News

AOB Director Leads Entrepreneurs’ Workshop for a Cambridge University College

AOB director, Dej Mahoney, was privileged to lead a workshop on entrepreneurship for his alma mater, Emmanuel College, focusing on Entertainment under the working title, Realising Creative Value through Rights, Experience and Relationships (the essence of AOB’s business philosophy). Below was the introductory text to the session: Dej originally trained as a barrister, became a…

AOB Client, Anderson Entertainment Co-ventures in the Acquisition of Hammer Films and the Release of “Doctor Jekyll”, Starring Eddie Izzard

In keeping with the British heritage properties of Anderson Entertainment (“Thunderbirds”, “Captain Scarlet”, “Terrahawks”, Firestorm” etc.), Jamie Anderson – son of the late great Gerry Anderson – has collaborated with John Gore (of The John Gore Organization of theatrical fame) as “Executive Producer” in the acquisition of Hammer Films and the release of the motion…

AOB is Connected with Eurovision through its Engagement by the Management Company of Singer-Songwriter, Sam Ryder

In May 2023, Eurovision was staged in Liverpool – instead of being in the traditional winning country of the prior year, Ukraine (due to the war situation). The UK had been the runner-up in 2022 and its representative star performer, Sam Ryder, was therefore invited to perform his then new single “Mountain” in Liverpool. AOB…

AOB is Appointed to Provide Legal & Business Affairs Services for Ground breaking Drone Display Company

AOB has been appointed to provide legal and business affairs services to Celestial Labs. Celestial is a company celebrated for their pioneering and imaginative drone displays including for clients as diverse as Greenpeace, Amnesty International,  Eurovision, London’s 2023 New Year, Prime Video for their ‘Rings of Power’ series and Manchester City’s 2022/23 Premier League victory…

AOB Director is appointed a Director of Breaking GB, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

In February 2022, AOB director Jonathan Dembo was appointed a director of Breaking GB, the organisation, which is delivering the Olympic pathway for Breakdancing in the UK. Breakdancing is one the new events to be introduced at the Paris 2024 Summer Games. As part of his role, Jonathan gave legal and business support in negotiations…

Creatigo Launches in India: AOB Director Joins the Board of New Platform

Through his role as Non-Executive Chair of West One Music Group, AOB Director, Dej Mahoney became a founding director of Creatigo Ltd in 2022. Creatigo is a video and audio subscription platform which provides representative, locally-sourced diverse and superlative video and audio assets through an affordable and easy to understand, subscription- based licensing model. It…

The World Reimagined – AOB Director Serves on the Advisory Board of Ground-breaking, Social History Project

Following a late summer launch of the project at Westminster Abbey, 96 globes designed by artists (Yinka Shonibare, Nicola Green at al) to tell the story and consequences of the transatlantic slave trade were installed in Trafalgar Square, London over a November weekend – with some globes going on to be auctioned for charity. .…

Gerry Anderson Anniversary Concert, “Stand By For Action” at Birmingham Symphony Hall

As Legal & Business advisors to Anderson Entertainment, AOB was deeply involved in the staging of this landmark event as a celebration of the life, work and legacy of the late great creator of Thunderbirds, Space:1999, Captain Scarlet and many more TV properties. https://www.gerryanderson.com/concert/ Below are some images to illustrate and outline this project that…

The Brit School for the Performing Arts – AOB Director Leads Search for a New Chairman of the Board

In his role as Chairman of the School’s Governance Committee, AOB Director Dej Mahoney led the search and successful appointment of media and entertainment luminary, Josh Berger CBE, former President of Warner Brothers UK, Ireland and Spain. https://brittrust.co.uk/news/josh-berger-cbe-to-join-the-brit-school-as-chair-of-the-board-of-trustees/ https://www.musicweek.com/opinion/read/brit-trust-diaries-josh-berger-on-why-the-brit-school-is-vital-to-the-industry-ecosystem/086046 Below are some images to illustrate and outline the work that Director Dej Mahoney has successfully…

Music Week Awards: AOB Director is Name-checked

AOB Director Dej Mahoney was honoured and flattered to be cited as an early, influential supporter (from his Sony Music days), in the acceptance speech of the Strat Award-winning founder and CEO of the MOBO Awards, Kanya King OBE in MOBO’s 25th anniversary year. . . . Below are some images to illustrate. https://www.musicweek.com/brands/read/i-believe-in-the-power-of-music-to-change-lives-kanya-king-s-music-week-awards-speech-in-full/084138 Click…

“I Dream” Theatrical Production with Opera Carolina at the Belk Theatre, Charlotte, N.C., USA

The AOB-affiliated, pandemic production of the musical drama, “I Dream” (based on the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) went ahead against all odds, as the Delta variant was still raging. The production was very well received despite the Covid conditions and laid the ground for further collaborations with other theatre/opera companies as…

“Just A Minute” – BBC Radio 4’s Classic Panel Show Appoints New Host

AOB revisited another past glory, following the sad death of venerable host Nicholas Parsons after over 50 years helming the programme, when long-established player, presenter and comedy performer Sue Perkins assumed the coveted and very large chair as new host of the show. In 2012, AOB had co-produced a rare, 10-episode television series version of…

AOB Client and Co-venturer, 79 Lux Glows with Press & Social Media Plaudits

Spring 2020 was brighter than ever for AOB’s client and co-venturer, 79 Lux, the luxury skincare range, which actually glows with real gold in its ingredients. The brand featured in an edition of Vogue Japan (79 Lux is fast becoming a beauty editor favourite…), in Condé Nast Traveller and was hailed by the Wellness Editor…

AOB Celebrated Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) during the European Football Championships

25 years on from its original release, the No. 1 football anthem Three Lions was once again all over the airwaves, in pubs and homes up and down the country throughout the European Championships. All commercial terms for release of the original track were negotiated by AOB director, Jonathan Dembo, in his then role as…

AOB Directors’ Professional Exploits in the Literary Realm of ‘Big Brother’

Since early 2020, AOB directors Jonathan Dembo and Dej Mahoney have been providing commercial and legal representation to celebrated YBA artist, Jake Chapman in relation to his literary creation, 2+2 = 5, inspired by George Orwell’s classic work “1984” and an homage to the great writer and polemicist. AOB’s services have included advice on the…

AOB Client Soul II Soul Features in Sky Arts Classic Albums TV series

In April 2021, Sky Arts aired the latest in their acclaimed Classic Albums TV series: Soul II Soul’s Club Classics Volume 1, following prior episodes which have revisited albums by The Who, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Sam Cooke and Lou Reed. Artist and producer, Jazzie B featured alongside other collaborators and talking heads discussing the…

SINGER-SONGWRITER AND CELLIST, AYANNA WITTER-JOHNSON FEATURES ON BBC RADIO’S WOMAN’S HOUR

In March 2021, AOB client Ayanna appeared in conversation on the flagship Radio 4 programme. She discussed her background, her musical journey and her personal take on contemporary, social issues. She also spoke of her latest collaborations with the likes of multi-instrumentalist, genre-pioneering composer, Nitin Sawhney and rapper-writer-polemicist Akala and was invited to sing/play from…

AOB-affiliated Label Seals Distribution Deal with PIAS

Through its Board advisory role, AOB is a minority shareholder in fledgling, multinational-backed, independent label, Don’t Sleep. In early 2021, Don’t Sleep successfully formalised an alliance with renowned, independent distributor PIAS through signing distribution and label agreements, as a promising foundation for the label’s future exploits. Amongst the offerings of many innovative creators, will be…

AOB Co-venturer Young Voices Releases a Charity Single in Collaboration with Sony Music and Place2Be Mental Health Charity

January/February is usually the touring season in the UK for Young Voices (YV), organisers of the world’s largest children’s choir concerts. In the absence of its arena concert tour commitment due to the pandemic, YV released a February charity single – “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, featuring legendary soul singer Billy Ocean, jazz singer and…

AOB-produced Musical Drama “I Dream” is Showcased in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.A.

In February 2021 – Black History Month in the USA – I Dream, the musical drama based on the life of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, featured as part of Charlottesville Opera’s program of “Interludes”, including conversations with the show’s principal performers and the writer-composer. AOB director, Dej Mahoney, is credited as producer, being a…

AOB DIRECTOR FEATURES AS AN EXPERT MUSIC BUSINESS COMMENTATOR ON TIMES RADIO

In early December 2020, AOB Director, Dej Mahoney featured in a stimulating discussion as an expert commentator on Times Radio. The central subject was Taylor Swift’s long-running dispute with Scooter Braun/Ithaca Holdings and the contested ownership of her original master recordings, following the acquisition by Ithaca Holdings of her prior label, Big Machine Records. The attached tweet was also…

AOB Represents Former Met Police Officer

AOB director, Jonathan Dembo provided legal representation for Leroy Logan MBE when rights for his debut book, ‘Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop’ were secured for the audio book market.  A film of Leroy’s life, “Red, White and Blue”, starring John Boyega of ‘Star Wars’ fame in the role of Leroy directed by Oscar-winner Steve McQueen was made and aired as part of the…

AOB Director Appointed as TSG Entertainment’s U.K. Representative in London

In September 2020, AOB director, Dej Mahoney was engaged by Chip Seelig as a London-based adviser and producer representative of TSG Entertainment (www.theseeliggroup.com), New York financiers, who most successfully backed the global success of “The Greatest Showman” (and previously, movies including “Avatar”, Oscar-winner Steve McQueen’s “Widows” and many others). In tandem with London producers and…

AOB continues Further Adventures in the World of Global TV Production

During summer 2020, AOB negotiated and managed the transition of Sarah Doole from her former role as the internationally renowned Director of Global Drama at Fremantle Media to becoming a creative consultant to Fremantle’s CEO, while establishing her own independent incubation company, Sow The Seed Ltd (STS). This development attracted the attention of Paris-based television…

AOB DIRECTOR ASSUMES NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIR ROLE AT LEADING PRODUCTION MUSIC COMPANY

In August 2020, AOB director Dej Mahoney was appointed to the new position of Non-Executive Chair of West One Music Group, one of the leading independent production music companies worldwide. Originally founded in London, the company has grown globally over the last 18 years to establish offices (and certain recording facilities) in New York, Los…

AOB’s Client and Co-Venturer 79Lux Launches New Product

It has been another momentous year for this stellar, emerging skincare brand, 79Lux. In August, it launched the third product in its first range, being an extremely timely and luxuriously healing hand cream for the Covid era which has enjoyed critical and customer acclaim, including a feature in the Sunday Times Style magazine. In parallel with this successful,…

YOUNG VOICES U.K. CONCERT TOUR 2020

The year began as usual with AOB-affiliated Young Voices staging a 22-date tour with arena concerts in Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield and 8 nights in London (7 at the O2 Arena and 1 at Wembley Arena), featuring primary school choirs of over 8,000 different children per night, singing their hearts out, alongside UK country sensation The…

CULTURAL HIGHLIGHT OF 2019 – AOB DIRECTOR’S VIEW: “DEATH OF A SALESMAN” AT THE YOUNG VIC THEATRE, LONDON

“‘Death of a Salesman’ at the Young Vic is the strongest production I’ve seen for a good while”. Thus began my post-show dispatch by text, continuing: “a great play with a priceless collection of killa lines and concepts, extraordinary performances, an exquisite set, evocative ‘live’ music…etc.”. I was quite happy with this summation, but curious…