Mark Ede
Mark is perhaps best known as being personal manager to international recording and touring artist Jo Harman, which he continues alongside his consultancy work as a partner in BiGiAM. His partnership with Jo has seen her progress from an ‘open mic’ singer to a successful, award winning, BBC play-listed artist, renowned for running and controlling her career, on her own terms. Indeed, this ‘open-mic to O2’ journey has seen Jo is cited as a significant figure in the rise of the ‘uber-indie’ (albeit one having attracted major industry support), helping pioneer the ‘brave new world’ of new music industry models.
Prior to joining BiGiAM, Mark was both a promoter and a publicist who has helped any number of bands; signed and otherwise.
His media experience includes producing and presenting independent music radio shows across a number of stations and platforms, as well as writing regular columns for print magazines and as an ‘industry expert panelist’ on BBC Introducing (radio).
Mark is also an experienced panelist and facilitator at music seminars and events, as well as being a guest lecturer and module leader on music related matters at the University of Brighton, amongst other music education facilities.
On a creative and artistic level, Mark was the man behind the ‘Soul Reality’ a musical collective which included some of countries finest young talents; players who subsequently went on to professional careers playing for the likes of Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sande, Jessie J, Iggy Pop, Incognito, Boy George, Professor Green, Lisa Stansfield and many other household names.
In 2009 Mark was appointed programme co-ordinator for Brighton Live (effectively booking all 150 bands for the festival) and in 2010 this role was extended further to oversee the whole festival administration. In the same year he helped industry figures David Courtney and Paul Mex to establish the ‘Brighton Music Awards’, attended by such luminaries as Jimmy Page and Roger Daltrey, in support of Teenage Cancer Trust.
Mark’s wider musical portfolio includes not just festival administration but also long-standing experience in running, planning and promoting live music nights and residencies in London (including the Noble Rot club in Mayfair and the 606 club in Chelsea) as well as promoting many hundreds of individual shows in London, Brighton and beyond.
In 2015 Mark was appointed as Chair of the multi-venue, multi genre, ‘Worthing Live’ Music Festival (ticket capacity potential of £1m plus).
In recent years Mark has worked in a professional capacity with a wide range of international artists, including Grammy winning acts, including album and touring marketing campaigns, in his capacity as a senior partner with BiGiAM. These responsibilities also extended to promoting and programming a number of music festivals, and venues, as well as offering general music related consultancy to emerging acts.
Mark Ede was European representative for Motown Song Writing Legend, the late Lamont Dozier (a man who has co-written over 50 number 1 hits), overseeing the European release of Lamont’s ‘Reimagination’ album, in partnership with V2 Records, and related touring.
Prior to his current situation working full time in the music industry, Mark enjoyed a wide and varied proven track record in business and communications where he rose to ‘Communications Director’ for a multi-billion, multinational company. He also has a number of other current business interests, including managing a significant property portfolio and, in his younger days, Mark was a keen sportsman, and, even now, he continues to represent his County, Essex, at cricket at senior level.
Credits & Associates
A (by no means comprehensive) selection of artists I've had the pleasure of representing or in some other way been involved with, include (UK acts unless shown otherwise) :-
Elles Bailey
Joanna Cooke
Lamont Dozier (USA)
Georgia van Etten (Australia)
Mark Edwards/Cloggz
Mike Farris (USA)
Kirk Fletcher (USA)
Redtenbacher's Funkestra (multi national)
Mim Grey
Martin Harley
Jo Harman
Ben Hemming
Christopher Holland
Cheri Lynne (Germany)
Mike Mayfield
Larry McCray (USA)
Ariel Posen (Canada)
Hollie Rogers
Mike Ross
Connor Selby
Diane Silveria (Portugal)
Jade Like The Stone
Eddy Smith (and the 507)
Josh Smith (USA)
Under the Surface (Netherlands)
Davina and the Vagabonds (USA)
Jana Varga (Slovakia)
Festivals and events include:-
Blues On The Farm
Brighton Live
Brighton Music Awards
East Village Presents
Great British R&B Festival
Meadowlands Festival
Worthing Live
Recommended key associates:-
Mark Edwards, Brighton based producer, largely one on one 'home studio' set up by noted producer, arranger and musician.
Masterlink Sessions in Surrey, a full 'house band' and studio set up of international world class musicians, led by producer/arranger/bandleader, Stefan Redtenbacher
Alexis Maryon, Brighton based photographer whose credits include Amy Winehouse and many album covers and more
Mark Wilkinson, illustrator, cover artist and graphic designer whose credits run from Iron Maiden to Kyle and many points between
David Lam & Hannah Thompson at On Studios Ltd, film makers and marketing creatives extraordinaire
Alison Hildyard, Owner of (and fellow Director at) BiGiAM expert in promotions and marketing and more
Leo Mansell, videographer and video editor/film maker specialising in the arts
And last but not least…Elles Bailey, a spectacularly successful 'independent’ artist and sometime fellow consultant at BiGiAM
