TMT:65 Henry Semmence & Simon Wills On Building A Label Services Giant & Surviving Utopia
Welcome to The Money Trench! This week, Mark is joined by Henry Semmence and Simon Wills, co-managing directors of Absolute Label Services.
As pioneers of the label services model that transformed the modern business, the pair share the story of how they created an independent empire — and how they’re bouncing back after their time under the Utopia umbrella.
With roots in retail, record labels, and distribution, Henry and Simon recount how Absolute has survived and thrived through every major industry shift and why independence means so much to them.
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SOUNDON
The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn.
TIXEL
The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel.
PPL
The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL.
KEEP UP TO DATE
For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on:
Instagram: @the_money_trench
LinkedIn: The Money Trench
Website: The Money Trench
GET IN TOUCH
If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!
Thanks to our partners
SoundOn
Tixel
PPL
Earth/Percent
Tom A Smith
Aimless Play
Fourth Pillar
Sennheiser
Junkhead Studio
Tape Notes
Executive Producer: Mike Walsh
Producer: Tape Notes
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1:01:59
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1:01:59
TMT:64 Rich Castillo On Indie Labels’ Big A&R Opportunity
Welcome to The Money Trench! This week, Mark is joined by Rich Castillo, President of LionBear Music Group and one of the UK’s most influential A&R executives of the past two decades.
From his beginnings as a boy band hopeful, to discovering N-Dubz, signing Tion Wayne, and leading A&R teams at Polydor, Sony, and EMI, Rich’s career spans the past 20 years of British music.
Now running his own independent label, publisher, and management company, he shares his hard-won insights into what it takes to survive and thrive in the modern music industry.
NEWSLETTER
Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.
SOUNDON
The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn.
TIXEL
The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel.
PPL
The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL.
KEEP UP TO DATE
For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on:
Instagram: @the_money_trench
LinkedIn: The Money Trench
Website: The Money Trench
GET IN TOUCH
If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!
Thanks to our partners
SoundOn
Tixel
PPL
Earth/Percent
Tom A Smith
Aimless Play
Fourth Pillar
Sennheiser
Junkhead Studio
Tape Notes
Executive Producer: Mike Walsh
Producer: Tape Notes
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1:02:44
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1:02:44
TMT:63 Fraser T. Smith On Producing Adele & Keeping Music Human
Welcome to The Money Trench! This week, Mark is joined by legendary producer, Fraser T Smith.
With credits ranging from Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” to Stormzy’s “Gang Signs & Prayer”, as well as his own project, Future Utopia, Fraser has helped shape some of the most defining records of the 21st century.
Now he’s here to discuss how he chooses which artists to work with, plus AI, catalogue sales and his Future Producer Academy.
NEWSLETTER
Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.
SOUNDON
The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn.
TIXEL
The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel.
PPL
The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL.
KEEP UP TO DATE
For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on:
Instagram: @the_money_trench
LinkedIn: The Money Trench
Website: The Money Trench
GET IN TOUCH
If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!
Thanks to our partners
SoundOn
Tixel
PPL
Earth/Percent
Tom A Smith
Aimless Play
Fourth Pillar
Sennheiser
Junkhead Studio
Tape Notes
Executive Producer: Mike Walsh
Producer: Tape Notes
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1:03:49
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1:03:49
TMT:62 Josh Mateer On SoundOn’s A&R Revolution
Welcome to The Money Trench! This week, Mark is joined by Josh Mateer, Head of A&R for Europe, Middle East and Africa at SoundOn, TikTok’s artist and label services platform.
From his teenage days playing in punk bands and promoting shows in Belfast, to stints at Warner and Sony, and working with the legendary Seymour Stein, Josh has built a career that bridges grassroots music culture and the cutting edge of global artist services.
In their chat, the pair discuss how TikTok is shaping the future of music discovery, why data and instinct must work hand in hand, and what it means to nurture sustainable artist careers in a world of viral hits and streaming economies.
NEWSLETTER
Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.
SOUNDON
The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn.
TIXEL
The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel.
PPL
The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL.
KEEP UP TO DATE
For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on:
Instagram: @the_money_trench
LinkedIn: The Money Trench
Website: The Money Trench
GET IN TOUCH
If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!
Thanks to our partners
SoundOn
Tixel
PPL
Earth/Percent
Tom A Smith
Aimless Play
Fourth Pillar
Sennheiser
Junkhead Studio
Tape Notes
Executive Producer: Mike Walsh
Producer: Tape Notes
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1:02:09
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1:02:09
TMT:61 Matt Riley On CMAT’s Big Breakthrough & What’s Next For AWAL
Welcome to The Money Trench! This week, Mark is joined by Matt Riley, the newly appointed president of AWAL UK.
With a background that spans from DJing and promoting club nights, to cutting his teeth at Hospital Records, and then playing a pivotal role in shaping AWAL’s rise, Matt’s career reflects the evolution of the modern independent music business.
Now at the helm of one of the UK’s most exciting label and distribution companies, he shares insights into what it takes to break artists in today’s rapidly shifting landscape.
NEWSLETTER
Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.
SOUNDON
The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn.
TIXEL
The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel.
PPL
The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL.
KEEP UP TO DATE
For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on:
Instagram: @the_money_trench
LinkedIn: The Money Trench
Website: The Money Trench
GET IN TOUCH
If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!
Thanks to our partners
SoundOn
Tixel
PPL
Earth/Percent
Tom A Smith
Aimless Play
Fourth Pillar
Sennheiser
Junkhead Studio
Tape Notes
Executive Producer: Mike Walsh
Producer: Tape Notes
About The Money Trench - The Music Industry Podcast with Mark Sutherland
The Money Trench (TMT) is The Music Industry Podcast from presenter Mark Sutherland and exec producer Mike Walsh, produced by Tape Notes and supported by PPL. Each Monday, we will dissect the biggest music industry news stories of the previous week, in the company of one of the industry’s most influential executives. Followed by a deep dive into that exec’s career in music, including their thoughts on where we’re at and where we’re heading. Now, TMT is here to look at all sides of the music business and celebrate the most exciting industry on the planet. Don’t start your music week without it…
Listen to The Money Trench - The Music Industry Podcast with Mark Sutherland, Sidetracked with Annie and Nick and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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