Contact us

Telephone
+44 (0) 20 8540 4242

Address
Absolute Marketing & Distribution,
The Old Lampworks,
Rodney Place
London SW19 2LQ
United Kingdom

For accounts queries:
accounts@absolutemarketing.co.uk

The Team

Absolute's senior management team has over 120 years of combined experience in the music industry - with first-hand involvement in areas such as A&R, production, promotions, marketing, retail marketing, label management, new media marketing, export marketing and business administration.

Henry Semmence

Managing Director

Henry founded Absolute in 1998. He is the former managing director of sales and distribution company Total Records. During his 30 years in the music industry, he has also held key positions in sales, retail marketing and consumer marketing at Bullet Promotions and Phonogram (now Universal Music).

Interests: Plays golf (badly), supports The Mighty Eagles (Crystal Palace) and enjoys watching any sport (not synchronised swimming).

Simon Wills

Director

Simon has an impressive track record of success in sales, marketing, promotions and label management in the independent sector. He started his music industry career as production manager and later label manager at Total Records, before being appointed general manager of Multiply Records in 1997. He joined Henry Semmence at Absolute in 2000 and became a director and partner in 2004.He currently sits on the AIM board.

Interests: Chelsea F. C. , long jump, and avoiding festivals or anything involving sleeping in tents.

Mark Dowling

Director

Mark has spent his 15 years in the music business wholly within the independent sector. Mark joined Absolute in 2004 after enjoying substantial chart success as label manager at Distinctive Records/Avex and later as head of A&R at Multiply/Telstar.
As well as bringing in new clients into Absolute Mark is also responsible for the synchronization arm of Absolute.

Interests: Spurs, sarcasm, the Duke.

James McGuinness

Senior Label Manager

James started his career in the independent music retail sector as head buyer and shop manager, whilst at the same time achieving a degree in Music Technology.

After completing his studies, James worked as a label manager at Indie Mobile for 2 years, where he was responsible for the implementation and running of traditional and bespoke mobile marketing campaigns, working with over 200 rights holders and distributing their mobile content across 23 territories to over 150 outlets.

Moving to Absolute in 2007, to take on and develop a Senior Label Management role within the business, working with artists/labels to commission innovative marketing campaigns and label packages.

Interests: Drum and/or Bass, LFC, Stout.

Adam Cardew

Digital Manager

After studying marketing at University, Adam left looking for a role where he could combine his love of music with his interest in digital marketing. Starting at Bristol-based label, D Style, he worked on his first online campaigns for the likes of Roni Size. He’s now moved to Absolute to work on all things digital.

Interests: DJing various styles, playing football, squash & (especially) ping pong, being outdoors and making bad puns.

Kate Hendry

Label Manager

Kate has a colourful background in marketing & promotions, product management and most recently new media and has lived & worked in an array of markets including New York, Los Angeles, Glasgow and now London. As one of Absolute’s label managers, she hopes to live out her passion for project management and working closely with artists and labels to achieve a successful outcome in all facets of bringing a release to the UK market. Kate formed her early vocation foundations at Virgin Records America and on her departure, swiftly decided to be fiercely independent in all things music. After many a stint at start-up record labels stateside, Kate moved to the UK to work at boutique management firm No Half Measures before becoming General Manager at Audiotube and then onto Absolute which she calls her professional happy home.

Interests: Vintage Fleetwood Mac, making mix tapes for Mum, self-professed ‘old raver’, tattoos, singing & acoustic guitars (despite not being able to play a lick).

John Waller

Marketing Consultant

John is one of the music industry's most experienced marketing specialists. He has held senior marketing positions with leading independent labels and major record labels such as Polydor, Phonogram and Mercury. He is a former managing director of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's record label Really Useful Records.

Interests: Norwich City FC, reading, walking, music, gig going and maintaining an unfeasibly large record collection.

Richard Austen Smith

Consultant

Richard combines his Consultancy & Label Management for Absolute with his company Giant Men Management (MMF Winer of Best New Management Company ’11), representing Anna Calvi, Crystal Fighters & Mount Kimbie. Prior to Absolute he was Online Manager at Defected and also ran the Throwback event featuring artists such as Cluster, James Holden, Liquid Liquid, Chrome Hoof, Joakim and more.

Interests: Most music from jazz and blues to indie and electronica, vinyl, Aston Villa, ale, original Pink Panther films.

Fran O'Donnell

Administration Manager

Fran was the first member of Absolute's management team in 1998. She has over 25 years of extensive music industry experience including promotions, sales, marketing, distribution, label administration and business affairs. After working alongside Henry Semmence at Bullet Promotions in the 1980s, together they formed the sales marketing distribution business The Total Record Company in 1989.

Interests: Interests: Shoes, handbags, music, running, family and friends.

Deborah Cutting

Finance Director

Deborah joined Absolute in 2000 and was also part of the team at the Total Record Company. She forms part of the management team at Absolute. She has an extensive financial management background, having previously been the Accountant for Contiki and Trafalgar Tour Operators. Deborah is originally from Dublin, where she headed up the financial department of American management consultancy IMPAC. She also has experience in PR and events and was involved in launching the International Book Awards in 1997.

Interests: Cooking, running, shopping, chatting, dancing and of course drinking.

Gina Deacon

Repertoire Services Manager

Prior to Gina joining Absolute in 2000 she was the Training Manager for Bupa Health Insurance Bromley dealing with all new product & staff training. She is now responsible for labels new release submissions to PPL, MCPS VPL & the Official Charts via Catco. Overseeing the download data submissions The application of all new release data onto our internal & Universal systems & generally keeping Absolutes 5 wonderful 'boys' in check.

Interests: Running , Keeping Fit ,Shopping & nothing to do with football.

Vicky Searle

Product Coordinator

Vicky joined Absolute in 2008 after graduating from Kingston University studying Music. During her time at university Vicky spent much of her time organising events and concerts including the university's Music Week and the concert within a graduation ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall. Vicky now coordinates all assets for both digital and physical releases, including submission of digital releases, manufacturing of physical product and stock control, as well as generally helping out wherever she can.

Interests: Being right all the time, Playing the Flute, Netball and Baking.

Robbie Semmence

Digital Coordinator

Having the music business around him since a young age, Robbie soon found himself gravitating towards a place within industry. With a background in music production and a strong knowledge of the electronic music scene, Robbie is a key component of Absolute’s digital team. He also advises labels on how best to market themselves and their music online is Robbie’s forte.

Interests: Chelsea FC, Technology, Bass Music and Vicky’s cakes.