Instagram username
@garethedobson@me.com

Where are you based?
South London

How long have you worked in Management?
Since 2004

Who do you manage now?
Gruff Rhys, Snapped Ankles, Gwenifer Raymond, Gold Panda and Luke Abbott

Where did you find your first client and what inspired you to take them on?
The first artist I managed was a band called Battle, who formed at the university I went to, with a good friend playing bass. I’d spent a couple of years writing for a music website and also scouting for Fierce Panda records. I thought I could help them out a little bit with some contacts and nascent industry knowledge, and offered to manage them. I had no idea management would turn into my full-time job for the next 20 or more years…

What does a good/bad day at work look like for you?
A good day hangs on a mix of tackling a large pile of admin and slightly uninteresting day-to-day matters, combined with perhaps one artistic highlight – new music by an artist, an exciting offer for a show or project and a reminder of why you love the role. A bad day involves procrastination…

What has been the highlight of your management career to date?
A really tough question, because it feels like I’d be singling one artist’s achievement over another, but working to put Gruff Rhys’ Seeking New Gods album in the top 10 in 2022 is definitely very high on the list.

What do you think are the big challenges for a manager in 2026?
There are multitudes, but the widening gap in the live arena between incredibly successful artists and those simply looking to stay professional on a year to year basis weighs heavy on my mind. The pressure to facilitate all matter of an artist’s widening universe – especially in the online space is great and demanding also. And then, simply keeping up with trends and developments in such a fractured industry is a big ask too.

What music are you currently listening to?
New records by Westside Cowboy, Phoebe Bridgers and L’Rain. When I’m on the move it’s a lot of 2000-2020’s house and electronic music. I’ve been trying to learn more about John Fahey , Mississippi John Hurt and Skip James as well as a lot of the Welsh independent scene. And then canonically I never stray too far from REM and Bruce Springsteen, Scott Walker or the Super Furry Animals.

Why would you recommend the MMF?
The sense of community and a realisation that you’re not an island in this business is incredibly important – even if it’s to understand that so many others are in the same situation you are and looking for answers and new ideas every day. Their resources and the opportunities they offer for growth, connections and professional improvement are genuinely brilliant.