Tessa Watts (born 1945) is an English music video and music film producer. She has worked with artists including Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Phil Collins, Beyoncé, INXS, and George Michael.[1] She is best known for her work at Virgin Records, and with MTV International.
Watts' career started at Virgin Records, where she was Press Officer for bands including the Sex Pistols. Her work with the band plunged the record company into the mainstream of the punk rock era.[2] Soon promoted to Director of Production at Virgin Records, she commissioned over 1,500 music videos, including Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" video. "Sledgehammer" (1987) is the most awarded music video of all time, and won Best Video Awards in the UK, Europe (including at Cannes) and the USA.[3] In 1999, it ranked at number four on MTV's 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made, and has also been declared to be MTV's number one animated video of all time.[4] MTV later announced that it is the most played music video in the history of the station. The video was partly animated by Academy Award winner Nick Park (of Wallace and Gromit fame); the video was Park's first job at Aardman Animations.[5]
In 1986, Watts set up the programming department for the European launch of MTV.[2] Three years later, she received a Grammy Nomination for producing Mike + The Mechanics' acclaimed music video for "The Living Years".[6][7]
In 1989, Watts was named Managing Director of Propaganda Films (Adaptation, Being John Malkovich) in London, working with directors including David Fincher and Michael Bay.[8] In 2002, she began working with Sanctuary Records Group as the director of production. She was recruited by Metropolis Group in 2006 as an Executive Producer for the company's broadcast production division.[9]
Watts is divorced from renowned rock journalist Michael Watts, formerly of music magazine Melody Maker, with whom she has two children.[10]