MUSIC BUSINESS tutors

		Jake Shillingford (My Life Story) - Head of Music Business and Songwriting Tutor Jake Shillingford, founder of the cult orchestral alternative band My Life Story, released three successful albums and had six top forty singles. Jake started out co-promoting bands in a London club called The Panic Station booking early shows for The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and Chili Peppers. His band My Life Story went on to collaborate with with PJ Proby, Marc Almond, Morrissey, The Wonderstuff and even headlined over Oasis. Described as one of the first DIY entrepreneurs , Jake started his own label in 2002 funded exclusively by investors, benefactors and fans. In the last year he’s written music for Sky Sports and bizarrely had a top 5 trance hit in Russia. ‘One of our most colourful lyricists’ Steve Lamacq.

		Charlie Pinder (Sony Publishing/V2 Records) - Music Business Tutor Following his studies at Manchester University Charlie went to work for RCA Records in the A&R department. He then joined Sony Publishing as A&R scout in 1993 and signed over the years, amongst others, Travis, Catatonia, KT Tunstall and Razorlight. In 2000 he was appointed MD. He joined V2 Records as Director of A&R in 2005 and left in 2007 to set up artist management/publishing company Riot Act. "After all these years of working within the political and commercial confines of big companies, I wanted to finally be in control of the whole process and the source of it all – the artists and their music”. Riot Act represents The Shebeats, Alex Cornish and Olafur Arnalds.

		Dan Swift (Aqualung/Snow Patrol) - Music Business Tutor Dan Swift is a producer working at the cutting edge of the UK music scene right now, producing white-hot underground bands such as Art Brut, Untitled Music Project and The Chapman Family, alongside major league artists Snow Patrol and Aqualung. He co-produced Aqualung’s Memory Man which the Sunday Times described as “genuinely ambitious pop” and praised for its “unashamed grandeur.” Art Brut’s album It’s A Bit Complicated, which Dan produced and mixed, was described by NME as having “Painfully brilliant stadium rock tracks.” The Guardian also gave it five stars. Dan produced both albums out of his south London studio SuperSwiftSound as well as mixing and engineering artists such as Snow Patrol, Kasabian and The Futureheads. He has just finished hotly tipped artist Sam Isaac’s debut LP “Bears”, local heroes Sam Archer, The Futures and Pablo and the Paint Set plus NME favourites The Chapman Family’s debut single “The Kids Are Not Alright”.

		Jon Stewart (Sleeper) - Senior Academic Lecturer Jon was the lead guitarist and songwriter for 90’s Brit-Pop stars Sleeper, enjoying 3 UK Top 5 Albums and 9 UK Top 40 singles. Jon has also written and recorded with artists such as KD Lang and Mel C, and has played sessions for multi-hit record producers Stephen Street (Blur) and Damian Le Gassick (Madonna). Jon writes a long-running column on the music business for Guitarist magazine, and also works as a music supervisor for film and TV projects. At BIMM Jon is Head of Music Business Studies/Senior Academic Lecturer and is available for one to one tutorials.

		Mel Thornton (BMG) - Head of Work Based Learning Mel’s role as Head of Work Based Learning see’s her using contacts generated from over 13 years experience in the industry to generate work placements and work based learning opportunities for students at BIMM. Mel is available for tutorials for students of all courses at BIMM to discuss career planning, developing a CV or gaining entry into the music industry. Mel is also a useful contact for students looking to gain exposure for their music in the media as she is a specialist in PR. Mel worked with the band All Saints and managed their PR for three years before moving to BMG to work with Simon Cowell on Five and other major pop acts. After 2 years at Way To Blue, the UK’s leading music, film and game online PR company as Head of Press (Travis, Badly Drawn Boy, Basement Jaxx, The Streets) Mel moved to Brighton and set up Stay Gold PR, developing rock acts, consulting to BMG on Avril Lavigne and Pink (in 04) acting as publicist for Guilfest in 06 and managing the PR campaign for the first ever Great Escape festival in Brighton before joining BIMM as a full time member of staff.

		Neill Thew - Head of Teaching and Learning & Music Business Tutor Neill is an award-winning teacher who has taught in many Universities around the UK and Europe - including Oxford, London, Sussex and Gothenburg. These days he helps tutors teach better and students learn better - and works with schools and Universities in the UK, the States and Asia. He’s also a writer and editor.

		Fraser Kennedy - Artist Development Consultant Spending decades in the Music industry, Fraser has worked in many varied roles including Director of Artist Development at East West Records and General Manager at Island Records. He has worked as Music Supervisor on 26 feature films, produced every Concert at The Monteaux Jazz Festival for 18 years and has managed Grammy nominated Record Producers & Songwriters. Current career highlights include his role as Associate Producer on the ‘Live From Abbey Road’ TV series, and he is currently producing Herbie Hancock’s exclusive Bio Documentary. He is also producing a TV documentary celebrating Abbey Road Studios 80 Anniversary, and co-producing Uncle Sam Goes Pop for BBC Radio 2 with Steve Levine. Fraser has a great wealth of Music & Film knowledge together with an intuitive understanding of artists and the creative process, which he is now sharing with BIMM musicians, apprentices and professionals across all campuses.

		John Leahy - Music Business Tutor - BIMM John has spent over 20 years working in marketing within the music industry. Recent roles have included Marketing Director for the UK’s biggest label, Polydor, as well as Marketing & Creative Director for EMI. In addition to major label experience John was also General Manager for one of the UK”s most successful and respected independent record labels, Domino. During his career John has worked on the marketing campaigns for many superstar artists including Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams, Eminem, Black Eyed Peas and the Arctic Monkeys. John is based at the Metropolis Academy at Metropolis Studios West London.

		Ian Ramage - Music Business Tutor - BIMM Ian has worked in the music business for over 25 years. He has enjoyed a variety of leading roles in the music industry including Head of A&R for UK and Europe at Sony/ATV Publishing and Director of A&R at BMG Music Publishing, amongst many other important roles. Over his career he has helped develop and campaign major releases for The Cure, Coldplay, Keane, Midlake, British Sea Power, Guillemots, AC/DC Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Diana Ross and more. Ian is based at the Metropolis Academy at Metropolis Studios, West London.

		Michael Bowes - Course Leader – BIMM/EMI A&R Apprenticeship Mike is a world class musician and has performed with artists including Nellie Furtado, Joss Stone, Tears For Fears, Amerie, Mario, Heather Small (M People), Michelle Gayle, Black Legend, BLOW and Macy Gray. He has performed on nearly every live TV broadcast going including: Top of the Pops, Big Breakfast, SMTV live, Richard Blackwood show, MTV, VH1, GMTV and The Jerry Springer show! Michael is based at the Metropolis Academy at Metropolis Studios, West London.