SPEAKERS 2024

Fee Mak
DJ / Presenter
Fee Mak is a London-based Radio/TV Presenter and Host, known for hosting BBC 1Xtra’s Sunday Breakfast show. She’s hosted major live events like the Earls Court Film Festival, BBC’s MOBO red carpet, and in-game events for the London Lions. A lifelong arts enthusiast, she trained at The Royal Ballet School and performed in Billy Elliot on London’s West End. Fee has also showcased her art in a London exhibition. Her broadcast career includes interviews with stars like Akon, Beenie Man, Tion Wayne, Kojo Anim, and actresses Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton on platforms like BBC 1Xtra, KISS TV, and 4Music.
Julian Emery
Musician, Producer and Songwriter (McFly, Nothing But Thieves)
Julian is a seasoned songwriter and producer specializing in pop and rock. He co-wrote and produced McFly’s #1 album Motion in the Ocean, featuring hits like “Stargirl,” and Matt Willis's debut album, Don’t Let it Go to Waste. With Jim Irvin, he contributed seven songs to Nothing But Thieves' debut album, including the #1 U.S. Alternative single "Trip Switch," and six songs to their second album, Broken Machine, which charted at #2 in the UK. For their third album, Moral Panic (2020), he co-wrote five tracks, including “Impossible” and “Real Love Song.” Julian’s credits include tracks for Lissie, Simple Plan, Lower Than Atlantis, Gavin DeGraw, and Michelle Branch, and recent work with artists like Anne Marie, The Amazons, and You Me At Six.
Danni Diston
Radio Presenter
Danni Diston is a passionate and lively BBC Radio 1 presenter known for her enthusiastic personality and love of fresh, innovative music. Starting out on her university’s radio station alongside co-host Sam MacGregor, Danni quickly demonstrated her talent, winning awards like “Best Entertainment Show” with Sam. The duo’s appeal led them to their BBC Radio 1 debut in 2020 as part of the Christmas Takeover Scheme, where they captivated audiences with their natural chemistry and upbeat style. Since then, Danni has become a fixture across the BBC Radio network, earning recognition as one of Radio 1’s most in-demand cover presenters. Now hosting the Weekend Breakfast show from Cardiff with Sam, Danni’s vibrant energy and passion for connecting with listeners make her a beloved voice in UK radio.
Sam MacGregor
Radio Presenter
Sam MacGregor is a talented BBC Radio 1 presenter with a knack for delivering entertaining and engaging shows. He started his journey in radio at his university station, where he won accolades such as “Best Male Radio Presenter” at the Student Radio Awards in 2019. His chemistry with co-presenter Danni Diston quickly caught attention, leading the pair to become a staple on BBC Radio 1. Since their debut through the BBC’s Christmas Takeover Scheme in 2020, Sam has showcased his vibrant personality and sharp wit across multiple shows, solidifying himself as a versatile voice on the airwaves. Now, as the co-host of Radio 1’s Weekend Breakfast show broadcasting from Cardiff, Sam brings the perfect blend of energy and humor to kickstart listeners’ weekends.
Venbee
Artist
Venbee, a 22-year-old artist and songwriter from Chatham, Kent, has made waves with her drum & bass-infused tracks like Messy in Heaven and Low Down. Messy in Heaven peaked at #3 on the UK charts twice, spent 13 weeks in the Top 10, and is now certified Platinum. Known for her down-to-earth personality, Venbee is refreshingly authentic—her Instagram is full of bucket hats, tracksuits, and candid selfies. Growing up in a musical family, she found solace in songwriting, drawing on her own experiences and struggles. Initially building a following on TikTok, Venbee’s raw lyrics and love for D&B quickly caught attention. Today, she’s dedicated to making music that balances heavy themes with high energy, helping bring drum & bass to the mainstream.
Nels Hylton
DJ / Presenter
Nels is the host of Radio 1's Future Alternative shining a light on the very best in brand new Alternative and underground music from across the globe. With 10 years presenting experience - Nels has become one of the most trusted names in new music and one of the go to voices in the scene. In 2020 - Nels covered Daniel P Carter on the Radio 1 Rock Show as a part of Radio 1's Christmas Takeover before being given his new slot as the presenter of Future Alternative. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in alternative music including Enter Shikari, Kid Brunswick and Beartooth. He has also previously worked with Radio X hosting their overnight weekend show, is a stream host for Scruff of the Neck TV Live on Twitch, which has seen him travel up and down the country for festival coverage including appearances at The Great Escape and Y Not Festival. As well as Radio and TV - Nels is passionate about hosting live events, having hosted In the Round Festival at the Roundhouse and a brand new live music night for the alternative scene Upgrade LDN.
Felix de Jong
Sr. Marketing Manager
Felix is a Sr. Manager of Marketing & Curation at Audiomack. At Audiomack, he oversees global curation and partnerships for Audiomack Electronic, as well as marketing and brand partnerships across Europe and the UK. Some of his notable work includes partnerships with Daily Paper, GRM Daily, Soulection, and DJ Edu, as well as producing the flagship UK Content Series "Patterned" which premiered with Headie One.
London Elektricity
Artist / Founder / CEO
Tony Colman, better known by his stage name London Elektricity, is an English electronic musician and the co-founder and CEO of Hospital Records.
Anastasia Liasi
Creative Producer
Anastasia Liasi is a freelance Creative Producer with expertise across Film Production and Development.
Shell Zenner
Radio DJ / Presenter
Shell Zenner presents and curates a weekly show on Amazing Radio and presents weekend breakfast on XS Manchester as well as regularly presenting on BBC Radio Manchester. Shell has also been part an integral part of the team over at BBC Introducing for the last five years, working with the Lancashire, West Yorkshire and Manchester teams.
Phoebe Cross
Programme Officer
Adding her expert insights to the Industry Backed: How to Get Music Funding & Support panel is Youth Music's Programme Officer Phoebe Cross. Catch Phoebe on the Ditto X Main Stage at 10:30am.
Josh Nicoll
Music Label Partnerships
Josh is part of the Music Label Partnerships team and Meta and manages the relationship and strategy with independent label rightsholders globally. A lot of Josh’s time is spent educating the independent label community on best practices and running marketing campaigns with them on Instagram and Facebook. He joined Meta in October 2022 from SoundCloud, where he was Vice President of Independent Label Relations.
Abbie McCarthy
Presenter / DJ
Abbie McCarthy is an award-winning presenter, DJ, and music tastemaker in the UK, known for her work with BBC Introducing where she champions new talent. With a warm and fun style, she’s popular among listeners and was honored in the Roll of Honour at Music Week’s Women In Music Awards 2018 and won Silver for Best Music Presenter at the ARIAs 2020. Abbie reports from top festivals and hosts stages at Reading, Glastonbury, and Trafalgar Square. She also hosts Fresh This Month on E4 Extra & The Box Network, showcasing new global artists. Abbie founded Good Karma Club, a gig night spotlighting emerging acts like Sam Fender and Mae Muller, and is also a passionate sports and environmental advocate, hosting for Chelsea TV, BBC Sport, and Billie Eilish’s Overheated event on climate action.
Nayha
Host / Presenter
Nayha is a Radio and TV presenter from Slough. She is the host of the Official Asian Chart show on the BBC Asian Network and also presents on the Sky Arts show ‘Unmuted’ and ‘Desi Beat’ on Colors TV (Sky).
Mark Adams
Founder / CEO
Mark is the Founder & CEO of Blinding Talent, a UK-based Artist Development, Digital Marketing and Creative Services agency. With an entertainment industry career spanning nearly 3 decades across music, print media, radio and TV, Mark’s personal career highlights have included producing video formats with Spotify and YouTube alongside playing a key role in breaking artists in the UK market through prioritised TV and Radio support and innovative programming strands. These artists include: All Time Low, Anne Marie, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra, My Chemical Romance, Pink, Rag’n’Bone Man, Tom Grennan, Years & Years, and many more. Mark is now using his network and experience, with a hand-picked team to nurture new artists and support them in preparing for their big break.
Atlanta Cobb
Founder / CEO
“A beacon for those aspiring to make their mark in music.” - Business Insider, 2024 Atlanta Cobb, a 26x Multi-Platinum Artist Manager and 2x award-winning Music Business Educator, has over 13 years of industry experience. She has achieved success at Columbia and Island Records and within Artist Management, contributing to the career growth of 2x BRIT Award-Winning artists. Atlanta has played a pivotal role in the creation of 5x UK Top-10 singles, 5x Gold, and 16x Platinum hits, as well as generating over 1.5 billion streams. In 2022, she launched Music Industry Mentor, which has coached thousands of independent musicians, producers, and music entrepreneurs worldwide. Atlanta is also a sought-after speaker with a 100,000+ strong online following. Follow the journey via @musicindustrymentor across Instagram, TikTok and Youtube!
Charlie Thomas
Audio Engineer
Charlie Thomas began as an intern at Pink Floyd’s Britannia Row Studios, quickly advancing to chief engineer and studio manager, working with top artists like Pink Floyd, One Direction, and London Grammar. Since Brit Row closed in 2016, he’s freelanced at renowned studios, including Abbey Road and The Village Studios in LA. Now based at Konk in North London, he collaborates with artists like Calum Scott and James TW. Charlie also teaches audio engineering, covering equipment like mixing consoles and microphones.
Zeze Millz
Media Personality
Zalika Kamilah Miller (born 30 July 1989), known professionally as Zeze Millz, is a British television personality. She hosted her own show, The Zeze Millz Show, on YouTube and she has since gone on to front projects for Channel 4 including Unapolagetic and Young, Black and Right-Wing. She has also appeared on Celeb Cooking School and was a housemate on the twenty-third series of Celebrity Big Brother.
Gavin Barnard
Chief Relations Officer
With over 35 years in the music, live events, and entertainment industries, Gavin has held senior roles in artist and tour management, promotion, live event production, and as General Manager for a major UK music and film label. He’s toured globally with diverse artists and directed stages at venues like the Millennium Dome and Wembley Arena. Currently, he is on the senior management teams of Amplead and Gigseekr, runs DAM Good Artists, mentors for Help Musicians and Ivor’s Academy, serves as Vice Chair of the South Coast Events Forum, and sits on steering groups for the Association of Independent Festivals and Vision 2025.
Ollie Winiberg
Host / DJ
Podcaster, drummer and host, Ollie brings over 13 years experience at the BBC to this year’s The Feeback Sessions. Having appeared regularly on BBC Music Introducing, BBC Radio One, 6 Music, 1Xtra, and the renowned BBC World Service, Ollie departed the BBC in 2021 to create the immersive “The Heavy Hooks Show,” a weekly rock & metal podcast which finds itself in the top 10% of most globally shared podcasts.
Jodie Bryant
Presenter
Jodie is the person in the know when it comes to new music. Some of her first ever tips to make it big included Arlo Parks, Griff, Lauran Hibberd & DYLAN. ​ Jodie is the cover presenter for BBC Introducing Sussex & Surrey, giving first plays to artists including PELA, Matt Taylor and Cassa Jackson. She is also the host (and often curator) of the Ned's New Music Monday as well as 'Soho Rising.' ​ She's hosted and curated a number of live events, including her own night 'Discover Monthly,' which is a showcase of the best new artists - who often subsequently appear on radio playlists.
RUBII
Artist
RUBII is a Birmingham born singer/creative within the UK Alt-RnB scene. RUBII explores different RnB and HipHop genres with signature relaxed vocals creating a chilled but exciting approach.
Baby Panna
Artist
Introducing Baby Panna, the UK Jazz rapper from Portsmouth, aged 24. After a decade in the music scene, his jazzy track "Moonlight" went viral on TikTok, earning him millions of Spotify streams and a global following. Now, stepping into a new era, Baby Panna is set to electrify stages worldwide with his captivating presence and infectious energy. Stay tuned as he brings his unique blend of jazz and rap to life.
Riki Bleau
Founder of Since '93 Group / Co-President of Since '93 (Sony)
Riki Bleau is the founder of Since '93, a UK-based full-service entertainment company with a roster that includes multiple Grammy, BRIT, Ivor Novello, and MOBO Award-winning talent. In addition to his work with Since 93, Riki is co-president of Since 93 Records, a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment, where he partners with Glyn Aikins to support emerging and established artists. Beyond music, Riki is a passionate investor and entrepreneur. He has co-founded and grown several brands, including the clothing line GRAFT3R and an extensive property portfolio. His commitment to both the music industry and entrepreneurship has also made him a sought-after speaker and mentor. Riki frequently shares his insights and experiences at youth-focused events, including Rising Tides, Urban Music Seminar, and PPL, where he inspires and empowers the next generation of talent.
Jaqueline Lockinger
Senior Manager, Music & Talent, UK
Jaqueline Lockinger is Vevo's Manager of Programming & Editorial, UK & DE. Born and raised in Germany, Jaqueline moved to the UK 13 years ago and started working at Vevo as a coordinator. She has been leading Vevo's cultural campaigns for years, as well as promoting and running point on all original content. Additionally, Jaqueline curates and programs all of Vevo's playlists, is the programming manager for Germany, and works on editorial features such as Footnotes and artist curated programming blocks. Prior to Vevo, Jaqueline worked as a research assistant at Park Village.
Judy Robinson
Sync Licensing Manager
Judy is the Sync Licensing Manager at Ditto Music, where she brings extensive experience and deep industry knowledge to her role. Originally from Ireland and now based in London, she began her career in sync as an A&R Sync Coordinator at Pure Sync, a prominent London-based music supervision company, where she developed a strong foundation in music supervision, sync licensing, and A&R. Judy has a background in corporate and event management in the music industry, which enables her to collaborate effectively with artists and professionals to bring innovative projects to life. She graduated in 2019 from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in Music and Theatre Studies, where she also held the position of Students' Union Entertainments Officer. In addition to her career in sync, Judy is a singer, DJ, and theatre maker who has performed at multiple UK and Irish events and festivals.
Alex Brees
Founder / CEO
un:hurd music gives every artist a fair chance of success. We help artists ‘cut through the noise’, develop valuable audiences and become sustainable entities.
Dan Sheed
Event Manager / Creator
Dan Sheed is Event Manager at The Finsbury and The Gunners Pub and also the founder of Turtle Tempo - an independent music live events promoter.
Josh Robinson
Founder
Josh Robinson is an experienced music marketer with a proven track record of working with some of the biggest names in the industry. He has made content and worked on social media growth with artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Noel Gallagher, Sam Fender, Loyle Carner, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Kasabian, Miles Kane, The Kooks, Two Door Cinema Club, Gerry Cinnamon, Blossoms, Tom Grennan, Craig David, The Vaccines, Miles Kane, Jason Derulo, Mae Muller, Sundara Karma, Don Broco, Tom Odell, and many more.
Tom Weller
Managing Director
Managing Director of Ditto Publishing & Neighbouring Rights Tom Weller will be joining the Music Royalties: Understand Your Rights & Unlock New Revenue stage at this year's event.
Max Upton
Head of Campaigns
Max Upton brings a wealth of experience across various roles in marketing, campaign management, and brand strategy. Currently serving as the Head of Campaigns & Special Projects at Crowdfunder UK, Max has held progressive positions within the company since joining in 2018, including roles as Campaign Executive and Campaign Manager. Before Crowdfunder, Max worked at Tap Social Movement from 2017 to 2018, where they managed campaigns and the taproom, building brand awareness and community engagement.
Fiona Harte
Music Executive
Fiona Harte is a Music Executive for Sky TV commissioning composers for TV shows, Trailers and Promo's. Fiona works for Sky’s music production library, SATV and has previously worked as Head of Sync for London based record label Akira Records as well as New York Publishing house, Missing Link Music. Fiona has penned hits for a range of Television shows including The Traitors, Love Is Blind, The Ultimatum, Love Island, Hollyoaks, Home and Away, Brassic and BBC documentaries.
Talia Andrea
NextGen Community Producer
Talia's role is to shape the support Youth Music provides to the young people who engage with the organization. She is responsible for developing and delivering the NextGen Community events program, identifying progression opportunities, and representing the voice of the Youth Music community to industry partners. Outside the Youth Music office, Talia runs FEMMESTIVAL, an all-female concert and music festival series, which was originally made possible thanks to Round 5 of the NextGen Fund.
Mike Murphy
Global Head Of Events
Mike Murphy is Ditto's Global Head of Events and has led and ran events and partnerships over the past 8 years including Ditto X events globally including the UK's biggest Music Conference at the prostegious O2 London over the into its 4th year. Mike also has a wealth of industry experience spanning 20 years, managing and leasing globally and regional artist campaign artists throughout different stages of their careers supporting the build and growth of Ditto Music label services with a passion for Alternative, Rock and Indie Music.
Jennifer Jones
Music Executive
Jennifer Jones is a Music Executive at ITV. She has experience as a Music Supervisor/producer/Label Manager and has a background in publishing, music marketing, events coordination and creative composition. Working alongside composers producers and clients to create sync opportunities. I'm a keen and accomplished musician with over 10 years experience in varied industry roles.
Alex Ogden
Head of Music & Producer
Alex Ogden is Head of Music and Producer at SUBTV and will be joining Ditto X 2024 as part of the Music Video Masterclass: How to Make a Visual Impact.
Rob Sealy
Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
Rob devised Openstage in 2020. Openstage helps artists to centralise and capture all relevant fan data and comms in one place. Empowering them to better understand, reward and engage with each fan and to realise the true potential of their fanbase. Openstage is working with hundreds of developing artists as well as international acts like Oasis, Lana Del Rey and Lewis Capaldi to help them superserve their fanbase.
Callum Hay
Head of Label Services UK
Callum Hay is Head of Ditto Music Label Services within the UK and will be appearing on Ditto's panel on How to Run a DIY Campaign.
Kenny Barber
Artist Relationships for Black Music
Kenny Barber is Artist Relationships for Black Music at PRS and will be on the panel for Ditto Music Publishing Presents: Unlocking New Revenue Streams.
Bertina Luza
Account Manager
Bertina joined music licensing company PPL at the start of 2023. As an account manager she works closely with some of the UK’s leading performers to help ensure they are fairly compensated for their work when it is broadcast or played in public. On a day-to-day basis, Bertina works with performers and their representatives to keep their accounts up to date, helping them register their details and repertoire, so they can be paid both accurately and in a timely manner. Bertina is an expert in her field and has built an extensive career in music rights management to date. Prior to joining PPL, she worked as a Royalties Assistant for independent publisher May Music; who she still assists with some of the administration and registrations of clients & works, from time to time - on a part time basis. Earlier in her career, she worked various roles from touring and business services as an Accounts Assistant, to Royalties Administrator & Co-ordinator at C.C. Young & Co; a leading accounting firm in the music sector for 14 years.
Natalie Shay
Artist
Natalie Shay is a multi-award-winning musician and songwriter, known for her electrifying live performances and catchy anthems. A BRIT School graduate from North London, Natalie's relatable lyrics explore themes of love, friendship, and self-discovery, resonating with twenty-somethings. Her music has earned praise from major outlets like Billboard, CLASH, and Wonderland, making her a rising star. Natalie has performed live on national TV, including three appearances on CBBC’s Saturday Mashup! Her tracks have been featured on Love Island and enjoy strong support from BBC Radio 1's Future Pop and BBC Introducing. She's collaborated on dance tracks with top artists, amassing over 10 million streams. Selling out iconic London venues like Omeara, she’s also played major UK festivals, including BST Hyde Park, Latitude, and Reading, as well as SXSW in Texas. This summer, she opened for Shania Twain at BST Hyde Park. Her latest EP, CHAMPAGNE, is out now.
Luke Joynes
Music/Talent Agent & Artist Manager
Luke Joynes is a Music/Talent Agent & Artist Manager at talent agency Coalition Presents. Luke will be giving his thoughts as part of the Live Lessons: How to Book Bigger and Better Shows panel.
Laura Erinle
Education and Membership Engagement Manager
Laura is the Education & Membership Engagement Manager at the MMF. She leads on educational partnerships with numerous universities and academic institutions, while also overseeing membership training opportunities.
Andrew Lansley
My name is Andrew Lansley and I have lived and worked in Gloucestershire most of my life. I am autistic, and have worked almost 30 years in culture, charity, academia and politics. ​ I am a freelancer and currently work for Cheltenham Festivals as Innovation Manager, Senior Academic at the University of Gloucestershire, Coordinator of the Cheltenham Culture Board as well as a professional musician. Most of my work is with national organisations to progress improvements in various areas of policy and practice.
Daisy Maskell
TV & Radio Presenter
Daisy Maskell has quickly been established as one of the most exciting and sought-after broadcasters and producers in the UK, making Forbes’ 30 Under 30 most Influential People In Media for 2024. In 2018, Daisy landed a co-hosting role on “Trending Live”, the daily flagship show on 4Music, the UK’s leading music TV channel and soon moved onto hosting the Breakfast Show on KISS FM the following year. In 2020, Daisy merged her passion for music with make-up and launched a global ambassador campaign with cosmetics brand MORPHE, becoming the first UK face. She has collaborated with a number of household names since and has been featured in outlets including VOGUE, The Times, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and more. Daisy returned to TV in 2021, debuting the authored BBC documentary, “Daisy Maskell – Insomnia and Me”. The critically acclaimed film was nominated for a National Television Award and trended on iPlayer for months following release. Daisy has gone on to produce and present several films for the BBC and Channel 4, from documentary “In Too Deep – Selling My Virginity”, in which Daisy listed her virginity on an online marketplace to expose the underground world of virginity auctions; to “The Truth About Spiking” which saw Daisy participate in a groundbreaking experiment where she was spiked on camera, to lift the lid on under-reported cases; and as a result contributed to a change in the law this year. Daisy’s passion for storytelling and production has landed her in the directors chair too, co-directing music promos as an additional creative outlet and we are excited to share more on her new ventures in the coming year. Through a combination of her role as Producer, Journalist, Director and Collaborator, Daisy has proven her undeniable ability to connect and relate with audiences young and old in an unprecedented way.
KATYA
Artist
Meet KATYA, a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for her soulful performances blending vocals, keys, guitar, and electronic beats. Her debut single, I'll Take Your Number (2023), received airplay on BBC Radio 1 and Germany's Deutschlandfunk Kultur and was featured in The Independent's 'Now Hear This.' In 2024, she won Henley Festival’s Westcoast RISING Star Award and performed at Southbank Centre's 'futuretense' showcase with BBC Introducing. She's also a 2025 PRS Pulse Artist. Following performances at Glastonbury 2024 and the Greenpeace Stage, she's currently on a UK tour supporting Paul Carrack, concluding at Royal Albert Hall. Her debut EP, Spirit Of Your Roots, is releasing alongside the tour. Follow her @katyatheartist.
John Shortell
Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
John is head of equality, diversity & inclusion at the Musicians’ Union. He is a passionate advocate for diversity and social justice and works with underrepresented and marginalised musicians to provide advice, advocacy, and support. A recognised voice on ED&I in music, John is committed to creating a more equitable music industry for all musicians and is also a member of the UK Music Diversity Taskforce.
Sam Walwyn
Artist
Born in the U.K, Sam grew up in the Caribbean & Jersey. As a result, his songwriting influences span everything from Cuban Mambo & Flamenco to Pop. Early support slots included Sir Tom Jones & his first festival spot was at Bestival. Travelling to Australia Sam studied flamenco guitar & was subsequently accepted to study at the Royal Northern College of Music. Unfortunately he had to return home to Jersey after contracting a life-threatening illness.During his long, two year recovery he started uploading bedroom demos & short films to Instagram. His original blend of indie folk & alt pop tinged with other influences helped him gain support slots for Gabrielle Aplin & shows with Newton Faulkner. Sam has since performed live for BBC Introducing & Sofar Sounds, sold out his first headline show, self promoted his own UK mini- tour, & performed at Notting Hill Arts Club, The Troubadour, Ronnie Scott’s, Camden Assembly and even at the O2 arena amongst others. Date Her Out Now
Jodeci Rampasard
Senior Manager, Music & Talent, UK
Jodeci Rampasard is a Senior Manager of Music & Talent in Vevo's UK office. She's also a presenter at Reprezent Radio, hosting their Saturday breakfast show. At Vevo, Jodeci has been an integral part of booking artists like Rema, Ella Mai, FLO, Cat Burns, Ayra Starr and Kojey Radical. Prior to Vevo, Jodeci has worked for companies such as MTV and Link Up TV, working across campaigns for Nike, JD and BBC Radio 1.
Shadrack Mutali
Service Delivery Officer
Shadrack Mutali is a UK based cultural worker with a long-standing passion for music and the arts. As a Service Delivery Officer at Help Musicians, he assesses applications, provides guidance to musicians, and supports them as they carry out their creative work. He is the lead officer for the Electronic Music Awards and previously led on the Postgraduate Awards. Shadrack has experience across a range of areas including music, media, and the third sector. He began his career at FORWARD and has since worked at Brighton based label Tru Thoughts, Platform B and UNICEF prior joining Help Musicians in 2019.
Jamie Searls
Managing Director
Jamie Searls is the Managing Director at Tileyard Education. Jamie works closely with music management teams, record labels, publishing companies, and institutions worldwide. He bridges the gap between industry and education by collating and sharing real-world music briefs with the talented roster of Tileyard's student and alumni producers and songwriters. Jamie also manages and coordinates songwriting camps on-site, online, and internationally. As of November 2024, Tileyard Education has facilitated over 350 single-song agreements for their roster of writers and producers. This includes eight exclusive albums with companies such as BMG, Felt Music, West One Music Group, Cavendish, and Glow. Jamie has also overseen releases with labels like Armada and Enhanced, as well as international releases in South Korea and China, all achieved by students who have studied at Tileyard Education.
Kirsty Geoghegan
Founder
Kirsty launched Bare Music in 2020, bringing over a decade of experience in music publishing, music supervision, A&R, and sync licensing within the film and TV industry. Bare Music represents a unique mix of artists, labels, and composers whose music Kirsty is genuinely passionate about. The company excels at discovering opportunities and securing placements across film, television, commercials, fashion, and games, creating impactful moments for their roster in various creative mediums.
Joel Baker
Artist
Joel has worked within the music industry for over ten years. He grew up playing in bands in Nottingham and moved down to London to work as a speech writer in Parliament. Joel’s passion has always been to write songs, and being in the capital inspired him to take it seriously. He surrounded himself with writers, producers and artists and sponged it all in. After sending his first single inside Parliamentary envelopes to Radio 1 DJs he got his first radio play-listing and everything launched from there. In 2014 Joel signed his first publishing deal, working with Jake Gosling (Ed Sheeran), Oji Volta (Kanye West), Alex Da Kid (Imagine Dragons), Matt Hales (Aqua Lung, Lianne La Havas), Plested (Lewis Capaldi), Maths Time Joy (Mahalia). Joel signed to Virgin Records in 2016 and released various projects gathering millions of streams, having the privilege of touring around the world with Ella Eyre, Orla Gartland, Jacob Banks, Little Simz, Mahalia, Barney Artist, Maisie Peters, and German mega-band Revolverheld. In 2018 Joel was elected onto the songwriting board of the Ivors Academy, working for a fairer world for songwriters. He launched a project through them in collaboration with Help Musicians to support artists going through mental health challenges. Alongside creating his second album, Joel has been writing and producing for others, securing cuts with Lyn Lapid, Ruth B, Mega, James Vickery, Mega, Guvna B, Ghetts and Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn. Joel’s music taste fluctuates between storytelling folk and rap, but he loves anything with great lyrics. He is a true believer that the form of song has a unique magic, and that we need great songs now more than ever! Outside of music he loves reading, running, and tweaking his fantasy football team.
Tracey Kasongo
Talent Manager / Founder
Tracey Kasongo is a London-based talent manager and founder of 20 Twenty MGMT, representing a dynamic roster that includes multi-genre artist ShaSimone, singer-songwriter Tom Dunne, and acclaimed photographer Remy Bourdeau. Prior to launching her own management company, Tracey worked with Closer Artists and The Flight Club, gaining valuable industry experience.
Karina Byrne
Music Producer / Composer / Vocalist
I have co-written with Hans Zimmer and performed with Professor Green. I have created a wide range of music for some of the worlds biggest brands via global music agencies such as BMG, EMI, Warner Chappell, Sister Music, SIREN, Wake The Town, MassiveMusic (Amsterdam/ LDN/Warsaw), DLMDD, Sonic Brand and Leland. I love to collaborate and regularly work with world class vocalists and session musicians. I’m a self-proclaimed melody queen who has distinguished herself as a composer, producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (bass, guitar, piano, synths, drums, vocals). I have been trained in the art of mixing by Grammy award winning engineer Aamir Yaqub. My music has been synced on the BBC, Netflix and ITV and I have produced bespoke music for TikTok, ITV, eBay, Deliveroo, McDonalds, Amazon, American Express, Airwick, Sensodyne, Sky, T-Mobile, Samsung, Lancôme, Facebook, EE, HECK, Tombola, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs, Bayer and VISA to name a few. I never work to anything but the highest standard and truly love what I do.
Lauren Mckee
Music Executive
Music industry professional with 5 years’ experience in music licensing, label and catalogue management. Strong knowledge in music copyright, release management and licensing with a proven track record of successfully negotiating sync licence agreements. Adept creative administrator with excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills and the ability to foster relationships with clients and colleagues at all levels of an organisation.