Rupert Skellett

Rupert Skellett is the Head of Legal (General Counsel) at Beggars Group, one of the UK's leading independent record companies. Based in London, he has been with Beggars Group for over 20 years, playing a pivotal role in legal negotiations and strategic decision-making within the music industry. Skellett initially pursued a career in publishing before transitioning to law, earning a degree from City University of London and completing bar school. He gained early experience at Simkins and James Rubinstein & Co., where he worked on legal matters for music labels like Domino and Beggars Group, eventually becoming their in-house legal expert.23

At Beggars Group, Skellett oversees artist contracts, intellectual property rights, and licensing agreements. He is known for advocating fairer streaming royalty rates for artists and promoting a philosophy that prioritizes music quality over commercial gain. His work also involves navigating challenges such as piracy, data-driven artist acquisition, and the impact of social media on the music industry.134