Music journalist Mark Sutherland launches ‘The Money Trench’ music business podcast

UK-based music journalist Mark Sutherland is launching a new podcast called, The Money Trench – The Music Industry Podcast with Mark Sutherland

Mike Walsh, a former Head of Music for XFM/Radio X, will serve as executive producer for the new podcast, which lands on streaming platforms on Monday, June 24.

According to the announcement, The Money Trench – named after the “infamous Hunter S. Thompson misquote” about the music business, will “bring listeners compelling insights from the forefront of the global music industry every Monday”.

The inaugural episode will feature Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music – featuring a discussion about her career and what it’s like to run the UK’s biggest music and media event of the year – the BBC at Glastonbury.

Music industry guests confirmed for future episodes include: Ferdy Unger-Hamilton (Promised Land Music, ex Columbia, Polydor, Virgin), Tara Richardson (T Time Management, ex Q-Prime), PR guru Alan Edwards (Outside Organisation – Prince, David Bowie, Spice Girls), Darcus Beese OBE (Darco Recordings/Warner Music UK, ex Island Records).

Other future guests include Toby L (co-founder, Transgressive) and team, Annabella Coldrick (CEO of the MMF), Ben Wynter (Power Up, AIM), and Caroline Elleray & Mark Gale (Second Songs, ex Universal Music Publishing).

Mark Sutherland is a UK-based music journalist and broadcaster with more than thirty years of experience. His writing and editing work spans publications such as Billboard, Music Business Worldwide, Music Week, NME, Rolling Stone, and Variety. He has also contributed to BBC Radio 6 Music.

Exec Producer Mike Walsh is the former Head of Music for UK-based radio station XFM/Radio X. Walsh’s career spans major labels, artist management, tech and radio.

Having started out more than 30 years ago at Parlophone, he is now an artist manager, ERA board member and a partner in music retailer, Serenade.

“We want to make TMT an essential feature of the music biz landscape, so please join us as we dig deep into the most exciting industry on the planet.”

Mark Sutherland

Commenting on the podcast’s launch, Mark Sutherland said: “As global music revenues approach record levels, and new platforms and business models transform the music ecosystem, there’s never been a more exciting time to cover how the industry works and the people who make it tick.

“We want to make TMT an essential feature of the music biz landscape, so please join us as we dig deep into the most exciting industry on the planet.”


The Money Trench production partner is Tape Notes – the team behind the John Kennedy podcast of the same name.

The podcast is also in support of Earth/Percent, the music industry’s climate foundation. Co-founded by Brian Eno, Earth/Percent works with scientists, researchers, and activists, to help the music industry support the most impactful climate organisations around the world.

The Money Trench is sponsored by PPL, which celebrates its 90th year in business this year.Music Business Worldwide