About Chris

Chris Jenkins was born in 1979 in Bournemouth and got his first taste of showbiz when he and three friends formed the rock band Tube when he was 14 and bought a bass guitar.

In 1999 Chris founded the National Student Music Awards in the UK and moved to London, licenced the event in Ireland and was soon promoting concerts all over the UK. NSMA was a huge success, working with BBC, MTV, Sony, EMI and brilliant sponsors to showcase the future of the music business.

A couple of years later Chris moved back to Bournemouth and started bringing bands to his local venues. His company, Big Gig Concerts. promoted acts from Snow Patrol to Ben Kweller and Reef.

In 2003, Chris was asked to look after things at his hometown venues, the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) and Pavilion Theatre. It was almost destiny, as the BIC helped with his A-Level business studies project 'a feasibility study of being a concert promoter in Bournemouth', (apparently it was not feasible). His first live gig was at the BIC in 1991 (The 'Quo'). Ten years later his rock band Tube played at the venue twice. In 2002 (despite his Business Studies project, he got a 'B') he promoted a string of concerts at the venue... and in 2003 they gave him his own desk and he bought a suit. In 2008, after 5 great years, Chris left the BIC to pursue some new challenges.

In 2008 Chris co-founded the Dorset Music Forum (formally Chair of Bournemouth & Poole Music Industry Group), and joined the South West Music Forum, to develop the music industry in his hometown. In 2007 he launched 'Sun, Sea & Sound' a music industry week, providing opportunities and support for the future of the business.

Chris started managing the singer and songwriter Streebeck . His debut album "Without A Baedeker" (Label: NSMA Records. Dist. Universal Music) sold thousands and in 2006 in went on a huge 48-date sold out theatre tour with David Essex. Streebeck is now recording his second album.

In October 2007 Chris won the Chamber of Commerce Best Start-Up 2007 for his project Wittdo, and in April 2008 became Director of TLM the Tourism Leisure and Music Company based in the UK.

TLM work in partnership with and provide consultation to large leisure/event facilities, sporting stadia, music companies, local authorities and government bodies in the UK, focusing on audience development and demand generation. Alongside projects with innovative companies including Live Nation, Creative and Cultural Skills, Nottingham Arena and Solent Leisure, Chris is also heading up a number of local projects in Boscombe in his hometown.

In November 2008 Chris won the British Chamber of Commerce "Most Promising New Business" Award for the South West of England. TLM is going from strength to strength.