The Money Trench - The Music Industry Podcast with Mark Sutherland

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by Shabs Jobanputra, founder and president of Relentless Records.

Catching up at Sony HQ, Shabs shares his journey into the music industry, reflecting on the challenges he faced as an immigrant and recounting the early days of Relentless Records. He discusses the label's first signings and its evolution over the years, offering insights into both its successes and the pressures from the U.S. market.

The conversation also touches on the decline of traditional gatekeepers in music and the growing importance of diverse opinions and attitudes within the industry. Shabs also digs into the thought process behind key signings, including So Solid Crew, Craig David, and even the phenomenon of Baby Shark.

NEWSLETTER

Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.

PPL 

The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL who celebrate their 90th year in business this year.

KEEP UP TO DATE

For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on: 

Instagram: @the_money_trench

LinkedIn: The Money Trench

Website: The Money Trench

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!

Thanks to our partners

PPL 

Earth/Percent

Tom A Smith

Aimless Play

Fourth Pillar

Sennheiser

Junkhead Studio

Tape Notes

Executive Producer: Mike Walsh

Producer: Tape Notes 

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by Lucas Keller, founder and president of Milk & Honey Management.

Catching up after two nights of industry awards and the morning after the U.S. election, Lucas digs into some of the most pressing issues facing his clients. The conversation covers navigating complex deals with multiple songwriters, the ongoing battle for fair streaming rights, and recent changes at Milk & Honey, including their expansion into athlete management. Lucas also shares insights on representing NFL star Travis Kelce and the unique challenges of managing high-profile talent.

NEWSLETTER

Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.

PPL 

The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL who celebrate their 90th year in business this year.

KEEP UP TO DATE

For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on: 

Instagram: @the_money_trench

LinkedIn: The Money Trench

Website: The Money Trench

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!

Thanks to our partners

PPL 

Earth/Percent

Tom A Smith

Aimless Play

Fourth Pillar

Sennheiser

Junkhead Studio

Tape Notes

Executive Producer: Mike Walsh

Producer: Tape Notes 

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by Robert Swerdlow, of Starwood Management.

With over 25 years of management experience, Robert discusses the challenges artists face today and his role in protecting them - from issues around selling copyright to the complexities of the digital entertainment industry’s close ties with music. The conversation also touches on the pros and cons of ticket touting, his experiences working with artists like The La’s, Michael Kiwanuka, and Little Simz, and the quick lessons he learned when one of his artists entered the Big Brother house.

NEWSLETTER

Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.

PPL 

The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL who celebrate their 90th year in business this year.

KEEP UP TO DATE

For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on: 

Instagram: @the_money_trench

LinkedIn: The Money Trench

Website: The Money Trench

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!

Thanks to our partners

PPL 

Earth/Percent

Tom A Smith

Aimless Play

Fourth Pillar

Sennheiser

Junkhead Studio

Tape Notes

Executive Producer: Mike Walsh

Producer: Tape Notes 

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by AIM interim-CEO, Gee Davy.

Digging into the latest industry news, Gee shares her insights on the Merlin-TikTok licensing developments and GEMA's advancements in AI music licensing. As well as discussing the journey of her winding career, from engineer, to lawyer and now Aim interim CEO, the conversation also covers the impact of Universal taking on PIAS, and the latest from the streaming renumeration group.

NEWSLETTER

Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.

PPL 

The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL who celebrate their 90th year in business this year.

KEEP UP TO DATE

For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on: 

Instagram: @the_money_trench

LinkedIn: The Money Trench

Website: The Money Trench

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!

Thanks to our partners

PPL 

Earth/Percent

Tom A Smith

Aimless Play

Fourth Pillar

Sennheiser

Junkhead Studio

Tape Notes

Executive Producer: Mike Walsh

Producer: Tape Notes 

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by two of the most influential music publishing execs of the last 30 years, Caroline Elleray and Mark Gale, co-founders of Second Songs.

Caroline and Mark give us an in-depth look at their storied careers in the music industry, sharing the details behind starting Second Songs publishing and management, the dynamics behind working as both business partners and a married couple, and what the future looks like for the company.

The conversation also covers the crisis of confidence and the use of data in A&R, the rise and success of UK songwriters, and the moment when Caroline first saw something special in Coldplay - long before anyone else did.

NEWSLETTER

Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.

PPL 

The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL who celebrate their 90th year in business this year.

KEEP UP TO DATE

For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on: 

Instagram: @the_money_trench

LinkedIn: The Money Trench

Website: The Money Trench

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!

Thanks to our partners

PPL 

Earth/Percent

Tom A Smith

Aimless Play

Fourth Pillar

Sennheiser

Junkhead Studio

Tape Notes

Executive Producer: Mike Walsh

Producer: Tape Notes 

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by Karen Emanuel, CEO and founder of Key Production Group, & recent winner of Businesswoman of the Year at the Women in Music Awards.

As well as covering topics including the future of vinyl, new music formats, and sustainability in the business, Karen shares her experience of starting and growing a company during a recession. She opens up about the challenges she faced as a female business owner in the '90s, what’s changed since then, and what still needs to improve.

Karen also gives her take on the current trend of superfans and record variants, and where she sees her business heading next.

NEWSLETTER

Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.

PPL 

The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL who celebrate their 90th year in business this year.

KEEP UP TO DATE

For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on: 

Instagram: @the_money_trench

LinkedIn: The Money Trench

Website: The Money Trench

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!

Thanks to our partners

PPL 

Earth/Percent

Tom A Smith

Aimless Play

Fourth Pillar

Sennheiser

Junkhead Studio

Tape Notes

Executive Producer: Mike Walsh

Producer: Tape Notes 

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by A&R legend Mike Smith.

Mike is one of the industry’s true A&R legends, who has built an enviable reputation across MCA, EMI, Columbia, Mercury, Virgin EMI, Warner Chappell, Downtown and beyond, signing and working with some all-time greats.

Fresh off the plane from Spain and back in the UK for a new music launch, Mike shares the fresh perspective he's gained from having some distance from the industry. Covering all aspects of his career, he discusses everything from faking his way into the A&R world, to the differences between being a 'publishing' guy versus a 'label' guy. He also shares the secrets to spotting what could be the next music scene, and recounts stories of signing some of the biggest artists of the day.

NEWSLETTER

Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.

PPL 

The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL who celebrate their 90th year in business this year.

KEEP UP TO DATE

For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on: 

Instagram: @the_money_trench

LinkedIn: The Money Trench

Website: The Money Trench

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!

Thanks to our partners

PPL 

Earth/Percent

Tom A Smith

Aimless Play

Fourth Pillar

Sennheiser

Junkhead Studio

Tape Notes

Executive Producer: Mike Walsh

Producer: Tape Notes 

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by BPI CEO Jo Twist and CSO Sophie Jones.

After a rainy few days in Liverpool at the Labour Party Conference and the BPI Northern Music Showcase, Jo and Sophie discuss how politicians need to engage with the music industry and the importance of treating music as more than just culture. They also share insights on how pro-business policies and creative education are crucial for the industry's growth.

As well as sharing the latest from the government's music streaming Creator Remuneration Working Group, and exploring strategies for helping more British artists break through internationally, the pair reflect on the news of David Joseph leaving Univeral, and what the future might hold.

NEWSLETTER

Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.

PPL 

The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL who celebrate their 90th year in business this year.

KEEP UP TO DATE

For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on: 

Instagram: @the_money_trench

LinkedIn: The Money Trench

Website: The Money Trench

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!

Thanks to our partners

PPL 

Earth/Percent

Tom A Smith

Aimless Play

Fourth Pillar

Sennheiser

Junkhead Studio

Tape Notes

Executive Producer: Mike Walsh

Producer: Tape Notes 

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by Olivia Hobbs, founder of marketing agency Blackstar.

Olivia breaks down the success of digital marketing in today’s genre-agnostic music industry, exploring innovative ways to build communities and market music beyond traditional social media channels.

As well as sharing insights on creating viral moments and discussing why some artists shy away from social media, Olivia reflects on her career journey, highlighting the importance of grassroots music venues and the need to understand neurodiversity in the music industry.

NEWSLETTER

Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.

PPL 

The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL who celebrate their 90th year in business this year.

KEEP UP TO DATE

For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on: 

Instagram: @the_money_trench

LinkedIn: The Money Trench

Website: The Money Trench

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!

Thanks to our partners

PPL 

Earth/Percent

Tom A Smith

Aimless Play

Fourth Pillar

Sennheiser

Junkhead Studio

Tape Notes

Executive Producer: Mike Walsh

Producer: Tape Notes 

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark joins Alex Hardee, Executive Vice President & 'Special Agent' at Wasserman Music.

Touching on some of the biz's top headlines, Alex shares his thoughts on the ongoing frenzy around dynamic ticket pricing and potential solutions, he also discusses the challenges artists face with the EU’s touring regulations.

Reflecting on his early days working with Liam Gallagher, Alex speculates on contenders for the next big music reunion. The conversation also dives into how streaming platforms are rigged, particularly favouring the U.S. market, and the impact this has on the global music scene.

NEWSLETTER

Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories.

PPL 

The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL who celebrate their 90th year in business this year.

KEEP UP TO DATE

For the latest podcast and music business updates, make sure to follow us on: 

Instagram: @the_money_trench

LinkedIn: The Money Trench

Website: The Money Trench

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? We’d love to hear from you! - Get in touch here!

Thanks to our partners

PPL 

Earth/Percent

Tom A Smith

Aimless Play

Fourth Pillar

Sennheiser

Junkhead Studio

Tape Notes

Executive Producer: Mike Walsh

Producer: Tape Notes