I was very interested this week to read the comments from the Head of the Arts Council Alan Davey who told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that UK labels don't take A&R risks and "want talent to be delivered to them ready made and they're not prepared to take a...

When I sat down to write a few words on this year's SXSW in Austin, Tx I was thinking 500, maybe a 1000 would be sufficient to sum it up. I was wrong.
Put in seven simple words, SXSW is THE BEST INDUSTRY EVENT ON THE PLANET!

2012 - What kind of year has it really been for music? A few weeks ago it was reported that Gwen Stefani's come back hit with No Doubt had notched up a measly 680 sales in its first week. Meanwhile Mumford & Sons rise and rise continued with...

Last week I was invited to speak at the inaugural night of the Henley Business College's newest course. The school is leading the world by creating the first ever Music MBA. Backed by the music industry and spearheaded by an inspirational programme director Helen Gammons, the aim is...

I'm celebrating my 15th year working in the music industry this year. It's been a great career, taking me from one day hanging out at gigs with Radio 1 DJs, setting up press conferences with The Rolling Stones and escorting Stevie Wonder backstage at the BRIT Awards. It's...

I've just landed back in the UK from a frazzling week at SXSW in Austin, Texas, the annual industry frenzy of more than 2000 bands and something like 200 stages, more probably. Every venue, bar, cafe, restaurant, petrol station or doorway has a stage, a pa and a band of...

So Adele wows the Brits once more, gets kicked off to make way for an okay performance from Blur (aside from the drummer who was ace) and the guitarist who played that Song 2 riff well and the other one who was good on backing woo-hoos. Next we...

It's that time again. That time being when the best of next year's greatest hopes for pop stardom are lined up in the BBC Sound Of list, this year looking forward to 2012. So
I thought I'd take a little look at last year's list and see...

Last week a man was reportedly facing jail in the US for stealing a guitar from someone's coffin. Another one of those only in America stories I guess. But it made me think about my relationship with music.

To me music IS a matter of life and death......

So Keith Richards has saved 'oldies' station Angel Radio from going to the wall. Meanwhile, Ronnie Wood is the saviour of Absolute Radio with his new show that is raking in record listeners. Bob Dylan's on Radio 2 - what next, Weird Al Yankovich's all-hit breakfast show on...

It's never been a better time to be independent. Not only in the music industry but in every way. With an ipad and a smartphone and a good idea you can run a business from anywhere. People are being laid off work because belts are being tightened. But far from...