Sean Adams

Photo: Jen McCord / SheSaidSo

SEAN ADAMS

Founder, Drowned in Sound · Podcast Host · Artist Manager · Consultant

Kelly Lee Owens: Record Shops to Depeche Mode Stadium Shows

Sean Adams founded Drowned in Sound in October 2000

DiS is that hopeful vision in your mind’s eye the Monday morning after Glastonbury.

It’s the goosebumps you got when you first heard Björk, Billie Eilish, Aurora, ANOHNI or Brian Eno speak about the environment in ways that felt far too close to home and made global change feel urgent.

It’s that realisation that your speakers were distorting when you turned Rage Against The Machine beyond eleven.

It’s that moment you truly understood what Dead Prez, Kathleen Hanna or Kendrick Lamar meant about injustice.

It’s not just believing that a new world is possible, it’s working together to make it real.

Music is upstream from politics.

I've spent just under three decades building, posting, releasing and experimenting in music - usually a few steps ahead of the zeitgeist.

Back in 1998, I started out reviewing demos by Muse and Coldplay, then launched one of the UK's first music blogs Drowned in Sound, ran its record label that released debut singles by Kaiser Chiefs and Bat for Lashes, and promoted hundreds of grassroots shows.

I've worked with artists from Ed Harcourt to Max Richter (running digital campaigns for Studio Richter Mahr alongside his work with UN Human Rights), written a fortnightly column for The Sunday Times, created viral content reaching millions at BBC Radio 6 Music, and ran the strategic comms for a tactical voting campaign that reached 1.75 million people.

Today, I host the Drowned in Sound podcast and am developing a podcast network. I also co-run The Sounding - a growth consultancy for purpose-driven organisations - and founded the Association of Music Editors.

I currently manage The Anchoress (Catherine Anne Davies), one of the most compelling self-producing artists working in music today.

“For any rock misfit searching for an alternative to the mainstream music press, immersion in Drowned in Sound is a must.”

The Times

Sean Adams
25 Years of DiS
300K Podcast impressions/month
2–3M Forum pageviews/month
200K Social followers

Current Projects

Watch

My current music obsession: Sofia Isella

A food bank for tickets: how Tickets for Good is changing live music

Our guide to ethical alternatives to Spotify

Gazelle Twin on when boycotts work

More on YouTube →

Read

Predictably, the right-wing culture war is wrong about the BRITs Read →
Nine Inch Nails still sound like the future Read →
The internet is furious at Spotify, and not because of royalties this time Read →
Decoding Hayley Williams' 17-song masterpiece Read →

Currently Managing

Catherine Anne Davies (The Anchoress)

Catherine Anne Davies

The Anchoress

theanchoress.co.uk →
2 Studio Albums
20K+ Physical Sales
UK #31 The Art of Losing
83/100 Metacritic Score

Critical Acclaim

  • PROG Magazine Album of the Year
  • Sunday Times Best Albums of 2021
  • HMV Welsh Album of the Year
  • MPG Self-Producing Artist Nominee (2022, 2023)

Collaborated With

Bernard Butler Simple Minds Manic Street Preachers James Dean Bradfield Band Spectre Riz MC

Notable Admirers

“One of the best albums of the year.”

— Elton John, Rocket Hour

“Wales’s much more explicitly feminist answer to Lana Del Rey.”

— Ann Powers, NPR

A long-time fan who personally invited her to headline his Meltdown Festival.

— Robert Smith, The Cure

Managing campaign strategy, release coordination, and industry positioning for The Anchoress’ forthcoming third album.

Why Music Matters

For years, the Breitbart doctrine - “politics is downstream from culture” - was weaponised by the far right to pummel the inclusive world of music with smears and abuse. I believe it’s time to flip that around: culture and working people are upstream of these billionaires and their angry army of riled-up trolls.

Corporate power has consolidated across the music industry in ways most fans don’t see. The same private equity buying up festivals is investing in fossil fuel. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has invested heavily in military AI company Helsing. Deezer’s Len Blavatnik - who also owns a large stake in Warner Music - has been sanctioned by Ukraine whilst supporting Netanyahu.

Music fans have far more collective power than they realise. Everything I’ve built - from releasing records and promoting grassroots shows to running tactical voting campaigns - has been about building the infrastructure for that power to be discovered and used.

A Quarter Century

25 years. 5 eras. From email fanzine to podcast network, via record label, festival stages, artist management, BBC Radio 6 Music, and a tactical voting campaign that reached 1.75 million people.

Beyond Music

Tactical Voting

Oversaw strategic comms for StopTheTories.vote alongside Carol Vorderman, reaching 1.75 million people during the 2024 UK general election.

BBC Radio 6 Music

Social Media Producer for 4+ years (2016–2021), managing the station’s social strategy and creating viral content.

Max Richter / UN Human Rights

Digital consultant for Studio Richter Mahr (2021–2022), running three album campaigns and helping launch the studio, alongside Richter’s work with UN Human Rights.

The Trawl

Edited and engineered the political podcast hosted by Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte. It subsequently joined Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger family of podcasts.

The Sunday Times

“My Generation” columnist in the Culture section (2009–2012).

Soho Radio

Host for nearly six years (2015–2021).

Campaigning

DiS has worked with Love Music Hate Racism, Music Declares Emergency, Amnesty, and a range of other orgs.

Video Production

Produced for Studio Richter Mahr

Produced for the BBC

Work with me

Speaking & masterclasses

I speak about music, power, platform ethics, and the future of independent culture. Past talks at SXSW, Iceland Airwaves, Primavera Pro, Tallinn Music Week, and Tony Wilson’s In The City. I also run masterclasses at BIMM, EEMA, and ICMP, available to book for music industry education programmes.

Book a talk or masterclass

Podcast guest

I’ve been hosting and making podcasts since 2005. I can talk about music journalism, streaming & creator economics, climate justice, independent culture, platform ethics, broligarchy, tactical voting, and the politics of music fandom.

Get in touch

Consultancy (The Sounding)

Growth strategy, content, and campaign work for purpose-driven organisations in music and beyond. Co-run with Tom Venvell.

Visit The Sounding

DiS partnership

8,000+ newsletter subscribers. 48% open rate (industry average: ~20%). 300K podcast impressions/month. An audience that actually cares - about music, ethics, and what comes next.

Talk to us

Recognition

Releases

DiS Recordings (2003–present), CCCLX Music, and The Anchoress’ imprint Hiraeth Records. Debut releases by Kaiser Chiefs, Bat for Lashes, Martha Wainwright, Metric, Brett Anderson, Ed Harcourt, and The Anchoress.

As seen in & worked with

BBC Radio 6 Music The Sunday Times The Observer Huck Magazine Qobuz Music Venue Trust StopTheTories UN Human Rights

“It is better to be a flamboyant failure than any kind of benign success.”

Malcolm McLaren