Class of 2024 - Music Managers Forum (MMF)

Aimmi Dunsmuir

Management: Dead Pony, The Deep Blue

Name:
Aimmi Dunsmuir

Role:
Management: Dead Pony, The Deep Blue

Bio:
Aimmi has previously played a significant part in shaping the careers of talented acts such as Twin Atlantic and Eliza and the Bear. More recently, her roster boasts emerging talents like Glasgow-based rock band Dead Pony, who will perform at numerous UK and European festivals this summer, including their first at Reading & Leeds Festival, following a completely sold-out UK tour in September 2023. The band, who have been recipients of PPL Momentum funding and won the Nordoff Robbins Spotlight Award, released their debut album IGNORE THIS in April 2024 to critical acclaim. Additionally, Aimmi manages Manchester's harmony-rich girl band The Deep Blue, who concluded a UK tour in February 2024 and are slated to perform at this year's Glastonbury Festival. The Deep Blue is readying to release a new EP produced by Matt Ingram (Laura Marling, Lianne La Havas, Florence & The Machine) in Summer 2024. Guided by a genuine love for music and a commitment to supporting artists on their journeys, Aimmi continues to seek opportunities to uplift emerging talent and collaborate with established names, always aiming to contribute to meaningful experiences for audiences worldwide. “Being selected for the MMF Accelerator Programme's 6th year is an honour, and I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity. Despite my extensive experience in music management, I firmly believe in the importance of continuous learning in this dynamic industry. It's a privilege to collaborate with such talented peers in the program, and I'm excited to further develop my roster alongside them. Together, we're poised to embrace the evolving landscape of the music business.”

Antonia Lyall

Management: Big Zeeko, Zach Koullas, Blue Ringed Baby

Name:
Antonia Lyall

Role:
Management: Big Zeeko, Zach Koullas, Blue Ringed Baby

Bio:
Antonia is the driving force behind CPO MGMNT's artist-centric and future-forward vision. Since earning the MMF Trailblazer award in 2021, she has skilfully guided her roster to three #1s across the Spotify and iTunes charts, forged impactful collaborations with brands like Net-A-Porter & Samsung, and empowered her roster by building sustainable independent music careers. Beyond her expertise in music management, Antonia is a passionate advocate for machine learning and a skilled prompt engineer. “The role of a Music Manager is ever evolving, the Accelerator programme embraces that and creates opportunities to nurture innovation. If you’re a manager looking for support from a community, the MMF is a great place to start.”

Cem Akdeniz

Management: Country Dons, JayG, GW, RP9, ProDag, Hrry Oliver, MKORMASE

Name:
Cem Akdeniz

Role:
Management: Country Dons, JayG, GW, RP9, ProDag, Hrry Oliver, MKORMASE

Bio:
Cem is a Music Manager from South London, and co-founder of music group Rebel Records which incorporates a studio, recording and publishing. He currently manages Country Dons, JayG, GW, RP9, ProDag, Hrry Oliver and MKORMASE and his producer roster has worked with the likes of Central Cee, Polo G, Ed Sheeran, Emile Sande and Bugzey Malone. Jamil has a real passion for developing artists and producers, whilst ensuring that their vision is retained throughout the creative process. His studio is one of the hottest spots in London to create, achieving various number 1’s, platinum singles and albums over the last 4 years. Cem also set up a Publishing Partnership between Rebel Records and Sony Music Publishing with his long term friend Shauni Caballero.

Connor Hunnisett

Management: Ren, Pat

Name:
Connor Hunnisett

Role:
Management: Ren, Pat

Bio:
Connor specialises in building independently-owned infrastructures for artists to maintain control and earn more revenue. He has over 10 years of experience in the music industry: managing labels, developing artists, building communities, manufacturing physical merchandise and marketing releases - supporting artists of all sizes around Europe to realise their creative goals and scale their businesses. Connor co-manages music artist Ren and played an integral part in the "Sick Boi" album campaign, which achieved Number 1 in the UK album charts and Top 150 on Billboard. He also manages Polish-English independent artist Pat, who has begun to see exciting growth in both the UK and European markets off the back of achieving huge viral success on multiple tracks. “My views on management are that we should sit alongside the artist. I think it's key that the artist remains at the forefront of the direction they want to take, empowering artist's to maintain control over their creativity and pace at which they want to release. we should be protecting the artist's from their creativity being suppressed. My core aim is to do my best to ensure the artist is happy and feeling fulfilled. “I applied for the Accelerator Programme because a lot of my time working with artists has been solely by myself and outside the traditional music industry model. I want to expand my network and knowledge from managers who have different backgrounds and experiences to me.”

Gilbert Johnson

Management: Jarreau Vandal, Olivia Nelson, Nii

Name:
Gilbert Johnson

Role:
Management: Jarreau Vandal, Olivia Nelson, Nii

Bio:
Gilbert is founder of Final Draft, home to Jarreau Vandal, Olivia Nelson and Nii. The roster represents clients across a wide range of musical tastes and genres. His particular expertise is in helping to build artists from the ground up, developing their sound and providing the tools at the start of their careers to create a world around them and to solidify their brand. Gilbert started his journey in the music industry interning at Sony ATV and Family PR, then joined Virgin EMI Records as marketing intern in 2013. He rose to product manager and led marketing campaigns for SG Lewis, Naughty Boy, Logic, Amber Mark, Desiigner and many others, including winning the Mercury Prize in 2015 with Benjamin Clementine. Gilbert left Virgin EMI to join Google's Hardware marketing team and then YouTube where he led UK Brand and Distribution Partnerships for YouTube Music and Premium. He left to start Final Draft in 2019 as a marketing consultancy, but now concentrates solely on his passion: artist management. “When I came into the music industry I knew I wanted to be a manager. I wanted to go the long way round- by gaining knowledge and experience in other areas of the industry first. It was through marketing that I discovered how to work closely with an artist to create a proposition and to help them tell powerful stories to connect with an audience and build a brand. These skills are now massively beneficial in my role as a manager.I applied to be in Accelerator to build my community, connect with other managers and further develop my skills.”

Hannah Beasley-Garrigan

Management: A for Alpha, Fiyahdred, Madam X, Tash LC

Name:
Hannah Beasley-Garrigan

Role:
Management: A for Alpha, Fiyahdred, Madam X, Tash LC

Bio:
Hannah is an artist manager with 10+ years experience in the electronic music industry. Their extensive career spans event management, artist liaison, and programming with the likes of Team Love, Bristol Beacon, Field Maneuvers and Bestival. In 2017, they transitioned their focus to artist management, honing skills at Grade and Muise Management alongside established names like Groove Armada, Shygirl, Lyzza, Delilah Holiday, and Jasper James. In 2020, driven by a passion to change the status quo, Hannah founded Repercussion Management, an independent company committed to promoting fairer representation in electronic music. Under this banner, having previously represented Dr Dubplate, they have built a roster that reflects their commitment to authenticity and talent, representing A for Alpha, Fiyahdred, Madam X and Tash LC. As a queer, disabled, working-class manager, Hannah has encountered many obstacles in their career. It is this intimate understanding that fuels their determination to create a more equitable landscape where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Alongside their work as a manager, Hannah is committed to supporting early career artists and music professionals to level up. They work as an independent mentor and sit on programmes, panels and talks with education and sector-change organisations such as Saffron, BIMM and Next Level. They are also a core member of the artist team at grassroots festival Field Maneuvers. “I am so excited to be joining the Accelerator Programme. As an independent artist manager who has experienced many socio-economic barriers to career progression, this programme is an absolute gamechanger, providing tangible opportunities to level the playing field and gain experience, skills and connections that I would struggle to access otherwise. I know my practice and my business will hugely benefit from this opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.”

Jen Anderson

Management: Valtos, HEISK, Evie Waddell

Name:
Jen Anderson

Role:
Management: Valtos, HEISK, Evie Waddell

Bio:
Splitting her time between Glasgow and London, Jen has worked in the music industry for 18 years in various roles for companies including DF Concerts, King Tuts Recordings, Fiction Records, Back Yard Music, Machine Management and Sound Travels Live. She now splits her time between industry and academia, running her own management company - The Bothy Society - and working as a live booking agent for Apex Music, and a senior lecturer at Point Blank Music School. She also serves on the boards of SMIA, MusicALL Scotland and TRACS Scotland. The Bothy Society is dedicated to expanding the reach of contemporary Scottish Traditional and Folk music while upholding values of inclusivity, progressiveness, integrity and sustainability. They provide comprehensive management, record label, publishing, and synchronisation services, collaborating with Scotland's finest musicians, particularly those who uphold the Gaelic language and its cultural significance. “For me, management is all about hard work, learning and growth, both personally and professionally. I applied to the Accelerator program to enhance my leadership skills, deepen industry knowledge, and expand my network, with the aim of driving sustainable growth and innovation for The Bothy Society and the Scottish industry more generally.”

Josh Daniel

Management: Alfie Sheard, Hunni, ShayShay

Name:
Josh Daniel

Role:
Management: Alfie Sheard, Hunni, ShayShay

Bio:
Growing up in Teesside, Josh began his music industry journey as an artist, selling over 100,000 records and amassing over 1 billion views independently. Following a 5 year period in London, where he graced prestigious stages such as MOBO, and even performed for The British Royal Family, Josh returned to the North East to found JD Media Group – a Durham-based artist management company built on a ‘By Artists, For Artists’ ethos. With a decade of experience in the music and business sectors and a huge passion for helping talent outside of London bridge the gap to the Capital, he expanded the JD Media roster in tandem with his artist endeavours, and, in 2023, also took post as Label Manager at Interval Records/EMI North; a joint venture label partnership between EMI North and Generator to further support talent in the North. “I'm incredibly fortunate to have a successful career as an Artist that has paved the way for me to help emerging Artists outside of London navigate their careers and overcome the same geographical barriers I did. Joining the MMF Accelerator programme will make a transformative difference to the trajectory of my development as a Manager, and in turn the success of the Artists that JD Media is home to.”

Maarten Puddy

Management: Baltra, Ciel, Guava, SHADED, Dan Tombs

Name:
Maarten Puddy

Role:
Management: Baltra, Ciel, Guava, SHADED, Dan Tombs

Bio:
Maarten is Wiltshire-born electronic music artist manager representing DJs, producers, live acts and a visual artist. After promoting club events with Duboroevents in the East Midlands, from secret venues to large-scale shows, he moved to London in 2015 to pursue a full-time career where he did freelance marketing for The Columbo Group at their nightclubs XOYO, Phonox, The Nest, and Jazz Cafe. In 2016, Maarten moved into artist management, assisting at Your Army with acts such as Tom Demac, Bontan, Jonas Rathsman, Olugbenga, and Waze & Odyssey whilst running the dance music labels Weapons and W&O Street Tracks. He then moved into a day-to-day role at Acetate Management working across Cici, Harry Romero, SHADED, Jay Carder, Lunar June, Ida Engberg, PBR Streetgang, Matthew Dekay, TERR, Alex Kennon, La Fleur, and visual artist Dan Tombs whilst running the artist owned labels KURTZ & Bambossa Records. During his time at Acetate, Maarten started managing acts signing Baltra, Ciel, Guava, Chrissy, and Space Dimension Controller pushing his own musical agenda. 2024 saw Maarten launch his own company, VOWTA, where he continues to push his management roster and their labels. “My philosophy as a manager is to work with talented independent artists creating a sustainable ecosystem for them to create their art in the long term and achieve their career goals. Music is an ever evolving and fast moving industry [, the MMF Accelerator Program will hopefully allow me to grow as a manager enabling me and my company to be agile that creates more opportunities for my clients.”

Marta Martinez

Management: Skinny Living, Michael Blackwell, Sonni Mills, Angus Parkin

Name:
Marta Martinez

Role:
Management: Skinny Living, Michael Blackwell, Sonni Mills, Angus Parkin

Bio:
Originally from Spain and based in London for the past 5 years, Marta started her career as a professional violinist. However, after falling in love with the business side of music, she gained degrees in Business Management and Music Performance, an MBA and a Master's in Music Industry Management and Artist Development (University of West London) before securing valuable experience working for a Spanish concert promoter and management company. After four years of experience in artist management, Marta founded her own management company, Bedmar Music, in 2022. The company’s mission is to empower and support artists with unique and out-of-the-box strategies that don't compromise their authenticity, creative control, freedom, work ethic and wellbeing, and where honesty, transparency, and fairness form the bedrock of every decision. Her roster currently includes indie soul band Skinny Living, who have amassed over 85 million streams worldwide, songwriter and producer Angus Parkin, alternative singer-songwriter Sonni Mills and indie rock artist Michael Blackwell. “The MMF has been fundamental to my development as an artist manager. I've reached a point in my career where I've established my business, but for it to be sustainable long-term, the support, mentoring, and community that the Accelerator offers will be of utmost importance in achieving this goal in a much shorter period of time.”

Martha Cleary

Management: Sly5thAve, Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Steven Bamidele, Miranda Joan

Name:
Martha Cleary

Role:
Management: Sly5thAve, Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Steven Bamidele, Miranda Joan

Bio:
Martha is a Brighton-based manager with a background in press promotions, radio plugging, and campaign management. Working at Brighton-based label Tru Thoughts for 6 years, she oversaw campaigns for the likes of the Grammy Award-winning Hot 8 Brass Band, Moonchild, Quantic, Flowdan, Alice Russell, and Rebecca Vasmant. Martha has also provided social media management for The Bug Club during their 'Rare Birds' campaign and for Hot 8 Brass Band across their performances at the Brit Awards, Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, the BBC 6 Music Festival and on tour with George Ezra. Her experience in live events extends across Boomtown, We Out Here Festival, Love Supreme Festival, Independent Label Market and The Great Escape Festival, as well as tours and international live dates for her roster. She has appeared on panels at Love Supreme and Brighton Music Conference and has been a guest speaker at University of Chichester, The New School New York, Buckinghamshire New University, Waterbear College and BIMM. Martha started Glow Artists in 2023 where she represents Sly5thAve (known for his work alongside Prince, Dr. Dre, and Quantic), Bryony Jarman Pinto, Steven Bamidele, and independent artist Miranda Joan. She also presents the Underlying Oddities radio show on 1BTN and Totally Wired Radio. “I got into artist management because I wanted to help my roster grow and be heard by a wider audience. It’s incredible that the Accelerator Programme exists as it’s so important that managers are offered the support and encouragement necessary to grow themselves in order to be in the best position for their artists.”

Perrie Wilson

Management: Mace The Great

Name:
Perrie Wilson

Role:
Management: Mace The Great

Bio:
Perrie is an ambitious, forward-thinking music manager based in Cardiff, Wales. Driven by a passion for music and a dedication to developing emerging artists, he currently represents Cardiff's very own, Mace The Great. Known for a strategic mindset, partnered with a deep understanding of the local music scene he combines business with a genuine love for music as his management style is characterised by a strong focus on transparency, integrity, and fostering a culture of trust. With a keen eye for growing trends and a knack for building strong relationships, Perrie aims to make a lasting impact on the music industry within Wales and around the world. “Being a music manager from Wales can be challenging due to the lack of resources, network, and funding available. Applying for the MMF Accelerator programme made so much sense for me to take my career to the next level.”

Ryan Morgan

Management: Divorce, pencil, Victory Lap, Big Warm Bed

Name:
Ryan Morgan

Role:
Management: Divorce, pencil, Victory Lap, Big Warm Bed

Bio:
Ryan began his journey in the music industry promoting gigs in his hometown of Leeds, successfully securing shows by the likes of The Orielles, Warmduscher, The Wytches, Gengahr & Hotel Lux. Through these gigs, he managed bdrmm, becoming integral to all aspects of the band’s successes & growth between 2017 – 2023 and building his reputation as a hard working & self-driven manager. Making a leap into full time management during the pandemic, Ryan founded Polkadot Music Collective - an artist management company with an ever-growing roster full of unique and diverse talent from different genres such as Divorce, pencil, Victory Lap & Big Warm Bed. Ryan’s passion & dedication to helping develop sustainable careers for his artists is what drives him. Ryan also prides himself on his dedication to working with bands from their early careers and helping them shape a successful platform for their art. “I am incredibly proud to have been given the opportunity to participate in this years Accelerator programme, the opportunity to work, learn & collaborate with other managers is something I'm really looking forward to & will ultimately help myself & all of us become better managers for our acts.”

Suki Padda

Management: Jaz Dhami

Name:
Suki Padda

Role:
Management: Jaz Dhami

Bio:
Suki comes from a Broadcast Journalist background, having worked at BBC Radio 5Live, 1Xtra and Asian Network during her career. Her passion for British Asian music (specifically Panjabi) led her to championing British Desi artists and the global Desi music scene in her journalism. She now manages one of the pioneers of Modern British Panjabi music, Jaz Dhami, who has over 800 million views on YouTube, Bollywood collaborations and toured internationally for many years. Suki also has a successful music publishing company, working with many big Panjabi writers and composers from India. The company, Oneness Entertainment acts as a music label and distribution company having released many of Jaz Dhami’s recent singles. “Being a music manager requires you to wear many hats, some you whizz through, others are a minefield. This is where I think a programme like Accelerator is going to be amazing for me, help me fill those gaps and utilise the skills and network to elevate Punjabi music and its creators to a status where its acts and professionals are viewed on par to their western contemporaries.”

Tabeah Berler

Management: Cassia, Dominik Hartz, Pippa Crossland, Rob Ellis, Jacob Leff

Name:
Tabeah Berler

Role:
Management: Cassia, Dominik Hartz, Pippa Crossland, Rob Ellis, Jacob Leff

Bio:
Originally from Berlin, but now based in Manchester, Tabeah embarked on her journey in music at just 18 whilst studying media marketing and working at Rolling Stone magazine. She founded Pon’t Danic Music while still studying, initially promoting gigs in Berlin before crossing paths with the musician Jack Savoretti and his team who recognised her potential as a manager and introduced her to her first artist. In 2020, Tabeah began working with Manchester-based indie-pop band Cassia. When the pandemic struck, Cassia moved into Tabeah's Berlin office where they built a studio and recorded their 2022 album. Tabeah also began representing German artist Dominik Hartz soon after, before relocating to the UK in 2021. Despite now calling Manchester home, Tabeah maintains strong ties to Berlin and travels back and forth between the two cities. In the past year, she has worked with Cassia to build a studio just outside Manchester and is working on establishing a music publishing company to nurture emerging talent and facilitate connections on an international scale, leveraging her extensive network across Europe. “I've been part of the MMF for a little while now and it's always been amazing to see how many amazing things they do to support managers. I applied to Accelerator because I want to grow as a manager, learn from others and build a sustainable management company that ultimately can offer my artists the best support.”

Terry Ferguson

Management: ABSOLUTE., Gandhar, Joel Stewart, ABSOLUTE. x DOT MAJOR, Kosmo Kint, Mia Lily, Narciss

Name:
Terry Ferguson

Role:
Management: ABSOLUTE., Gandhar, Joel Stewart, ABSOLUTE. x DOT MAJOR, Kosmo Kint, Mia Lily, Narciss

Bio:
TURBO MGMT is a London-based, female-led artist management company, founded by Terry Ferguson. TURBO launched in March 2024, following on from Terry’s success managing a platinum-selling artist and winner of DJ Mag's Best of British award for Best DJ in 2023. The company is incredibly proud to introduce their brand new roster of artists, songwriters, DJ's and producers which consists of ABSOLUTE., Joel Stewart, ABSOLUTE. x DOT MAJOR (co-managed with TaP Music), Kosmo Kint, Mia Lily, and Narciss. “I am so proud to have been selected for the 2024 Accelerator Programme for Music Managers. Having this support in place from the MMF right from the start of TURBO MGMT is invaluable. I am really looking forward to working with all the managers, making new connections and hopefully some lovely collaborations to come across our rosters.”

Tobi Mwa

Management: Nippa

Name:
Tobi Mwa

Role:
Management: Nippa

Bio:
Starting his management career at age 19, Tobi has been instrumental in developing the career of Nippa. As a team they've gone on to reach several milestones, with over 10 million streams across all platforms, as well as securing brand campaigns with Nike & Billionaire Boys Club. Nippa has also performed at All Points East and Reading & Leeds and was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2024 Mobo Awards. “Envision and execute.”

Travis Yuxuan Li

Management: Luke Black, Princess Xixi, Oliver Marson

Name:
Travis Yuxuan Li

Role:
Management: Luke Black, Princess Xixi, Oliver Marson

Bio:
Born in China and immersed in London's vibrant music scene, Yuxuan worked as an agent assistant at Earth Music Agency in 2023, contributing to the success of artists like Deijuvhs, cumgirl8, and Dorian Electra before transitioning to label assistant at PC Music and working on campaigns for talents like Hannah Diamond, Hyd, umru and A. G. Cook and participating in an 8-week program at Small Green Shoots. Today, as the founder of SOUNDAR ENTERTAINMENT, Yuxuan proudly oversees a diverse roster and specialises in pop, alternative, and dance including Eurovision 2023 Serbian representative Luke Black, alt-pop sensation Princess Xixi, and artpop singer/songwriter Oliver Marson. Fueled by a fervent passion for discovering and nurturing talent, Yuxuan is committed to shaping the modern music landscape by promoting authenticity and creativity. “As an independent manager and Eastern Asian figure in the UK, I'm passionate about empowering talented artists to make a cultural impact. Despite economic challenges, I aim to provide a platform for their mesmerising ideas. Applying to Accelerator reflects my commitment to scaling up my business, broadening networks, and honing skills to elevate my clients' profiles. Together, we'll challenge mainstream norms and forge pathways for diverse voices in the music industry.”

Resources

The MMF and YouTube Music unveil Accelerator’s class of 2024

Full List of Participants