Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark sits down with Ben Wynter, the visionary Founder of Unstoppable Music Group, Co-Founder of Power Up, and Director of Business Development & Partnerships at AIM (Association of Independent Music). Looking back on his early career, Ben shares stories of pitching to managers on the street, securing spontaneous internships in New York, and navigating the challenges faced by Black executives. He also opens up about lessons from his mother,...

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark sits down with Alan Edwards, the founder of public relations powerhouse, The Outside Organisation. As the buzz around the Oasis revival dominates headlines, Alan delves into the potential ripple effects of the band's reunion on the music industry, particularly its influence on grassroots venues. Often hailed as the godfather of modern PR, Alan recounts some of the most iconic moments of his career, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from his...

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by Helen Thomas, Head of BBC Radio 2, and Jeff Smith, Head of Music for BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music. As they explore the evolving strategy at Radio 2, Helen and Jeff share insights on adapting to a new generation of listeners while continuing to serve the current audience, the rationale behind changing the presenter lineup, and the planning behind the much-anticipated Radio 2 in the Park. They also take us inside the Radio 2 playlist...

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by Various Artists CEO Dave Bianchi. Throughout the conversation, Dave discusses the challenges of breaking UK acts internationally, exploring the complexities of selling music abroad and predicting where the next 'alt' music movement might emerge. Beyond industry insights, including his new ventures with Various Artists, he shares his long journey in the music world—from lugging boxes for Pink Floyd to launching his own music...

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by Island ex-CEO and President, A&R Legend and now Indie Label Head, Darcus Beese. Giving the music industry headlines a miss this week (Mark's on holiday), Darcus dives into his journey from intern to industry leader, sharing stories of signing some of the biggest artists of the past few decades, including Amy Winehouse, Sugababes, and Florence + The Machine. As well as stories of A&R chaos, he shares his thoughts on the...

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt and manager Vicky Dowdall. With a partnership going back to Nina’s teenage years, the pair reflect on the pivotal moments of their careers together, from handling major label deals to starting a label of their own Apple Tree Records. They share the secret to their strong artist-manager relationship and recount stories of buying Irn-Bru for Stevie Nicks, auditioning for Simon Cowell, and singing...

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by Tara Richardson, not long after the launch of her new management company T-Time Management. Tara discusses her decision to leave Q Prime and start her own company, sharing her vision for T-Time and her thoughts on the future of the music industry. Reflecting on her journey in the music industry, Tara recounts her early days managing guest lists, working with Suggs, and touring Eastern Europe with The Prodigy. She also shares...

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark catches up with storied US label boss Daniel Glass. On a fleeting London visit, Daniel reflects on the early days of his career, from the moment he fell in love with the market, to setting up a label from a hotel foyer, and his time at Chrysalis and Universal Records. As well as sharing his thoughts on hustle culture and how to be a successful entrepreneur in today's music world, Daniel looks at what's ahead for Glassnote Records, sharing...

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by the new Music Managers Forum (MMF) CEO, Annabella Coldrick. As well as digging into the latest music industry news, including major label restructuring and management lawsuits, the conversation explores how the role of music managers has evolved over the years, the key ways to make the industry fairer and how to create strong artist relationships. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest...

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by the new UK Music Chief Executive, Tom Kiehl (recorded on the day of the General Election). As the bridge between the music industry and government, Tom discusses how UK Music has prepared and will respond to the results of the General Election. In addition to sharing stories of early morning record store days and investigating the Portsmouth music scene, the conversation covers what Tom is prioritising in his new role, including...

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by A&R heavyweight and former major label head, Ferdy Unger-Hamilton. In another big week for the industry, the conversation covers major label lawsuits, the Rolling Stones on Roblox, and an in-depth discussion of the most important parts of A&R. Reflecting on his career, Ferdy talks through his very first job interview taken on a payphone, to his time at the top of major labels Polydor, Columbia & Virgin, and life now...

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this, our very first episode, Mark is joined by Lorna Clarke, Director of Music at the BBC, ahead of one of the busiest weeks in her calendar, Glastonbury. As well as discussing the scale of the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage and detailing what goes into planning a broadcast of this scale, Lorna takes us on a deep dive into her career, sharing her thoughts on the BBC vs. commercial radio, why diversity within the industry is vital for its success, and stories of...