News

• Marit Berning, Paul Smernicki, Shaurav D’Silva and Tania Lee are newly elected to the board. Sandy Dworniak is reelected
• Paul Craig and Kwame Kwaten step down as Chair and Vice-Chair. New Chair and Vice-Chair to be announced in early October following the next MMF board meeting
• MMF to develop a deeper relationship with Music Minds Matter to reach more managers with mental health support
• MMF to run a retreat for advanced managers in January 2025

Managers from Leicester, London and Dundee were newly elected to the board: Tania Lee (UMC Management), Marit Berning (Globe Town), Shaurav D’Silva (2-Tone Entertainment Limited) and Paul Smernicki (Big Music MGMT).

Based in the East Midlands, Tania has been a pivotal figure in UK Drum & Bass for over 30 years, overseeing the careers of legendary figures such as Shy FX. Her current roster at UMC features DJs, MCs and performers including Jumpin Jack Frost, Kenny Ken, Nicky Blackmarket, Ragga Twins, Ray Keith, Shola Ama, Jaki Graham, More Fire Crew and Tippa Irie.

Shaurav is a longtime MMF member and sits on the board of the Black Music Coalition. With more than two decades working across management, recording and publishing, his independent business, 2-Tone Entertainment, currently enjoys an enormously successful joint-venture with Stellar Songs. 2-Tone clients include Diztortion, Eyelar and Aystar.

Marit established Globe Town in 2020, combining management with a record label, and a design and recording studio. The Globe Town roster now includes Tom Rasmussen, Tycho Jones and FaceSoul.

Meanwhile, from Scotland, Paul has experience at the highest levels of the recorded music business, serving as Universal Music Group’s Director of Digital between 2011 and 2016. Entering management in 2018, his current clients include Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler, Swim School, Fiona-Lee and Ferester.

Sandy Dworniak (This Much Talent) was also re-elected to the board, while Karl Nielson, Nike Durosaro (Big Drum Entertainment), Ross Patel (RossPatel.co) and Clare Wright (Blackstar Management) all completed their 3 year terms. The MMF’s esteemed Chair and Vice-Chair, Paul Craig and Kwame Kwaten, also stepped down following six years of service.

Paul and Kwame will now both join the MMF’s Custodian Council. Their successors will be announced after the next MMF board meeting at the end of September.

Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive, Music Managers Forum:

“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Tania, Shaurav, Marit and Paul to the MMF board. Alongside Sandy, their backgrounds and experiences encapsulate the depth and diversity of the MMF’s membership, particularly its representation beyond London. I’m really excited to start working with them. In the same breath, I would like to send sincere thanks to Clare, Karl, Nike and Ross. All have contributed significantly and generously to the MMF cause, and I hope they’ll remain close to the organisation going forward.

“On behalf of our 1,500-strong membership, I would also like to pay tribute to Paul Craig and Kwame Kwaten for their guidance, support and leadership over the past 6 years. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with such a brilliant Chair and Vice Chair, and, by moving on to our esteemed council of custodians, the MMF will continue to benefit from their wisdom, counsel, humour and all-round decency.”

Also at the AGM, the MMF committed to a deeper relationship with Music Minds Matter, the charity providing support and guidance for the mental health of everyone who works in music.

The relationship between Music Minds Matter and the MMF will ensure that mental health support reaches the breadth of managers across the UK. The MMF has raised longtime concerns about the increased workload and pressures faced by managers, and published a comprehensive and updated Guide To Mental Health in 2021. Through the support of Music Minds Matter, managers in the MMF network will have access to expert-led peer-to-peer discussion groups for managers, exploring the unique challenges they face, while looking to develop bespoke toolkits and support.

Initial details were also revealed of an Advanced Managers Retreat, scheduled for January 22nd-24th 2025 with support from PPL, and for MMF’s involvement at MVT’s Venues Day on October 8th.

Prior to the AGM, more than 130 ticket buyers attended a Manager Summit focussed on Data, Deals & Innovation.

Alongside keynote presentations from Patrick Clifton on the “New Music Economy” and Guy Morrow (University of Melbourne), the Summit featured panel discussions on music manager remuneration models and connecting with superfans, alongside 1-2-1 surgeries with MMF Associates and quickfire presentations from Blackstage Forensic, Simpatico and Unison.

A new report in the MMF’s Dissecting The Digital Dollar series was also presented to attendees, with a Management Deals Guide exploring the current feasibility of historic commission-based business model for music managers, as well as the range of alternative commercial models being used by MMF members.