Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based Director operating in the Music space. If you think a Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Ben McOwen Wilson
Director, Europe & Sub-Saharan Africa of YouTube
Ben is the Director of Partnerships for YouTube where he leads the development of content and business strategy across Northern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. His remit includes working with some of YouTube’s largest global News, sports and traditional media partners as well as many of the platform’s most-recognised endemic creators – our YouTubers. Ben has led YouTube’s growth in various roles in EMEA for 6 years. Prior to starting with YouTube, Ben was a Management Board Director at ITV Plc – the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster – for six years, where he oversaw the launch and growth of ITV’s digital and new media businesses. During his tenure, he co-created, launched and was Chairman of Project Kangaroo – the proposed VoD joint venture between BBC, Channel 4 and ITV. Previously a Partner in a strategy consulting firm, Ben has over twenty years experience in the field of media, entertainment, telecommunications and the internet. He has lived and worked on five continents. Ben is married with three children.
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About YouTube: YouTube is a video-sharing platform, allows users to upload, view, and share videos, including movie and music clips and amateur content.
Ben Dawson
VR Director of MelodyVR
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About MelodyVR: MelodyVR is a destination for music in virtual reality.
Mike Greer
Director of Software Experience of Kano
Mike Greer is the VP of software product at Kano Computing with experience in conceptualizing, scoping, designing and managing web, desktop, and mobile apps. Mike also co-founded Guevera in 2013 and has served as a designer and creative technologist at Havas Worldwide London.
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About Kano: Kano provides a system of kits and coding platform that enables users to develop apps, games, and music.
Aaron Hinchion
Executive Creative Director of Kano
Aaron Hinchion is the executive creative director at Kano Computing. Prior to this, Aaron has worked as a creative director at Hinchion & Sons for over 15 years. Aaron holds a bachelor’s degree in visual communications from Birmingham City University.
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About Kano: Kano provides a system of kits and coding platform that enables users to develop apps, games, and music.
Jenny McGregor
Senior Director of Universal Music Group
Jenny is part of the global Process Innovation and Advanced Operations team at Universal Music. This team works across the business standing up new ways for consumers to find and access Universal’s music and improving the way music is created, distributed and preserved. Jenny is currently helping to shape and implement a major transformation of the ways creative metadata is captured, stored and shared in Universal Music’s systemsand how it is then synchronised across the industry to make sure that when you play a song, the right people are identified and paid. Jenny is an experienced change leader who has driven organisation-wide culture change and digital transformations in cosmetics, media, football, education, local government and now the music industry. She is a firm believer that we make our own opportunities and is not scared of a challenge, particularly where she can deliver real improvements and make lasting changes. Amongst other projects Jenny was one of the Brighton & Hove Football Club’s change managers supporting their move into the new American Express Community Stadium which quadrupled the size of the business overnight, helped to restructure Eastbourne Borough Council into a customer-oriented model underpinned with digitised services that resulted in almost £10 million savings, and led a culture-change programme at Bournemouth & Poole FE College which significantly improved student experience and performance
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About Universal Music Group: Universal Music Group offers music recording, publishing, and merchandising services worldwide.
Jack Fryer
Managing Director – The Square @ Universal Music UK of Universal Music Group
Jack Fryer is the Managing Director – The Square at Universal Music Group.
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About Universal Music Group: Universal Music Group offers music recording, publishing, and merchandising services worldwide.
Hywel Sloman
IT Director of Arsenal Football Club
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About Arsenal Football Club: Arsenal Football Club is a multi media production company representing a diverse & exciting international talent roster including Director.
Ken Friar
Club Secretary & Managing Director of Arsenal Football Club
Arsenal Football Club’s longest-serving director, Ken Friar OBE has been a mainstay of the Club for more than 60 years. During this time, Mr Friar, as he is affectionately known by all, has done just about every job at the Club including working as Club Secretary and Managing Director. He was a driving force behind the Gunners’ move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium and continues to lead the Club’s activities in the property sector.
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About Arsenal Football Club: Arsenal Football Club is a multi media production company representing a diverse & exciting international talent roster including Director.
Stan Kroenke
Board of Directors of Arsenal Football Club
Stan Kroenke became the majority shareholder of Arsenal Football Club in April 2011, having previously been appointed to the board of directors in 2008. As the head of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, he owns a number of American sports properties; the Denver Nuggets basketball team, Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer team, St. Louis Rams of the NFL and the Colorado Avalanche ice hockey team in the NHL. He is a real estate developer and also owns the Outdoor Channel and Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
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About Kroenke Sports & Entertainment: Arsenal Football Club is a multi media production company representing a diverse & exciting international talent roster including Director.
John Bayer
Technical Director of Arsenal Football Club
His main roles at Arsenal Ladies involve directing operations at the Arsenal Ladies Centre of Excellence and implementing the Technical and Physical Programme for the COE.
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About Arsenal Football Club: Arsenal Football Club is a multi media production company representing a diverse & exciting international talent roster including Director.
Lord Harris
Board of Directors of Arsenal Football Club
Lord Harris of Peckham was appointed to the Arsenal board in November 2005. One of Britain’s longest-serving retailers, Lord Harris took over his family run carpet business aged 15. He went on to found Carpetright in 1988, where he played a central role until announcing his retirement in 2014. Lord Harris is a keen philanthropist, supporting a number of charities and projects that help young people to fulfil their potential.
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About : Arsenal Football Club is a multi media production company representing a diverse & exciting international talent roster including Director.
James Fitzherbert-Brockholes
Director of Kobalt
James Fitzherbert-Brockholes has over 15 years of experience in music publishing. He is the chief financial officer of [Kobalt](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/kobalt-music-group), a technology company that offers an alternative to the traditional music business model. Previously, Brockholes has also worked as a consultant at L.E.K. Consulting, focusing on M&A strategy and corporate strategy. He holds a master’s degree from Cambridge University.
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About Kobalt: Kobalt is a music services company that offers alternative to traditional music business models.
Gareth Mellor
Marketing Director, UK & Europe of Kobalt
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About Kobalt: Kobalt is a music services company that offers alternative to traditional music business models.
Monica Hyerim Lee
Founder & CEO / Managing Director of FrontRow Global
Monica Hyerim Lee is the founder and CEO at FrontRow Global.
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About FrontRow Global, Royal College of Art: Music Data Intelligence for Music Industry
Phil Burroughes
Managing Director of Imagesound
Phil Burroughes is the managing director at Imagesound.
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About Imagesound: Imagesound develops in-store music curation and media solutions for global retail, fashion, hospitality, luxury, and restaurant brands.
Peter Bazalgette
Non-Executive Director of Base79
Peter Bazalgette is Non-Executive Director at Base79. Peter Bazalgette is the great-great-grandson of Victorian civil engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette. A third cousin is Edward Bazalgette who directed and produced the 2003 documentary The Sewer King which charted Sir Joseph Bazalgette’s design and engineering of the London sewers. Peter Bazalgette presented a later television show for Five, called The Great Stink, and chaired the Crossness Engines Trust raising £4.5 million to restore the magnificent Victorian pumping station built by his ancestor. An old joke is that where Joseph Bazalgette was responsible for removing ordure from London’s homes, his grandson has reversed the process. For the first 12 years of his life Peter Bazalgette’s parents did not have a television. He attended Dulwich College, and gained a third class degree in Law from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University while also becoming the president of the Cambridge Union Society. He is married to intellectual property rights lawyer Hilary Newiss, with whom he has two children. The family lives in Notting Hill.
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About Base79: Base79 is an online media company creating global audiences for video content and manages hundreds of YouTube channels.
Mehrad Noori
Director, Global Programming of Comcast NBCUniversal
Mehrad Noori is Director, Global Programming, NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN), based at the company’s international headquarters in London. In this position, Noori acquires and produces scripted content for NBCUIN’s portfolio of channels (including Universal TV, SYFY and 13th Street). He is also responsible for creating original immersive content for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Noori most recently served as creator and executive producer on NBCUIN’s groundbre
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About Comcast NBCUniversal: A media and entertainment company.
Rakesh Sanghvi
Managing Director & Global President of Spirit Music Group
Rak Sanghvi has been Managing Director of UK/International for Spirit B-Unique at Spirit Music Group, Inc. since October 2015. Prior to joining Spirit B-Unique, Rak served as Managing Director of Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Limited, where he had operational and budgetary responsibility for all areas of business, including A&R, synchronisation, marketing, business affairs, finance and administration. He also collected several Ivor Novello awards during his tenure as Managing Director and presided over an era that saw Sony/ATV’s UK revenues nearly double. He has also worked with companies including Senbla Publishing Limited, Far South Music Limited, and Westmount Films Limited in a variety of music publishing and consultancy roles.
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About Spirit Music Group: Spirit Music is a team of music-driven executives, well versed in the history of songs and songwriters.
Gabe Turner
Director of Fulwell 73
Gabe has worked across a multitude of genres, platforms and roles within the TV, Film and Advertising Industries, and is responsible for some of the most engaging and shared content in the world. He co-founded Fulwell73 with his brother Ben Turner, cousin Leo Pearlman and oldest friend Ben Winston. His career started with the critically acclaimed feature doc ‘In The Hands of the Gods’ (Lionsgate), which he co-directed with his brother Ben, before they went on to make ‘The Class of 92’ for Universal, which became the fastest selling sports documentary of all time. In 2014, Gabe directed his first feature ‘The Guvnors’, which won two National Film Awards, and he is currently shooting a new documentary with Usain Bolt, set for global release. His work includes commercials for numerous global brands such as Apple, Samsung, Nissan, Honda, Audeamars Piguet and Sony, music videos for Demi Lovato, Olly Murs and One Direction, including ‘Steal My Girl’ and ‘Drag Me Down’, which went on to win this year’s ‘Best British Artist Video’ at the Brits. In addition to his directing, producing and writing credits, Gabe has also Exec Produced numerous TV shows, including Jack Whitehall’s ‘Feeling Nuts Comedy Night’ (C4), involving a cancer awareness campaign that reached almost 800 million people. In 2015 he went over to the U.S to develop the ‘Late Late Show’ with Ben Winston and the show’s host, James Corden. He directed the pilot for the Internet sensation, ‘Carpool Karaoke’, with James Corden and singing superstar, Mariah Carey.
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About Fulwell 73: Fulwell 73 is a television, film and music production company
Saverio Cianfrone
Director Music Partnerships of Crowdmix
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About Crowdmix: Connecting the world through music. The app where bands, fans and brands collide.
Dave Froker
Managing Director of Focusrite
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About Focusrite: Focusrite is a global music and audio products group supplying hardware and software products used by professional and amateur musicians.
Dumi Oburota
Founder & Director of Disturbing London
Founder and Managing Director of Disturbing London an entertainment and lifestyle company, which in addition to artist management, has a record label and fashion brand of the same name.
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About Disturbing London: Disturbing London is an entertainment company.
Ian Clethero
Founder & Director of 1Hub Media Ltd
Ian Clethero is the founder of 1Hub Media (London) and Platform8 Asia (Hong Kong). These are online media companies publishing platforms for two verticals: music education and choirs. Platform8 Asia is reponsible for marketing the projects in Hong Kong, SE Asia and the wider region. 1Hub Media takes the same role for the UK and European markets. The aim is to build MUSIC:ED and Chorally into ‘go-to’ global resources for their respective sectors. Each platform efficiently links individual users with organisations and businesses. The platforms combine independent media (news, magazine articles) with directories and listings (classifieds, project profiles, jobs, resources). Online membership, social networks and iOS/Android mobile apps will be launched in 2019 to provide new benefits for platform users, boosting overall engagement and traffic. MUSIC:ED is designed for students, educators, performers and parents as end-users. Advertisers include education providers (including university and college music departments, international schools, private music schools), music and software publishers, providers of specialist services, charities, government departments and arts councils, membership organisations and performance venues. Chorally serves the global choral sector, a market of an estimated 2m performing groups and 60m singers. The platform brings together choirs, singers and audiences in one place (the idea for Chorally came from Ian Clethero’s extensive experience as a church musician). From mid 2019, choirs will be able to create profiles and add jobs, events and news to Chorally. Both platforms are monetised through advertiser subscriptions, individual listing fees (eg for summer schools and jobs) and individual membership subscriptions (from 2019). Additional revenue is derived from sponsorship and affiliate commissions from sales originated on the platforms. The projects have bases in both Europe and Asia. Ian Clethero’s aim is to expand MUSIC:ED and Chorally in these regions. After this, the projects will be extended worldwide including to North and South America.
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About 1Hub Media Ltd: Publisher of digital information platforms, MUSIC:ED (https://musiceducation.global) and Chorally (https://choral.ly).
Kevin Molloy
Director of Video of Global Radio
Kevin Molloy is the Director of Video for Global, the UK’s biggest commercial radio group. Previous Head of Production & Executive Producer for Inception VR, LoveLive TV and Rockfeedback. With nearly a decade of experience in music, he has directed live concert films for artists such as Rihanna, Madonna, Nick Cave and Muse. He has also created VR experiences for, amongst others, the Dalí Foundation, Daydreaming with Stanley Kubrick, an interactive clubbing experience for Google and Boiler Room in Berlin, and immersive city guides for TimeOut in New York and London.
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About Global Radio: UK’s largest commercial radio group
Greg Blin
Board of Directors of Buster + Punch
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About Mobeus Equity Partners: A London, UK-based interiors brand.
Avril Furness
Director/VR Filmmaker of Black Dog Films
Avril Furness is an Independent Writer Director based in London. Always having a passion for the arts, Avril graduated from University College London with a History of Art BA Hons degree before working at Sotheby’s Auction House, The Institute of Contemporary Art, M+C Saatchi, and Wieden + Kennedy. Avril is an idea driven creative filmmaker with a love of telling insightful stories, and exploring new ways of working with the medium of film.
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About Black Dog Films: Black Dog Films currently represents some of the most creative and established directors in both the UK and the USA.
Neil Hadfield
Director, CEO of Ricall Ltd
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About Ricall Ltd: Crowdsourced exchange for (1) licensing music for use in videos and (2) selling and distributing digital downloads.
Maria Baibakova
Founder & Director of Baibakov Art Projects
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About Baibakov Art Projects: Baibakov Art Projects is a contemporary art organization with a mission of supporting Russian artists globally.
Chris Clarke
Art Director, Senior Art Director, and Deputy Creative Director of Guardian Media Group
Chris is responsible for building mobile apps and news products for the future. Passionate about sharing ideas on process and online reading consumption. Chris is also a course instructor for a short course on UX Design.
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About Guardian Media Group: GMG is a leading multimedia business. The diverse portfolio includes national and regional newspapers, websites, radio stations, magazines
Kate Walker
Marketing Director of WildBrain
Kate Walker, Marketing Director, WildBrain, leads marketing and communications for the DHX owned, multi-platform digital media company. Since its’ launch in 2015, Kate has overseen the growing profile of WildBrain; building the brand on the YouTube platform, and launching original productions. Prior to joining WildBrain she served in a number of senior Marketing positions in the entertainment industry, including Base79, ITV Studios Global Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Films.
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About WildBrain: Wild Brain is a computer animation studio that creates short cartoons for corporate advertisements and television shows.
Charlie Dawe
Director of Strategic Partnerships, London Ops of RECOVR
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About RECOVR: Creators + Patrons + Charity = ☮. Reevaluating the Value of Music. We ♥︎ #creators #mycelia #FairTradeMusic #blockchain #VR + You.
Danny Ryder
Director of A+R, UK of RECOVR
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About RECOVR: Creators + Patrons + Charity = ☮. Reevaluating the Value of Music. We ♥︎ #creators #mycelia #FairTradeMusic #blockchain #VR + You.
Sally Freeman
Managing Director of Love Live Music
Sally runs Love Live Music UK specialising in Digital PR & online Social Media for Musicians & Artists. An Event Producer and creative Geek you can find Sally always representing the lives, loves and conversations of stakeholders and audience in the digital environment. Sally has contributed to the Guardian, Wired and BBC Radio 4 & 6 and has a passion to get more girls involved in the exciting world of Tech.
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About Love Live Music: Love Live Music is a consultancy that provides Press, PR and Social Media strategies for Artists, companies and charities
Carolyn Van Dongen
Marketing Director of Musaic
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About Musaic: Musaic is a manufacturer/developer of wireless HiFi systems based in the heart of London.
Tim Gillions
Director of Ents24
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About Ents24: Ents24 is a live entertainment website covering live music, comedy, theatre and shows.
Matt Warren
Managing Director of Warble Entertainment Agency
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About : Warble Entertainment is a UK based live entertainment booking service for weddings and events.
Tracey Warren
Managing Director of Warble Entertainment Agency
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About : Warble Entertainment is a UK based live entertainment booking service for weddings and events.
Charlie Ryan
Founder & Director of Moshhh Ltd.
I’m the Founder of Giguana, a new kind of streaming service that rewards fans for supporting the bands they love. I have an 11 year background in Design and Development, and worked with a number of big name clients before joining the team at football statistics startup Squawka to build the initial product. I exited Squawka in 2014 to try and disrupt the music industry with Giguana.
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About Moshhh Ltd.: Giguana is new kind of streaming service that rewards fans for supporting the bands they love. Launching Soon!
Byron Bullock
Creative Director of Noiseworks
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About Noiseworks: Noiseworks is a creative sound design and music company that combines various music and sound design styles.
Lucy Blair
Director at Digital Marketing of Motive Unknown
As director at digital marketing agency Motive Unknown, Lucy specialises in helping music clients including BMG, Sony Red, AIM and Gramofon to identify and implement strategic business and technology opportunities. Prior to joining Motive Unknown in 2014, Lucy spent three and a half years as Digital Marketing Manager at renowned dance music labels Ministry of Sound and Anjunabeats, heading up their digital strategy, campaigns and teams. Lucy is also a regular conference panellist and presenter, and to date has contributed to events including MIDEM, By:Larm, AIM Music Connected and Indie Con and Brighton Music Conference, amongst others.
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About Motive Unknown: A strategic digital marketing consultancy working primarily in the music business
Nathan Graves
Non-Executive Director of musicVault
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About musicVault, SoundVault Ltd: Creators of the musicVaultSidebar
Nia Thomas
Managing Director of Boom Cymru
Nia Thomas is Managing Director at Boom Cymru.
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About Boom Cymru: TV Film and Video Production Company
Iain McLean
Managing Director, Founder of Musations
Iain has over 150 apps submitted to the apps stores and over 100 Million downloads to his name, Iain is a serious developer with an eye for new technology and the Internet of things!
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About CarryCado, Musations: Mutations is a social media messaging platform that enables its users to share their inner most feelings through music.
Gary Cohen
Brand Partnerships Director of ATC Live
Gary spent 10 years in brand planning roles at leading ad agencies including Ogilvy’s and Havas. In 2004 he established Brand Aid Music Marketing to meet the ever-increasing demand for brand partnerships with the music industry. He went on to plan and manage music led campaigns in the USA, UK and Ireland for clients including Guinness, Corona, T Mobile, Topman, Pizza Hut, Daily Mail and Heineken. Some of the artists with whom he’s worked include Mark Ronson, Snow Patrol, Sting, Bob Geldof and Primal Scream. In 2016 Gary joined the music management company ATC as Brand Partnerships Director with a remit to develop brand relationships across both the management and live booking divisions. ATC manage a broad roster of artists including Laura Mvula, Faithless, The Staves, Katie Melua, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey and Benjamin Clementine. The live booking division, ATC Live, represent Whitney, The Lumineers, Mac DeMarco and Passenger amongst others.
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About ATC Live: ATC Live is an independent artist booking agency based in London, England, representing 250 artists.
Tim Hadley
Communications Director of ROXi
Tim Hadley is the Communications Director at ROXi.
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About Captini, ROXi: ROXi is a Music Entertainment System compay.
Peter McVerry
Station Manager and Executive Director of U105
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About U105: Radio station in the greater Belfast area.
Alex Diaz
Creative Director of Flying Tiger Productions
Alex Diaz is the creative director of Flying Tiger Productions
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About Flying Tiger Productions: Video and Film production
Chris Chambers
Director of Label Worx Limited
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About Label Worx Limited: Providing services to the electronic dance music industry
Paul Noble
Creative Director of Spiritland
Paul Noble is Creative Director @ Spiritland.
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About Spiritland: Spiritland is a new space for listening to music, open every day from 6th October 2014 to 1st January 2015
Paul Noble
Creative Director of Spiritland
Paul Noble is Creative Director @ Spiritland.
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About Spiritland: Spiritland is a new space for listening to music, open every day from 6th October 2014 to 1st January 2015
Kate Dawkins
Founder, Creative Director of Kate Dawkins Studio
Kate Dawkins is a designer and director, specialising in design-led content for live events such as London 2012 Olympics, John’s Red Piano show in Las Vegas performance, as well as events for global brands such as Land Rover, Samsung and Adidas.
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About Kate Dawkins Studio: Kate Dawkins Studio specialises in designing and delivering bespoke content for live performances, shows and brand events.
Kate Dawkins
Founder, Creative Director of Kate Dawkins Studio
Kate Dawkins is a designer and director, specialising in design-led content for live events such as London 2012 Olympics, John’s Red Piano show in Las Vegas performance, as well as events for global brands such as Land Rover, Samsung and Adidas.
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About Kate Dawkins Studio: Kate Dawkins Studio specialises in designing and delivering bespoke content for live performances, shows and brand events.
Guy Lewis
Director of Kesseny Ltd
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About Kesseny Ltd: Media production and licensing services
