News

The MMF sends our condolences to the family and friends of music manager Stuart Worthington who has recently passed away.

Stuart was instrumental in developing the MMF’s education programme and delivered training to new and eager managers for over a decade. As the testaments below highlight, he was loved and respected across our community, and we are grateful for the huge contribution he made to the professional development of our members and to the MMF as an organisation. 

Education still sits as one of the core pillars of the MMF’s values, and Stuart’s contribution ensures it remains central to everything we do.

Testimonials about Stuart from MMF members:

As I shared the sadness about Stuart on the phone earlier today, with friends and colleagues from the MMF, a huge rainbow appeared over the Cheshire fields in front of my house and it stayed a while as I had the opportunity to reminisce the adventures and opportunities I had to spend time with Stuart stretching back close to 30 years.  The awe and wonder the arc of that rainbow is the perfect projection of how I feel about Stuart.  I’m humbled by how generous Stuart and Angela have been, with their time and wisdom, in steering and shaping my career in the music business and attitude to life.  I had the good fortune of seeing both Stuart and Angela at several gigs, pre pandemic, and it was a joy to catch up with them.  I’ll always have a debt of gratitude to Stuart, which I know will keep his memory alive, and his gems of wisdom ever present, as I progress through the challenges of the future.  Huge love and respect.  (Gary McClarnan, MMF Custodian)

This is very sad news indeed. It is no exaggeration to say that if it wasn’t for Stuart and his training courses the MMF almost certainly would not be in existence today. He was also one of the warmest and most sincere people that I have known in the business. He will be much missed by me personally, and also by many who knew him across the industry. (Keith Harris OBE, MMF Custodian and former MMF Chair) 

Stuart was awesome. I learnt a HUGE amount from him. A lovely man. (Jonathan Shalit OBE, MMF Custodian) 

I’m shocked and numb to hear about this devastatingly sad news. Like many of us, l worked very closely with Stuart on his ground-breaking MMF education courses in the early days, in London, Manchester and abroad. As Keith says the MMF would not have developed the way it has, or may not even exist, had it not been for Stuart. He always operated with passion and compassion and had such a big heart. Our thoughts are with Angela and his family. He will be very much missed and warmly remembered as an artist manager pioneer ushering in the modern era. Farewell Stuart……you were simply the best. (David Stopps, MMF Custodian)

This is dreadfully sad news. I attended all of Stuart’s courses when I first joined the MMF as a manager in 1999. They were some of the very best courses I’d been on and he always had such great guest speakers on each course, with wonderful stories of their personal experiences, so invaluable to new managers. Over the years, in both London and Manchester, he and Angela were always such fun company. He will be hugely missed. (Charlie Carne, MMF CFO) 

I fondly remember Stuart’s mmf education sessions way back when I first joined, he was a massive part of Manchester’s music scene  (Liza Buddy, MMF Board Member)

Stuart was an extremely generous and warm person my sincere condolences to Angela and his family (Jackie Davidson, MMF Custodian)

Stuart was a delight and an endless enthusiast for educating managers in his unique ‘machine gun’ style. I think lots of us would agree that doing sessions with him was a trip! He poured so much love into what he did. Will be sadly missed. (Stephen Budd, MMF Custodian and former MMF Chair)

He was always so encouraging – when I first started out in management he was really encouraging, warm and just so human it made me realise that I’d finally found my ‘tribe’. (Kerry Harvey-Piper, MMF Board Member)

I’m very sorry to hear this sad news. Stuart played a key role during the MMF’s formative years. He also devised and ran our Education program for many years. His dedication and enthusiasm for his work and the MMF was unmatched. Thank you Stuart. Love Dennis (Dennis Muirhead, MMF founder, Chair and Custodian)

Very sad to hear this news.  Stuart was so important in the start of our education programs for managers in Norway. Stuart was also a great spirit to be around. My thoughts go out to Angela and the music scene in Manchester.  (Eivind Brydoy, MMF Norway)

This is very sad news indeed. I first got to know Stuart through his excellent MMF educational program and our paths crossed constantly whilst I was part of the MMF council. It was always a pleasure to be part of the many panel sessions chaired by him at numerous industry events.  My love and thoughts go out to Angela and everyone who knew him. RIP Stuart, a class act. (Dougie Souness)

So sorry to hear this. His educational courses were so compelling. A lovely man. (Andy Edwards)

This is such sad news – I really liked Stuart and participated and attended many of his MMF training events , all delivered with his unique warm but precise tone (Denis Collopy)

I’m so sorry to hear this sad news.  Stuart was a kind, generous, massively knowledgeable and enthusiastic human being.  Without his invaluable training courses the MMF would never be where it is now.  Heartfelt condolences to Angela,  his family and close friends. (Diane Wagg, Custodian and former MMF chair)