for complexity to creep into our projects, our systems, and our products. Simplicity can quickly vanish. Simplicity is difficult.
The good news is Apple shows us how to do it. Apple products deliver cutting edge technology in a way that is simple to understand. Simplicity informs the way Apple communicates. Simplicity guides the way Apple sets goals and makes decisions. Simplicity informs how Apple manages its teams.
Neil West will share fascinating stories and insightful lessons enabling you and your business to emulate Apple and succeed by keeping it simple.

Leading customers through change: Lessons from Apple

Apple has reinvented not one but three entire industries; computers, telecommunications, and digital entertainment. Apple has grown into the world’s most successful company by encouraging billions of customers to embrace change.
How does Apple do it?
Neil West will share key lessons from Apple in leading customers through change: A promise to enrich lives. Building trust. Clear communication. Ruthless focus. Keeping it simple. And going all in when it matters.
We’ll hear from Steve Jobs, we’ll look at some of Apple’s most famous advertising campaigns, and we’ll see how Tim Cook leaves nothing to chance on stage. We’ll learn how Apple successfully leads customers through change, and how you and your business can do it too.

Apple, The Beatles, and Team Management

Your teams are your most valuable asset. Managing them properly is your #1 priority. In this entertaining talk Neil West will cover the most important principles of great team management using Apple and The Beatles as inspiring case studies.
Why The Beatles? The Beatles are the most successful team in music history.
Why Apple? Steve Jobs said “my model for management is The Beatles” and put this into practise at Apple.
Covering recruitment, chemistry, collaboration, innovation, goals, and evolution, we’ll learn how Apple and The Beatles show all team managers how to excel. Along the way we’ll listen to some great music, hear from Steve Jobs, and leave feeling inspired and entertained.

Revolutionizing the Music Industry

The iTunes Music Store changed the way the world buys content and was Apple’s pivot into Services. It grew from nothing to the world’s biggest music store in just seven years.
In this talk, Neil West narrates the thrilling journey from his perspective as Apple’s Head of Music in Europe. He shares stories of Beyoncé, The Beatles and Bono, and from behind the scenes at the iTunes Festival. He shares key learnings from the journey, and finishes with a glimpse of how we’ll all be listening to music in the future…

The Future of Digital Entertainment: Trends and Predictions

This talk offers a deep dive into future trends in digital entertainment. Neil West uses his experience to predict how consumption habits will evolve and what new technologies will play a crucial role in the industry.

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