Music Publishers Association

We pulled out all the stops to bring you the dream team of music industry execs for the MPA Specialist Seminar. It is a one-stop shop for everything you will ever need to know about growing a publishing company. 

Every week up until our Specialist Seminar, on Tuesday 6th and Tuesday 13th March, we will shine the light on one of our amazing speakers to find out more about their previous roles and how they’ve shaped the music industry as we know it. The first speaker for the MPA Specialist Seminar Spotlight is the highly acclaimed Music Supervisor and Director of Music for Film and TV for Sony Music, Ian Neil.

Ian’s extensive knowledge of music is renowned. His expertise in researching tracks and handling music clearances, in addition to his strong ties with all the major and independent record labels and publishers artists, composers, agents and managers, has inevitably made him the first port of call for all the top UK film directors and producers.

Before becoming an independent Film Music Supervisor Neil built a strong reputation through his work as Head of Film and TV for Polygram Records; Head of Film, TV and Advertising and ultimately Director of the department at Warner/Chappell Music Ltd.

One of Ian’s first big films was the famous Guy Richie film Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. This resulted in a double platinum soundtrack and Neil becoming Ritchie’s first choice for his follow up feature Snatch. The two have worked together on all other subsequent films.

From 2004 he went freelance and has enjoyed huge success as a Music Supervisor with credits from Control, The Future Is Written by Julien Temple; Adulthood, Nowhere Boy, Kick-Ass, Kingsman and much more. Ian has worked with Directors such as Danny Boyle, Ben Wheatley, Terence Davies, Andy Serkis & Paul McGuigan among many others.

As of May 2010, Ian took the role of Director of Music for Film and TV for Sony Music. Overseeing Sony music content into Advertising, TV, Film and Computer Games. In 2011 he secured the Inbetweeners soundtrack for Sony Music, which led to a huge hit for Sean Kingston’s Party All Night (Sleep All Day). In 2012 procuring Paloma Faith’s cover of Never Tear Us Apart in the coveted John Lewis advertising spots, resulting in a top 10 hit and helping album sales reach double platinum. In 2013 Foxes use of Youth in a Debenhams campaign has been another success.

Ian Neil will be talking on day 2 on the ‘The Pitch – Knock it out the Park’ panel. You can buy tickets via the events page by clicking here.