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Ammo Talwar MBE

Chief Executive

Ammo Talwar MBE is the founder and Chief Executive of Punch Records. Having qualified in Civil Engineering, he left the world of engineering to pursue a career in his first love – music and opened Punch Records, the record store, in Birmingham, UK in 1997.

Quickly establishing itself as the key hub in Birmingham for DJs and musicians, the organisation branched out to organise large scale music events across the region, DJ competitions and finally began delivering educational workshops in 1999. In this early period of growth, Ammo still found the time to organise some of the biggest Black music events of the 90s in the Midlands.

With a dedication to demonstrating the contribution and relevance of Black music and culture to mainstream education he regularly speaks at festivals, conferences and seminars across the world. As a consultant for a range of national and international organisations, including Cultural Leadership programme and Arts Council England, he has been instrumental in developing the profile and infrastructure for artists based in the West Midlands and U.K.

He also regularly consults for the public sector around issues of culture and the arts. In 2007 he initiated and produced the world’s first book on Bhangra music.

Ammo is a member of the Council of Arts Council England, West Midlands, Chair of blackroutes – UKs largest African Caribbean Touring Network, Board member for AWM’s Ethnic Minority Forum and continues to lead all aspects of Punch’s expansion.

He was voted the 26th most influential figure in Birmingham and was honoured with an MBE by Her Majesty The Queen in the 2008 New Year’s Honours List for his contribution to music and young people.

Leadership & Learning

0121 224 7444
ammo(at)punch-records.co.uk