Academy Events
Currently promoting over 1,000 concerts a year, the Academy Events team works across this extensive network of venues staging gigs of all sizes and genres. With access to a wealth of different venue capacities and configurations within the estate, Academy Events represent both established acts and up-and-coming talent. Our range of venues and configurations allows Academy Events to promote bands through various stages of their careers, playing the intimate settings of the smaller stages right through to our main auditoriums.
Academy Events also work extensively with our brand partners programming tours and one-off events.
Promoters
Ian Richards
Head of Promoter Operations
Ian Richards has worked with Academy Events since 2005, becoming our Head Promoter in 2015. Beginning his career in 1981 with Sincere Management, Ian has worked with companies such as Straight Music and Metropolis over the span of 30+ years. Ian boasts an impressive resume, promoting some of the biggest names in the industry, including but not limited to: Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Snoop Dogg, Blondie, Eminem and Queens of the Stone Age.
More recently, Ian has worked with a diverse and talented roster of musicians and artists including The Enemy, who recently played O2 Academy Brixton, The Twang and Less Than Jake.
Emma Milzani
Promoter
Emma Milzani is a passionate and established promoter, having garnered over 20 years of experience and having worked with Academy Events since 2015 where she works to promote national tours across Academy Music Group’s network of UK venues and more. She has also worked on a number of large-scale music festivals and events including: The Great Escape and High Voltage Festival, Kerrang! & Classic Rock Awards shows.
Emma has worked with a very eclectic range of outstanding artists and musicians throughout her career, including the world-famous Italian rock band Måneskin, whom she promoted from their very beginnings at O2 Islington Academy to The O2 Arena and AO Arena Manchester. As well as this, Emma has worked with artists and tours, including Scooter’s arena tour, NOFX, Harry Mack, Slaughter to Prevail, Skindred and Feeder, to name just a few.
Sean Morgan
Promoter
Sean F. Morgan joined the Academy Events team in 2012, having worked within the live music and entertainment industry since 1986. Throughout his career, Sean has worked as a Venue Manager and in-house booker for Liverpool Polytechnic Students’ Union as well as working as the Venue Manager for Manchester Academy’s four venue complex., where he ran the biggest student nights in the city while also promoting over 11,500 gigs and events over 21 years. The venues that Sean has worked with have hosted some of the most renowned music legends in the world, with the likes of David Bowie, Kylie, Lady Gaga, Jeff Buckley, Coldplay and Oasis all playing shows.
Since joining Academy Music Group, Sean has promoted tours for The Happy Mondays, Cast, Alabama 3 as well as so many others. Sean also specialises in booking estate wide tours for a number of tribute acts such as The Smyths, Elvana: Elvis Fronted Nirvana, Antarctic Monkeys and The Amy Winehouse Experience.
Ed Pearson
Promoter
Having worked in promoting since his time at university where he hosted club nights in East London, Ed Pearson has established himself as a dedicated promoter, having worked with venues including The Garage in North London, the Roundhouse and Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, before joining Academy Events in 2015.
Across his career, Ed has worked with a variety of artists and musicians spanning a variety of genres, including Grimes, Vulfpeck, The Reytons and Jack Savoretti.
More recently, Ed has worked on numerous tours across Academy Music Group’s network of UK venues, working with artists such as The Dandy Warhols, Underoath, The Enemy and Sticky Fingers, who he took from playing from playing Camden’s Barfly, to sell out London’s O2 Academy Brixton in May 2019 and then Alexandra Palace in 2023.
Tony Singh
Promoter
Tony Singh has worked as a promoter with Academy Events since 2017, joining the team after a decades long career beginning with his work as DJ Mits in the early 90’s. Following this, Tony became an independent promoter, promoting his own shows as well as the likes of Usher and Destiny’s Child.
Since joining Academy Events in 2017, Tony has worked passionately to promote a variety of artists like George Clinton, Roy Ayers, Damian Marley, NeYo and Akon, as well as tireless working to support up and coming artists across the venues in the Academy Music Group estate.
Paul Hayes
Promoter
Paul Hayes has worked as promoter since 1996, beginning his career at Ministry of Sound, booking DJs from across the globe. Following this, he became an independent promoter, notably working to help promote the biggest New Years Eve club night at the Millenium Dome (now O2 Arena) at the turn of the century.
Working previously worked at Academy Music Group as an in-house Promotions Manager in from 2004, Paul has since joined our team after a spell away, and works to promote a variety of club nights and events within venues across the Academy Music Group portfolio, including but not limited to Rhinestone Rodeo, Discos for Grown Ups, UKG Brunch, Breakin Science and so many others.