Merry Christmas from The Money Trench! This week, we’re bringing you a very special compilation episode! Sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the key moments from our 2025 episodes. Mark will guide you through the hottest industry talking points from the year, and end with a joyful latest or greatest compilation of the best music industry parties. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Zena White, COO of Partisan Records and Chair of WIN. From working her way up through live music, management, and label services, Zena is now COO of one of the world's most successful indie labels in the world, responsible for acts such as Geese, Cigarettes After Sex, and Ezra Collective. The pair discuss what it takes to break alternative music in the streaming age, why artist development still matters, the challenges facing British music worldwide, and what happened when Fontaines D.C. left Partisan. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Paul Lennon, one of the UK’s top music lawyers and consultant at Moore SGD Law. From working as in-house lawyer at labels, to becoming the go-to lawyer during the 90s Britpop era, Paul has been at the heart of the music industry for over 30 years. In Paul’s debut interview, he discusses the glory days of Britpop, how artist deals have evolved, and how much lawyers actually get involved in artist’s careers. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Alexi Cory-Smith, lawyer, publishing/label executive, and now CEO and founder of Bella Figura. Alexi is one of the most respected figures in the rights and legal world, and now she’s building her own catalogue acquisition company - Bella Figura. The pair discuss Alexi’s journey to where she is now, including her time running BMG UK, auditioning to be One Direction’s lawyer, and what it’s like when Mick Jagger, Barack Obama andThe Pope are all in the same room! NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined for a special live episode at the Resonate Music Conference in Glasgow by Cam Blackwood, one of Scotland’s most successful producers. Having worked with George Ezra, Jack Savoretti, and many more, Cam has helped shape UK music across genres for over a decade, whilst also championing creator’s rights. He is now the co-founder of Rezonate Music Rights, a music rights company offering transparent valuations and non-exploitative investment options for producers, writers, engineers and artists. RESONATE MUSIC CONFERENCE Recorded live at the Resonate Music Conference in Glasgow! NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Craig Logan, a manager and executive whose career spans every corner of the industry. From his teenage years in Bros, to senior leadership roles at EMI and RCA, and now as the founder of Logan Media Entertainment (LME), Craig’s story is one of reinvention, resilience, and a lifelong passion for music. During their chat, Craig reflects on his remarkable journey, from playing to next to no one in clubs, to working with stadium-filling icons like Pink and Tina Turner. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Nadia Khan, artist manager and founder of Women in CTRL. From championing gender equality across the music industry to breaking artists including Lethal Bizzle, Nadia has carved out a unique and influential path in the music industry. The pair discuss how Nadia built her career from intern to manager, how gender equality in the industry has progressed, and what needs to happen next in order for true equality. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark catches up with Tim Burgess, frontman of The Charlatans. As The Charlatans prepare to release We Are Love, their first album in eight years, Tim reflects on 35 years with one of Britain’s most beloved bands. The pair discuss the making of the new album, as well as how the band has survived through tragedy and change, and Tim’s ongoing mission to give back to the music world that shaped him, including championing grassroots venues and retail, his Twitter Listening Parties and his Merch Market initiative. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Henry Semmence and Simon Wills, co-managing directors of Absolute Label Services. As pioneers of the label services model that transformed the modern business, the pair share the story of how they created an independent empire — and how they’re bouncing back after their time under the Utopia umbrella. With roots in retail, record labels, and distribution, Henry and Simon recount how Absolute has survived and thrived through every major industry shift and why independence means so much to them. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Rich Castillo, President of LionBear Music Group and one of the UK’s most influential A&R executives of the past two decades. From his beginnings as a boy band hopeful, to discovering N-Dubz, signing Tion Wayne, and leading A&R teams at Polydor, Sony, and EMI, Rich’s career spans the past 20 years of British music. Now running his own independent label, publisher, and management company, he shares his hard-won insights into what it takes to survive and thrive in the modern music industry. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by legendary producer, Fraser T Smith. With credits ranging from Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” to Stormzy’s “Gang Signs & Prayer”, as well as his own project, Future Utopia, Fraser has helped shape some of the most defining records of the 21st century. Now he’s here to discuss how he chooses which artists to work with, plus AI, catalogue sales and his Future Producer Academy. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Josh Mateer, Head of A&R for Europe, Middle East and Africa at SoundOn, TikTok’s artist and label services platform. From his teenage days playing in punk bands and promoting shows in Belfast, to stints at Warner and Sony, and working with the legendary Seymour Stein, Josh has built a career that bridges grassroots music culture and the cutting edge of global artist services. In their chat, the pair discuss how TikTok is shaping the future of music discovery, why data and instinct must work hand in hand, and what it means to nurture sustainable artist careers in a world of viral hits and streaming economies. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Matt Riley, the newly appointed president of AWAL UK. With a background that spans from DJing and promoting club nights, to cutting his teeth at Hospital Records, and then playing a pivotal role in shaping AWAL’s rise, Matt’s career reflects the evolution of the modern independent music business. Now at the helm of one of the UK’s most exciting label and distribution companies, he shares insights into what it takes to break artists in today’s rapidly shifting landscape. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark sits down with a legend in the industry, Jo Charrington, president of Capitol Records. With a career spanning over three decades at labels including London, Virgin, BMG, Sony, EMI and now Universal, Jo has helped discover and break some of the world’s biggest artists, from Sam Smith and Paloma Faith to 5 Seconds of Summer, Olly Murs, and now Olivia Dean. During their chat, the pair discuss the realities of artist development, the pressures and rewards of building global stars, and the evolving role of the major label in today’s fragmented music business. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark sits down with visionary British artist Jack Garratt. Jack first rose to prominence in 2016 after winning both the BBC Sound Of… poll and the BRIT’s Critic’s Choice Award, before earning a gold debut album with Phase. Almost a decade later, Garratt is back with his third album, Pillars. Throughout their chat, the pair discuss the struggles of a modern artist, the lack of mental health support within the industry, and why streaming your favourite artists just isn’t enough anymore. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Mark Orr, founder of LAB Records. Starting the company while still at university and promoting DIY shows, Mark has grown LAB to hundreds of releases, while keeping a laser focus on artist development, physical retail, and sustainable growth. During their chat, Mark also breaks down how Indies compete on the biggest stages, what really moves the UK charts in 2025, and why location outside London can be a superpower rather than a handicap. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark sits down with Madeleine O’Gorman, General Manager for Mushroom Music Uk & Europe. Having grown up in Australia’s thriving independent scene before relocating to London, Madeleine has built a career across journalism, agencies, and label management at Liberator and Ivy League before stepping into her current role at Mushroom. The pair chat about the unique challenges of breaking Australian artists internationally, how Mushroom balances independence with global ambition, and the strategies behind comeback campaigns for established acts like Pendulum and The Temper Trap. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by David Martin, CEO of the Featured Artist’s Coalition (FAC). As a leading voice in championing fairness, transparency, and sustainability in the music industry, David is an expert in management, touring, and advocacy. The pair explore how the FAC is pushing for streaming reform, supporting artists post-Brexit, and fighting for artist-first structures across the music ecosystem. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Alistair Norbury, President of UK, Europe and Asia-Pacific at BMG. Together, they explore how one of the world’s biggest music companies is rethinking deals, rights, and the artist-label relationship. From signing Kylie Minogue, Louis Tomlinson, and Craig David, to reviving classic catalogues from Black Sabbath, The Kinks, and Gary Numan, Alistair walks us through BMG’s artist-friendly ethos and global strategy. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel 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! This week, Mark is joined by Grace Meadows, Head of Music Minds Matter, the mental health charity supporting everyone who works in the music industry. From her roots as a music therapist to leading campaigns for Help Musicians and Music for Dementia, Grace has become a leading voice for mental health advocacy in the industry. The pair talk about the urgent mental health challenges facing artists, freelancers, and executives, the positive steps being made with initiatives like per diem payments for songwriters, and why fostering a culture of care is essential for the industry’s long-term health. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. SOUNDON The Money Trench is sponsored by SoundOn. TIXEL The Money Trench is sponsored by Tixel. PPL The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL. 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 SoundOn Tixel PPL Earth/Percent Tom A Smith Aimless Play Fourth Pillar Sennheiser Junkhead Studio Tape Notes Executive Producer: Mike Walsh Producer: Tape Notes