During a varied career in the music business, Godbolt worked as concert-promoter, manager to British jazz musicians, film consultant, broadcaster and compiler of album liner notes. He edited several jazz publications, including Jazz Illustrated, from 1950-1951, 100 Club News, from 1979-1984 and from 1980-2006 he was founding editor of Jazz at Ronnie Scott"s, the house magazine of the jazz club in London. Jim Godbolt also wrote for newspapers and periodicals, including Harpers & Queen and Melody Maker.