Sean Denny.

What were you doing before you came to Spirit Studios?

I’ve been working in the music industry for 25 years, running record labels and doing A&R and radio plugging, for majors and indies, and I run my own consultancy business working in design / creative direction and marketing.

How did you get into teaching?

Originally, I wanted to be a DJ. Whilst thinking of ways to try and break into the industry, I thought if I got a job at a record label I’d be able to make some contacts, find out how the industry works and, most importantly, blag some free records!

Once I got my first job at a label I just naturally started hanging out with the A&R guys, going to gigs with them, and I just absolutely loved the whole process of making and releasing records. Still do.

Any special areas of interest?

New music always, all the creative that goes into a record, such as the artwork, videos, and using social media properly to promote your record.

Getting my first job at Sony Music at 19 was an extremely proud moment, however being invited back to Sony 12 years later to run my own record label just tops it I think.

What do you get up to outside of teaching?

I love to paint, I design and make things, and produce my own music. That and lots of football with my son.

What’s your favourite album/artist?

Very tricky. The Stone Roses, the combination of the music and John Squire’s art is the sweet spot for me.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?

Again, very tricky. For the pure historical nature of it, I’ll say Paul McCartney headlining Glastonbury.

What’s your musical guilty pleasure?

I don’t feel guilty about liking any kind of music, if it’s good, it’s good, regardless of genre!

What are some of your career credits, are there any notable people that you’ve worked with?

I once pretended to play the drums very badly as part of Ant & Dec’s backing band live on CD:UK when they performed the England World Cup song.

Tell us something people may not know about you?

In music lessons when I was a child, I never actually played the recorder, I just pretended by wiggling my fingers around.

My creative direction work is available on @satstudio_

Want to learn from Sean?

Sean is a tutor at Spirit Studios that teaches on our Music Business and Event Management courses.