Darren Sadler

mentor & consultant

Spearhead your music industry journey

from grassroots to stadiums and beyond

over 30 years of music industry experience & contacts

  • Label Boss and Artist Manager, Undergroove Records

    Roster includes Johnny Truant, The Ghost of a Thousand, Minus the Bear, Aereogramme (featuring Iain Cook of Chvches), Eden Maine, Twin Zero, My Ruin, Hexes (featuring Daniel P. Carter), 3 Stages of Pain, GU Medicine, Trashlight Vision (featuring Acey Slade, Murderdolls, Dope, Misfits), Mutation (featuring Ginger Wildheart), Sorry and the Sinatras, Charger, Exit_International, Down I Go, The Mirimar Disaster, The Sontaran Experiment, Abominable Iron Sloth (featuring members of Will Haven), Barabus, 27 et al

    Undergroove artists have toured and played shows UK and Globally with Slipknot, Metallica, Architects, Monster Magnet, God Forbid, Isis, Killswitch Engage, Morbid Angel et al

    Undergroove artists have performed BBC Radio 1 sessions and played Download, Reading and Leeds, 2000Trees et al

    Darren has successfully negotiated worldwide recording, licensing, distribution, synch and publishing deals.

  • Editor, Writer, Journalist

    Music Press Career - Editor of Metal Hammer, Deputy Editor Rock Sound (including commissioning Corey Taylor’s  regular column) Features Editor Kerrang!, Managing Editor Terrorizer, Editor Iron Fist, Founder and Editor Metalhead Magazine, Editor ArcTanGent Festival Magazine Collaboration, Damnation Festival Programme

    Guest TV and Radio Appearances- Presenting for Rock World TV, Live Guest Journalist for Steve Lamacq 6Music, Guest Journalist BBC Liquid News

    Darren has interviewed and written about countless artists including Dave Grohl, Lemmy, Slipknot, Chris Cornell, Mogwai, Faith No More, Mastodon, Slayer, Anthrax, Queens of The Stone Age, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Aerosmith, HIM, Bring Me the Horizon, Fightstar

    Project Management for clients including The Wildhearts, Raging Speedhorn, Weight of the Tide, Jo Dog and Paul Black’s Sonic Boom (former members of The Dogs D’Amour and LA Guns)

    Label Work includes Spinefarm/Universal Records, Metal Blade, Cherry Red, K-Scope, Peaceville, Hassle Records

    Festival - Darren was involved in the curation of the Rock Sound Stage at Guilfest featuring You Me at Six, 65daysofstatic, Soulfly, Skindred, Gallows

  • Music Educator, Mentor and Career Development

    PGCert Qualified - Over ten years FE and HE Music Business Teaching

    Teaching Career -

    Journalism NCTJ Level 5 Course Leader and Tutor: Magazines, News and Media Law, City of Portsmouth College.

    Course Leader and Artist Mentor, Music Business, BIMM University, Brighton;

    Music Entrepreneur Tutor, Waterbear Music College, Brighton;



Consultancy and Mentorship services available

for artists and bands

    • Roadmap Your Career

    • Authentic Strategy

    • Short Term Goals

    • Long Term Sustainable Planning

    • Creating and Building Your Team

    • Promotion and Marketing

    • Navigate Copyright, Publishing, Labels and Label Services

    • Biography Writing

    • Innovative Digital Strategy

  • £150 - 1-hour consultation to include initial report that reflects our discussions and maps out the next part of our journey.

    £400 - half day consultation to include a written constructive appraisal and initial plan for your band or project

    £550 - full day consultation - comprehensive overview and strategic objectives tailored to your band or project. (We recommend that full day consultations are spread over two different days)

    Biog writing and Ongoing Mentorship available.

for music journalists

    • Write to your Best Potential

    • How to Connect to Artists

    • Produce an Ace Interview

    • From Bedroom Blog to Mainstream Publications

    • Get Work Published

    • Building Your Portfolio

    • Establishing Professional Connections

    • Maximise your Brand Equity

  • £150 - 1-hour consultation to include initial report that reflects our discussions and maps out the next part of our journey.

    £400 - half day consultation to include a written constructive appraisal and initial plan for your career

    £550 - full day consultation - comprehensive overview and strategic objectives tailored to your career. (We recommend that full day consultations are spread over two different days)

    Ongoing Mentorship available.

for music business careers

    • Over 10 years, FE/HE Teaching and Mentoring Experience

    • Establishing your Industry Network

    • Understanding the Music Business

    • Avoiding Pitfalls and Honeytraps 

    • Career Pathways to Success

    • Authentic Appraisal and Goal-setting

    • Mythbust Contracts and Deals

  • £150 - 1-hour consultation to include initial report that reflects our discussions and maps out the next part of our journey.

    £400 - half day consultation to include a written constructive appraisal and initial plan for your career

    £550 - full day consultation - comprehensive overview and strategic objectives tailored to your career. (We recommend that full day consultations are spread over two different days)

    Biog writing and Ongoing Mentorship available.

Testimonials

  • "A special thank you is in order for Darren Sadler, who is responsible for giving me this gig in the first place. Without Darren, there would have been no noise from the Great Big Mouth. Thanks, Sads."

    Corey Taylor, Slipknot - regarding his 15 year stint writing his Rock Sound Column.

  • "Darren is someone I've known and had the pleasure to occasionally work with over the last two decades and I can happily say he's someone whose work, opinion and taste I trust. A great human..."

    Daniel P. Carter, BBC Radio 1 Rock Show, Curator The Pit at Reading/Leeds Festival, Artist/Musician

  • "Everyone needs someone to open your first career door. Darren was that person for me when he needed a new recruit at Terrorizer. He was a great mentor and spotted my writing and editing potential."

    Merlin Alderslade, Executive Editor, Louder, Future Publishing, (previously Editor Metal Hammer)

  • "Building the foundations of early stage success requires a lot of investment in terms of hard work and tenacity. Darren has always proved that he is able to support artists and can deliver."

    David Bianchi, Various Artists Management, Clients include Melanie C, Ashikko, Tom Grennan, The Libertines, Supergrass, Cassyette, Yonaka, La Roux

  • “Darren wrote about us early on in our career and is one of the good guys. We have stayed in touch over the years and it's always great to reconnect with him. Darren is always honest and i love him for that. He is Wych!"

    Sean Smith, The Blackout, Raiders and Sappenin Podcast

  • "Early in my career, I worked with Darren in many capacities. He was my label boss to my band, employed me as a tour manager, I put on shows for bands he managed, he covered my bands in his magazines... In the 20 years since I've worked in the music industry, his passion, integrity and work ethic still stay with me and have rarely been matched. People at all levels in the industry could learn a lot from Darren."

    Reuben Gotto, Touring Guitar Tech and Guitarist, Fairlane Guitars. Clients include Lana del Rey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, Robert Plant, Pixies, Beabadoobee, Fontaines DC

  • “I’ve worked with Darren on countless brand/artists partnerships over the years - he’s a consummate professional. Not short of ideas and innovative ways to deliver targeted results."

    Tom Carson, Marketing Manager Academy Events Group, former Jägermeister Music Brand Partnership Manager

  • "I've had the pleasure of working with Darren across various publications and I highly recommend him. He is an excellent editor and a prolific, insightful writer who consistently delivers high quality work within deadlines. Darren's attention to detail, strong industry knowledge and professionalism set him apart. In addition to his impressive skills, he is courteous, reliable and a pleasure to collaborate with. His contributions consistently exceed expectations, making him an invaluable asset to any team.'

    Lisa Coverdale, Hold Tight PR clients include Nuclear Blast Records, Napalm Records, Radar Festival, UNFD, Virgin Music