In the late 1960s/early 1970s he worked for the National Supply Company oilfield division of Armco Steel, out of Houston, Texas, and Louisiana, on the early development of sub-sea wellheads and blow-out preventers.

During the 1980s, Michael Watt engaged in personal client management, including individuals such as F1 driver Alan Jones, cricketer Imran Khan.

[9][10] In 2014, Watt joined former All Black rugby captain Richie McCaw, Simon Apperley and Ben Domer as partners of the SOL Group[11][12] Watt produced numerous albums since the 1990s, most notably Vince Mendoza's Grammy-nominated Epiphany in 1999, which is considered a classic by many in the jazz music industry including Bill Laurance of Snarky Puppy, John Beasley and The Juilliard School of Music.

[14] Watt was an executive producer on a number of musical albums for artists including Herbie Hancock, Bill Laurance, Vince Mendoza, Ian Shaw and the Sonoran-based minimalist Jeff Greinke.

The label's most notable signing was alt-J, who won the 2012 British Barclaycard Mercury Prize for their debut album An Awesome Wave, which reached Platinum certification in the UK.

Their other signings include General Fiasco, Local Natives, Cloud Control, Drenge, Superfood, RY X, The Acid, These New Puritans, and Vance Joy.

This program champions diversity, inclusion and equality across the arts through jazz, with a special focus on "Black musicians, female musicians and those whose financial or other circumstances might lock them out of opportunities to pursue a career in the music industry"[15] Watt is also the owner of the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, London, with business partner Sally Greene OBE.

By forming the Ronnie Scott's Charitable Foundation in 2015 he is continuing to support major musical charities across the UK and provide free instruments to disadvantaged youths.

He also funded with Concern Worldwide the development of another safe space for women and children in Bangladesh, as well as a state of the art paediatric dental clinic in a refugee camp in Amman, Jordan.