How long have you worked in Management?

10 years.

Who do you manage now?

Mr Macee, El Sam, Abz winter, Claire Angel.

Where did you find your first client and what inspired you to take them on?

I’ve had several roles within the entertainment/music industry, one of those roles is a promoter. Being a promoter I built up relationships with artists through booking them for shows. There are a few things that draw me towards working with artists. These are good communication, trust, honesty, respect, the willingness to work hard as an individual and as part of a team to reach their goals and of course I need to love their music, so I’d say seeing these traits in my first artist is what inspired me to work with them.

What does a good/bad day at work look like for you?

No day is the same as a manager, which is one of the things I love the most, however let me look at a few scenarios. A typical paperwork day, that’s simple, a good day is getting through the big list of tasks I have to do on a daily basis. Video shoot days, everything going to plan, gig day weather, that be in the UK or outside of the UK. Everything running smoothly, travel arrangements, accommodation, no equipment issues, sound is great and timings run to as close to the days schedule as possible.

Bad day – spending a whole day back and forth on email, chasing clients or promoters, waiting for responses. Video shoots and gig days, most of the time you are relying on other people so if one person lets you down, things can go very wrong, plans have to be changed just like that, which can have a bad effect on the whole day and the mood of everyone involved.

What has been the highlight of your management career to date?

Honestly over the years there have been a few, the main highlight for me as a manager is witnessing the artists I work with set goals and actually achieve them. Especially when I know how hard we have worked to get to that point. To name a few recent ones I’d say.

Seeing Mr Macee venture into acting, getting some great roles/opportunities, I’m excited to see what’s next in this area for him.

Seeing El Sam own the stage and smash his performance on the main stage at Birmingham Pride.

Claire Angel being the only female independent reggae artist from the UK to feature on an album created by well known Jamaican producer King Jammy, also featuring some of Jamaica’s reggae icons such as Sean Paul and Shaggy. Also seeing her headline her first European reggae festival.

What do you think are the big challenges for a manager in 2024?

Protecting your artists’ mental health while trying to break them in an industry that is forever changing and putting more and more pressures on artists and their teams. There is so much more that managers are having to learn and take on. We have to wear so many hats and have multiple skills. It’s great to have a wide skill set, but I know some of the roles I have to take on I wish I could pass on.

Why would you recommend the MMF?

Being a part of the MMF, you gain support from like-minded individuals, networking opportunities. There are opportunities to gain and keep your knowledge up to date, via the educational elements they offer, additionally they provide you with useful resources you will need as a manager.

What did you gain from the Accelerator Programme?

I’ve gained so much, first of all I’d say a lot of priceless knowledge and clarification. The workshops/bespoke industry talks and advice really opened my eyes and my mind.

I’ve gained a supportive manager’s community, and built friendships that I would not have had if it weren’t for the programme.

Also due to the financial support I was able to really focus on my business, which enabled me to have an unforgettable year of new experiences and growth.

It’s definitely been an experience that has created lifelong memories that I am grateful for.

What music are you currently listening to?

It’s definitely very varied, I definitely listen to my own artists on repeat, however If anyone looked at my liked list on Spotify they would think, what the hell. I naturally hear a song and like it. I’ll list some of the artists I’m currently listening to so you get a better picture:

Tyla, Raye, Aqyila Anne Marie, Rudimental, Zoe Wees, Cat Burns, Iniko, Lee Vasi, Teejay, Dexta Daps, Tems, Billie Eilish, Iwaata, Kranium, Popcaan, SZA, Sarz, Fireboy DML.