TMT:16 Mike Smith on the Decline of Major Label A&R, Publishing vs Record Labels, Signing Blur, and Trying to Leave the Industry

Welcome to The Money Trench. In this episode, Mark is joined by A&R legend Mike Smith. Fresh off the plane from Spain and back in the UK for a new music launch, Mike shares the fresh perspective he's gained from having some distance from the industry. Covering all aspects of his career, he discusses everything from faking his way into the A&R world, to the differences between being a 'publishing' guy versus a 'label' guy. He also shares the secrets to spotting what could be the next music scene, and recounts stories of signing some of the biggest artists of the day. NEWSLETTER Sign up HERE for the TMT newsletter - featuring each week’s hottest music industry stories. PPL  The Money Trench is sponsored by the PPL who celebrate their 90th year in business this year. 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 PPL  Earth/Percent Tom A Smith Aimless Play Fourth Pillar Sennheiser Junkhead Studio Tape Notes Executive Producer: Mike Walsh Producer: Tape Notes