Born in Brighton in 1947, Hollier was raised in West Cumberland.[1] In the mid-1960s he moved to London where he became involved in the city's folk scene, playing in the duo the Sovereigns.[1][2] He graduated in Fine Arts and Graphic Design in 1968, and was signed by United Artists Records, who released his debut album, Message to a Harlequin, in October that year, described by Allmusic as "hauntingly beautiful".[1][2][3] In November he recorded a session for the BBC's Night Ride radio show.[4]
In 1969 he moved to Fontana Records, releasing his self-titled second album the following year.[2] He followed this with Sky Sail in 1971 on Philips Records, described by Allmusic as Hollier's "magnum opus".[2][5] He performed several times on radio, including a half-hour Tim Hollier and Friends show on BBC Radio 1 in 1970.[6]
In 1973 he started the Songwriters Workshop label, signing artists such as Peter Sarstedt and later Ed Welch.[2][7][8]
Hollier's final solo album was The Story of Mill Reef (1974), a collection of songs about the famous race horse recorded for a Yorkshire TV documentary.
In the late 1970s Hollier teamed up with Chris Cooksey and Lynda Taylor in the shortlived group the Softrock, releasing one album in 1980.[9] He also started the Softrock Music publishing company.[8]
Having moved into music publishing in the late 1970s, in 1983 he co-founded Filmtrax plc, which went on to own major catalogues including the ABBA Catalogue of Songs, Columbia Pictures Music Group, Novello & Co, and Belwin Mills.[1][2] In 1984 he acquired Leosong, retaining a 25% share in the company and serving as chairman until leaving in 1996 after disagreements with majority shareholder Mark Levinson.[10] In 1999 he founded Screen Music Services, and later co-founded Music Copyright Solutions plc.[1] In 2008 he co-founded the Atlantic Screen Group of companies.[1][11]
Hollier died on 5 July 2017 due to complications of surgery.[1]
