Recent Clients
- Home
- HTGR (Los Angeles) - CSI NY
- Music Film - Godfather Of Rock
- Music Book Deal - Kate Magic
- Global Underground - MSHK
- Apace Music UK - Steadfast TV
- BreakThru Films (London)
- Junkie XL - Sky Sports TV
Career Success
- Cafe Del Mar - Exec Producer
- IAGPT - Exec Album Producer
- Music Week - Record Mirror
- Ben Cherrill - A&R Profile
- Music Editing - UK Top 40
- Manifesto Records - Universal
- Polydor Records - Universal
- Positiva Records - EMI
- Ben Cherrill - The Singles
- David Morales - Needin' U
- Room 5 - Make Luv
- Ben Cherrill - The Albums
A&R History
Benstar is a creative music agency specializing in music supervision,
synch licensing and 360 degree music solutions for leading Film and TV production companies, advertising agencies & brands and video games developers across the globe.
We assist with strategic placement and delivery of music to serve both artist and client in a multimedia marketplace of global potential. We offer ready to license, cutting edge content from an exciting and diverse range of sources.
A unique range of services fusing vast experience in the music industry with specific backgrounds in a&r, music supervision, soundtracks and strategic music led campaigns. More
Lol Hammond, Music Supervisor, Vertigo Films UK
Jason Alexander - CEO - HTGR (Los Angeles))
Project: HTGR (Los Angeles) - CSI NY
Benstar represents a broad range of established and emerging recording artists, record labels and music publishing catalogues from the UK, USA and Europe for both master and synch clearances.
During the past 12 months, the agency has sourced and supplied a range of new music for specific cues and we have successfully secured 'synch placement' deals for new music into CSI NY, these include just some of the following recording artists and their compositions:
The Time & Space Machine (UK) - Set Phazer To Stun - CSI NY
John Graham (US) - All Fall Down - CSI NY
Engine-Earz Experiment (UK) - Princess Of The Deep - CSI NY
THE TIME & SPACE MACHINE (RICHARD NORRIS)
(also Beyond The Wizards Sleeve & The Grid)
When it comes to being a man of many talents, there are few to equal Richard Norris. DJ, producer, musician, audiovisual artist, A&R man, author and journalist. His career has always seen him at the forefront of pushing new ideas forward and championing diversity and innovation.
Richard is one half of BTWS alongside Erol Alkan. Together they have brought the music community to their knees with their mixes of Goldfrapp, Franz Ferdinand, Tracey Thorn, Badly Drawn Boy, The Chemical Brothers and Simian Mobile Disco.
Richard is also a founding member of The Grid alongside Soft Cell’s Dave Ball. After a prolific career, with spots on TOTP as well as remixing Yello, Pet Shop Boys, Happy Mondays and Brian Eno, their classic "Floatation" is to be given a new lease of life on the New State label, with brand new mixes.
JOHN GRAHAM
John Graham started production in the early 1990s, and has been a household name within progressive electronic music ever since, he is best known as Quivver, but has invented a host of other monikers, including Space Manoeuvres, Stoneproof, Skanna and Tilt, each representing a different shade of his eclectic production sound, and each giving an idea of his true versatility, range and sonic excellence.
John has always gained consistent support for his many varied club releases from DJ giants and close friends such as Sasha, Tong, Oakenfold and Digweed, whilst also having his early Skanna efforts lapped up by drum & bass royalty including Fabio, Grooverider and Doc Scott. He is a multi talented DJ, producer and vocalist and after inking an early deal with A&M in the UK and being championed by Paul Oakenfold, he joined Perfecto for several legendary releases, and has recently collaborated and written electrifying and dynamic songs for the likes of Hybrid from the UK, Planet Funk from Italy and also Darren Emerson’s exciting new band project out of the UK, ‘The Low Highs’.
Now after years of making taste-maker electronic music, touring the world as a DJ, he has written and produced a very solid indie/rock album, which currently contains many songs with global film & TV appeal.
ENGINE-EARZ EXPERIMENT
Engine-EarZ Experiment are a musical collective born out of the UK dubstep scene in early 2009 centering around acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, DJ and producer - Prashant Mistry. Growing up in Britain with Asian roots, he has always sought to reconcile his varied musical influences, which range from The Prodigy and Rage Against The Machine through to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Talvin Singh.
Indeed, the Engine-EarZ's debut artist album will firmly smash any divides that lie between genres and ideologies; fusing indigenous music from around the world with elements of dubstep, drum'n'bass, electronica and rock.
Through remixing major artists from Basement Jaxx to Sean Paul, the collective have already drawn attention across the entire BBC Radio network, with plays from Zane Lowe, Huw Stephens, Ras Kwame, Mary-Anne Hobbs, Tom Robinson, Friction and Nihal plus a second BBC Maida Vale session has recently taken place with Mista Jam from 1 XTRA.
Engine-Earz Experiment are rapidly making a name for themselves as DJs and a fully live dubstep experience, recent sets have included playing alongside Caspa, Rusko, Shy FX, Skream and Benga as well as headlining spots at the BBC ‘Introducing Stage’ at Glastonbury.
David Fairman, Director - Godfather Of Rock
Project: Music Film - Godfather Of Rock
Benstar is proud to announce that we have recently been engaged as 'exclusive music supervisors' on a new British produced feature film, which is currently in 'pre-production', and is based on the true story of the legendary rock music manager from the 1970's Wilf Pine.
Originally written by John Pearson, and now adapted for the big screen by Barbara Gorna, the film will be directed by David Fairman. The film will be shot on location in New York, Los Angeles, London and the Isle of Wight and is due for a worldwide release in spring 2012.
In 1966, Wilf Pine is a boy from the sticks in search of a dream. He dreams of escape from the backwoods town where he lives. He dreams of fame, fortune, respect and love. Wilf has a talent for violence and music. But someone is watching him and he is lured to London by the biggest name in the music business in the Sixties, Harry H, controller of the biggest names and money in Pop.
Wilf learns fast, and soon runs his own bands, including Black Sabbath, who he takes to Number One in the Charts. But a chance meeting in New York beckons him into the world of the Mafia, living a double life, firstly as a money launderer and then as a Hit-man, and band producer. Can he find a way out?
In 1992, top journalist John Pearson, writer of the Kray's gang biography is watching mourners at a Kray funeral. A man close to them intrigues him. It is Wilf Pine, music producer and the only Brit to become a 'made' man in the Mafia.
Wilf spends his early life in a reform school, after beating up his father because he attacked his mother. He then drifts into the music business working as a 'heavy', making sure bands get paid, but soon discovers he has a talent for managing men and music. Harry H, a tough music producer in London spots him and he leaves for the bright lights. Harry tutors him well, and he soon leaves to start his own company in competition with his old father figure and boss.
In New York, an enormous guy called Schiff approaches him in a recording studio asking him to listen to a tape. Problem is, the kid is the son of Pagano, who doesn't want him to sing, and even better, Schiff works for Pagano. Intrigued, Wilf agrees to a meet with Pagano, and they hit it off. Pagano is interested in buying Wilf's business. Back home in London Wilf is living the high life with girlfriend Lynda, who distrusts these new contacts. Wilf is steadily drinking harder and she tries to stop him.
But Wilf's desire for adventure and a search for a family who accepts him draws him back to New York, and getting closer to the Pagano's, firstly by laundering money through Showbiz, then acting as heavy and arsonist as part of the Pagano team. He is now living a double-life, on the surface a laid-back record producer, behind the scenes a close Mafia associate. When Joe Pagano's brother Pat is killed, his family are out for revenge, and Wilf offers to go on the man hunt with them, he is now embedded with the Mafia.
But he has forgotten one thing, no one ever leaves. After his first 'hit' he is locked into the Mafia tribe, while still promoting Number One Bands. He starts to have waking nightmares, and relies on drink and drugs to settle his nerves. Pushed by Pagano into marrying Lynda, he realizes is life is getting out of control. If he is asked to do a hit he has no escape. But this is not what he wanted. The mix of family and violence is where he started, not where he wanted to finish.
Nobody leaves, that's the rule, but can Wilf break these rules, and take on the mighty Pagano Family? And does love beat money every time?
Godfather Of Rock - Coming Soon
Kate Magic - Author (UK)
Project: Music Book Deal - Kate Magic
'88 - The Untold Story Of A Revolution'
A Book By Kate Magic
This book could not be better timed and has the potential to act as a true cross over between popular and academic markets. In today’s tribal sub cultural world there is an increasing interest in rave and the free party scene, demonstrated by the current popularity of Nu Rave and television programmes like Skins in the UK which has itself spawned a retro club culture. What is lacking is any consistent understanding of the ways in which politics, music, life style and graphic culture emerged out of the late 1980s and what it means to have lived through, and remember ‘an untold revolution’.
The period 1979-1997 is an emerging academic area of studies, for example new university courses on this period have an overwhelming popularity with students, seeking to make connections with their own cultural lives and the world, which they grew out of. Kate Magic has found a way to represent the more esoteric pull of rave culture, thinking about the ways in which is recreated senses of space, place, freedom and time, and the ways in which it appealed to the intersections between pleasure and politics, which she demonstrates through lived experience.
Here 88 - The Untold Story Of A Revolution’s strength lies in the types of evidence it combines, memoir and participant observation with images and graphic reproduction. What work there is in this area is largely theoretical or sociological in starting point (Rietveld, Hill) and focuses on formal club culture (Reynolds, Redhead & Saunders) and where life history has been incorporated into these texts it privileges the ‘big players’ or in other cases centres on certain regionalities. Most of this body of work was written in the ten years after 1988 and therefore the time is ripe for a more reflective and holistic approach such as this.
“Acid House is the biggest youth culture movement to hit the UK since Punk Rock except that even in Punks heyday that couldn't claim to have millions of followers around the world. Acid House is a moment in history that shall be documented for decades to come and recognised as Ground Zero of Global Rave (or Dance) Culture. In true British fashion, pioneers from the United Kingdom were the driving force behind the sudden switch from pop music to House music. This also gave rise to the bedroom DJ and for the first time in history, unknown musicians were producing electronic music from the comfort of their homes and topping the national charts. Acid House brought new music, new fashion, new art and an alternative lifestyle to that handed down from the 1960s.”
Wayne Anthony, Genesis Raves, Class of 88
Andy Horsfield - President, Ministry Of Sound USA
Project: Global Underground - MSHK
In 2009, Ben Cherrill (Benstar) was engaged as the Head of Global Underground Music UK, which is part of the MSHK Group (Ministry of Sound UK).
Ben brought a wealth of proven commercial experience and success, long-standing artist relationships and broad industry knowledge to this hugely successful global electronic music brand.
This senior position involved managing the day-to-day business and UK team, including A&R of all product releases, weekly project scheduling, management of creative production process, weekly P&L, sales projections and quarterly forecasts, negotiation of content licensing deals, management of digital & social media marketing for all releases and products.
Daily management of GU online store and new product sites in order to maximize user engagement, customer interaction and revenue. Analyzed sales, consumption, content accuracy, and content discover-ability across all specialist and consumer platforms.
Responsible for driving music operations and strategy across all Global Underground products. This was alongside managing the rapidly expanding branded touring & event business worldwide and attracting sponsorship & branding partners plus also developing the music publishing division of GU.
International artists & album projects worked included: Carl Cox - Black Rock Desert (City Series - GU38), James Lavelle - Bangkok (City Series - GU37), Darren Emerson - Bogota (City Series - GU36), Nick Fanciulli - DJ Series (GUDJ1), Plump DJs - DJ Series (GUDJ2), Jim Rivers (UK) - Nubreed Series Vol 7, Sultan (Canada) - Nubreed Series Vol 8.
Global Underground
Tim Millington, MD Apace Music UK
Project: Apace Music UK - Steadfast TV
Ben Cherrill was engaged as a creative music consultant to Apace Music UK within their music and TV divisions. The brief included sourcing synch opportunities for their music catalogue through strategic placement and licensing deals, specifically in the area's of film, TV and branded advertising.
The Benstar agency was also commissioned to develop a series of 'ready to license' music reel CD's and we developed the 'Journeys Into Sound' range, which was serviced to their creative media database. Apace Music's catalogue currently enjoys a very broad range of widespread media usage within the global market.
Benstar also worked alongside rapidly emerging UK production company Steadfast TV to music supervise and fulfill their soundtracking needs. Working to either a brief and/or picture, we sourced music cues from within the existing Apace owned catalogue and through newly commissioned score from a roster of highly skilled producers and composers.
Recently supervised music requirements for a varied selection of factual based programmes including Send In The Dogs(ITV 1), Virgin Cops (Virgin Media), Doctors At War and Salvage Code Red (Discovery Canada/National Geographic).
Apace Music UK
Hugh Welchman, MD BreakThru Films (London)
Project: BreakThru Films (London)
Ben Cherrill was engaged as a music supervisor to the Oscar winning British independent film production company BreakThru Films for a period of 15 months between 2006 and 2007. The brief included sourcing potential music for a sound and music orientated horror film project which is yet to be released. Benstar was also responsible for advising on all music related issues alongside developing branding, licensing & sponsorship opportunities for the multi-platform release of all music content, including mobile, digital and a physical soundtrack.
BreakThru Films is a UK based production company with very eclectic credits, from animation to live action.
'Peter & the Wolf', a 2006 stop motion animation film has most recently been awarded the Oscar for 'Best Animated Short Film' at the 2008 ceremony in Los Angeles. It was premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in September 2006. Since then it has won 4 other prestigious awards including Rose d’Or, Annecy and Pulcinella plus a BAFTA nomination, it has sold out concert halls worldwide with its live orchestral screenings, and been released on television and DVD in selected territories across Europe and Asia.
Managing Director, Hugh Welchman was Associate Producer on 'Free Jimmy' which was the closing film in the Critics’ Fortnight at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and has won a Cristal Award for best animation at the Annecy Festival.
The company also recently produced the visual effects for the $18 million Oscar winning Edith Piaf biopic 'La Vie En Rose' and is currently producing several new live action features.
BreakThru Films
Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL
Project: Junkie XL - Sky Sports TV
Ben Cherrill worked as a consultant for the artist and his management company in Los Angeles, under the brief of finding strategic music placement opportunities for the introspective, rock-influenced album 'Today' which was released in 2006 by Roadrunner Records.
A synchronization opportunity was identified by Benstar with Sky Sports Television (UK) and their weekly live coverage of the 'Guinness' sponsored rugby union internationals. A two year 'main title' licensing deal was negotiated and put in place for the track 'Mushroom' which was taken from the above mentioned album and has subsequently been renewed for an additional period. (please see 'title sequence' clip in the player to your right)
Ben's relationship with the artist and his management goes back to 1998 when he was the A&R responsible for signing Junkie XL to Manifesto Records in the UK for the album 'Big Sounds Of The Drags' which included the critically acclaimed single 'Zerotonine'.
Junkie XL
Cafe Del Mar, Ibiza
Project: Cafe Del Mar - Exec Producer
During his time at Manifesto Records (part of the Universal Music Group) he worked alongside Head of A&R, Luke Neville where most notably they executive produced and co-compiled several volumes of the globally renowned album brand ‘Café Del Mar’. This was alongside DJs Jose Padilla and Bruno Lepetre. To date these albums have sold well over 15 million copies worldwide and it is still to this day considered to be the 'original and best' chill out compilation series.
The songs that are traditionally featured on these compilations are best described as balearic, ambient and easy listening music. These unique collections of music played at the Café in Ibiza, originally started life as eclectic 'mixes' compiled by resident DJ Jose Padilla, and were first sold on cassette tapes at the end of the 1980s.
The album concept was first made commercially available by James Horrocks from React Music in 1993 who released volumes 1-3.
The series was then brought to Manifesto Records by it's founder Eddie Gordon, who knew the global marketing potential of this sublime collection of 'balearic' music. It truly was a stroke of genius by Eddie as the brand went onto to become one of the biggest selling 'compilation releases' for the Universal Music Group, and continues to sell well on a global scale to this day.
Ben Cherrill was an 'executive producer' and 'co-compiler' alongside Luke Neville on Volumes 6,7 and 8, and also executive A&R on Volume 5. The combined A&R / Executive producer process on these involved working with international recording artists and labels to find the best selection of eclectic music to suit each new volume.
Albums that Ben has been creatively involved in during his A&R career contain music by internationally recognized artists from all over the world, including A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire), Moby, Thomas Newman (American Beauty), William Orbit (Madonna), Dusty Springfield, Bush, Dido and Nitin Sawhney.
Ben Cherrill was awarded BPI Sales Awards for Volumes 6,7 & 8, each individual award recognizes sales in the UK alone of more than 60,000 units per album.
Lol Hammond, Music Supervisor, Vertigo Films UK
Project: IAGPT - Exec Album Producer
'Its All Gone Pete Tong' - The Movie
Whilst employed as a Senior A&R manager for Positiva Records (a music division of parent company EMI), Ben Cherrill was responsible for signing and negotiating a music licensing deal between leading British independent company Vertigo Films and EMI Records. This deal included acquiring the worldwide music soundtrack rights to the critically acclaimed cult movie 'It's All Gone Pete Tong' which starred leading British comedy actor Paul Kaye in the lead role as the legendary DJ Frankie Wilde.
The ‘mockumentary’ follows a period in Frankie Wilde’s exceptional life, as he deals with the highs and lows of his superstar DJ career which is unfortunately cut short by his profound deafness. The film shows Wilde’s rise and fall and we’re treated to many well-known cameos from international DJ icons, including Tiesto, Paul van Dyk, Pete Tong and Carl Cox plus many more. The film features some of the biggest hit dance tracks from recent years and also includes exclusive tracks and remixes from across the musical spectrum. Ben also contributed 3 exclusive new productions to this soundtrack release
Ben was 'executive album producer' on the project and was responsible for conceptualizing the entire soundtrack release, from compiling, mixing and producing (with assistance from Canadian born production partner and recording artist James Doman) through to overseeing the design, promotion and 'route to market' of the album, working closely alongside Vertigo's 'music supervisor' Lol Hammond and the film's 'Canadian director' Michael Dowse, in order to fulfill all of the the on screen musical requirements.
The album exclusively compiled by Ben, brings together the film’s musical highlights across 2 CDs. The first disc 'DAY', highlights the more melancholic moments from the film, and opens with an exclusive Graham Massey remix of the seminal ‘Pacific State’ by 808 State (commissioned by Ben), it then takes you on a serene journey through tracks such as the classic 1930’s love song ‘Parlez Moi D’Amour’ by Lucienne Boyer, The Beta Band’s ‘Troubles’, and Goldfrapp’s awesome remake of Depeche Mode’s ‘Halo’ before finishing up with The Beach Boys’ classic ‘Good Vibrations’ and Barefoot’s unique new version of ‘White Lines’.
Disc 2 'NIGHT', moves things up a gear with an outstanding selection of Frankie Wilde’s clubbing highlights that includes anthems such as Deep Dish’s ‘Flashdance’, Shapeshifters ‘Back To Basics’, Ferry Corsten ‘Rock Your Body Rock’ and the exclusive Doublefunk feat. Frankie Wilde ‘Can You Hear Me Now’ (featuring Kaye on vocals, produced by Ben Cherrill & James Doman), plus the sublime ‘Need To Feel Loved’ by Reflekt feat Delline Bass (watch the promo clip using the player to your right) and finally Orbital’s big festival favorite ‘Frenetic’.
All in all a classic soundtrack album was delivered by Ben to support this cult British film. Please feel free to take a look at the trailer and Reflekt video clips above and also check out Vertigo's latest releases via the link below.
Vertigo Films
Sasha (DJ & Producer)
Project: Music Week - Record Mirror
Ben Cherrill was solely responsible for the marketing of Record Mirror Magazine within Music Week between 1993 & 1996. He formed an integral part of the development team on this market leading music industry magazine based within the Daily Express Newspaper building in London, England.
He was also responsible for the conceptualization, music programming and production of many branded ‘music industry’ events, marketing initiatives and new talent promotions at some of the world's most popular international trade conferences including Midem (Cannes), Popkomm (Cologne) and the Winter Music Conference (WMC - Miami). Ben also contributed weekly editorial content, specialist dance music reviews and key advertorials for music based companies and industry figures.
A selection of the international music industry events planned and programmed by Ben included:
1994 - Record Mirror/MTV Party - Popkomm, Germany - Full event planning, production, music programming and artist liaison for this key industry event, attended by over 2000 entertainment professionals, which featured Global DJ talent including Carl Cox (UK), Sasha (UK), Paul Van Dyk (Germany) and Richie Hawtin (USA).
1995 - Record Mirror/MTV Party - Popkomm, Germany - Full event planning, production, music programming and artist liaison for this key industry event, attended by over 1200 entertainment professionals, which featured Global DJ talent including Sasha (UK), Laurent Garnier (France) & Slam (UK).
Ben left his position at Music Week/Record Mirror in 1996 to take up a position as A&R manager at Polydor/Hi-Life, part of the Universal Music Group.
He returned to collect more than 4 separate Music Week Awards, at the prestigious annual event in London. These included 'Best Music Exploitation' (Room 5/Lynx), 'Top Dance Label' (Positiva and Manifesto) and also as part of the 'Best A&R Team' whilst at Polydor Records.
Music Week Magazine
Project: Ben Cherrill - A&R Profile
Creative minded team player with over 20 years experience in the UK music & media industries. A proven track record in major label artist development and A&R, music editing & production, strategic music marketing, specialist music compilations & soundtracks, synch licensing, music supervision, magazine publishing, web development, event management plus music retail and music distribution.
Ben’s experience within artist development, strategic marketing and recorded music has seen him sign, develop and promote dozens of globally respected artists, songwriters and music producers, spanning the worlds of pop/dance, club and mainstream electronic music. He has played an integral part in developing music operations and strategy within some of the most successful youth music brands in recent history and has personally delivered more than ‘twenty-five’ UK Top 20 hits, with more than ‘fifteen’ of those reaching the UK Top 10.
As an executive producer and co-compiler of the leading global album brand Cafe Del Mar (Ibiza) and most recently responsible for managing projects from Carl Cox (Black Rock Desert) and James Lavelle (Bangkok) both via the Global Underground/Ministry of Sound brand, Ben continues to be an extremely well respected figure within the global, electronic music community, and has achieved combined record sales in excess of 20m, taking into consideration all singles, albums and worldwide compilation usages.
'09 - '10 - Head of Global Underground UK / Ministry of Sound
Engaged as the Head of Global Underground UK, which is currently part of the MSHK group (Ministry of Sound). Ben brought with him proven commercial experience, long-standing artist relationships and broad industry knowledge to this successful global electronic music brand.
This senior position involved managing the day-to-day label business and UK team, including A&R of all product releases, weekly project scheduling, management of creative production process, weekly P&L, negotiation of content licensing deals, management of digital & social media marketing for all releases and products. This was alongside managing the rapidly expanding branded touring & event business worldwide plus also developing the music publishing division; GU Music. International artists managed included Carl Cox, James Lavelle, Darren Emerson and The Plump DJs.
'01 - '06 - Senior A&R Manager - EMI Records / Positiva
Ben was directly responsible for negotiating licensing deals and signing international recording artists to this leading major label music imprint. Major successes included signing and developing the UK NO.1 single by Room 5 feat Oliver Cheatham ‘Make Luv’ from PIAS in Belgium, which achieved UK physical sales in excess of 350,000 units (silver sales award) and held the National NO.1 position in sales, radio and TV airplay charts for consecutive weeks.
Ben was responsible for overseeing the synchronisation of ‘Make Luv’ into the strategic worldwide ‘Lynx/Pulse’ TV ad campaign, worked alongside: PIAS, BBH, Unilever & Freud’s PR to maximise CD sales and the successful ‘Lynx/Pulse’ UK product launch. ‘Make Luv’ voted winner ‘Best Music Exploitation’ at prestigious Music Week Awards in 2004.
Developed numerous other international hit artists with combined sales of over 1 million physical units. Including Top 10 singles from Bhangra Knights vs Husan ‘Husan’ (Peugeot 206 Pan European TV Ad Campaign), Lovefreekz ‘Shine’ plus ‘Need To Feel Loved’ by Reflekt feat Delline Bass and Motorcycle’s ‘As The Rush Comes’ (Produced by Gabriel & Dresden from the USA).
Positiva was voted ‘Dance Label Of The Year’ at the prestigious Music Week Awards in both 2001 and 2002.
Executive album producer and exclusive compiler for the soundtrack to British independent film ‘It’s All Gone Pete Tong’. Signed a worldwide music rights deal between EMI Records and leading UK independent company Vertigo Films, this included soundtrack deals for ‘IAGPT’ (Directed by Michael Dowse) & ‘The Business’ (Directed by Nick Love).
'98 - '01 - A&R Manager - Universal/Mercury/Manifesto
Signed music rights and promoted a roster of international recording artists and music producers within this successful major label music imprint, which was part of the Universal Music Group.
Co-compiled and developed several volumes of the global album brand ‘Cafe Del Mar’ alongside former Head of A&R Luke Neville, which to date has sold well over 15 million copies worldwide.
Ben was an Executive Album Producer and co-compiler on Volumes 6, 7 and 8, and assisted with Volume 5.
Other major successes included Ten - UK Top 10 singles with combined UK physical sales of over 1 million units, including York ‘On The Beach’ (Top 3 - BPI silver sales award), plus Yomanda ‘Synth & Strings’ (Top 5), David Morales ‘Needin’ U’ (Top 10).
Ben also signed the album international recording artist Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL to the Manifesto label. This was just prior to JXL having the worldwide No.1 smash hit with his now classic remix of Elvis Presley's 'A Little Less Conversation'.
Manifesto was voted ‘Dance Label Of The Year’ at the prestigious Music Week Awards in both 1998 and 2000.
'96 - '98 - A&R Manager – Universal/Polydor/Hi-Life
Signed, developed and promoted a varied roster of international dance artists and producers on the Hi-Life imprint which was part of the Universal Music Group.
Major successes included commissioning Fatboy Slim to remix ‘Renegade Master’ by Wildchild, which achieved UK physical sales in excess of 350,000 copies (BPI silver sales award) and reached National Top 3 in the UK sales and radio airplay charts and went onto become a global hit in many territories due to Ben's A&R involvement.
Ben was also part of the prolific Polydor Records A&R team that won ‘Best A&R Award’ at Music Week Awards 1997.
Artist roster worked with during his time at Polydor included Wildchild (UK), Kim English (USA, BBG (UK), Up Yer Ronson (UK), Sian (UK), Lucky Monkeys (Fluke) (UK), Unity 3 (UK), Mad Moses (USA), Angelheart (UK), Revival 3000 (UK) and Pierre Henry (France).
Simon Sadler - Former Head of Music, Kiss FM
Project: Music Editing - UK Top 40
Ben Cherrill - UK Top 40 Singles
Music Editing Credits – Worldwide Radio Airplay
The following songs listed below were ALL creatively edited specifically for UK and Worldwide Radio airplay by Ben Cherrill, during his time spent as an Executive A&R for major record companies in the UK.
Hi-Life Records (1995 – 1997)
(Polydor/Universal)
BBG - Just Be Tonight (Top 50)
Revival 3000 - The Mighty High (Top 50)
Wildchild - Renegade Master (Top 3)
Manifesto Records (1997 – 2001)
(Mercury/Universal)
Electribe 101 - Talking With Myself (98) (Top 40)
Yomanda - Synth & Strings (Top 10)
York - The Awakening (Top 10)
Taste Xperience - Summersault (Top 75)
Loop Da Loop - Hazel (Top 20)
Progress - Everybody (Top 10)
Yomanda - Sunshine (Top 20)
Spolied & Zigo - More & More (Top 30)
Rank 1 - Airwave (Top 10)
York - On The Beach (Top 5)
Yomanda - On The Level (Top 30)
York - Farewell To The Moon (Top 40)
David Morales - Needin' U II (Top 10)
JBN - All I Want (N/R)
Plaything - Into Space (Top 50)
Da Hool - Love Parade (2001) (Top 15)
Dario G - Say Whats On Your Mind (N/R)
Positiva Records (2001 – 2006)
(EMI / Capitol)
Kid Creme - Hypnotising (Top 30)
Bhangra Knights - Husan (Top 10)
Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes (Top 10)
Jungle Bothers vs Mr On - Breathe & Stop (Top 20)
Scent - Up & Down (Top 30)
Reflekt - Need To Feel Loved (Top 15)
Luke Neville, former Head of A&R, Manifesto Records
Project: Manifesto Records - Universal
Ben was A&R Manager within this highly successful major label dance music imprint between 1998 and 2001. He was responsible for signing and developing a roster of commercial artists and producers during a 4 year period.
During his time at the label he worked alongside Head of A&R, Luke Neville where most notably they co-compiled and developed the globally renowned album brand ‘Café Del Mar’ which to date has sold well over 10 million copies worldwide and is still to this day considered to be the 'original and best' chill out compilation series, started in Ibiza by the legend that is Jose Padilla and brought to Manifesto by it's founder Eddie Gordon. Ben was an 'executive album producer' alongside Luke on Volumes 6,7 and 8.
Ben was responsible for many other major successes on the label which included seven UK Top 10 singles with combined sales in excess of 1 million copies, including York ‘On The Beach’ (Top 5), plus Yomanda ‘Synth & Strings’, David Morales ‘Needin’ U’ (twice), Rank 1 ‘Airwave’ and Progress presents The Boy Wunda ‘Everybody’ amongst others.
Ben also signed the album artist Junkie XL to the label, this was prior to JXL having the worldwide No.1 smash hit with his now classic remix of Elvis Presley's 'A Little Less Conversation'. Other Manifesto album artists worked with included Todd Terry, Byron Stingly and Karen Ramirez.
Whilst at Manifesto, Ben implemented many Worldwide and pan European promotional campaigns for different artists and has negotiated a vast number international licensing deals in order to gain the signature of some key artists and music producers using a vast network of personal industry contacts. He was also responsible for maximizing brand awareness for the label within the UK music market via a series of strategic 'branded' artist led events. Clients worked with included BBC R1, San Miguel and Chivas Regal.
Manifesto Records was voted ‘Dance Label Of The Year’ at the prestigious Music Week Awards ceremony in 1998 and 1999.
Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim (DJ/Producer)
Project: Polydor Records - Universal
Ben Cherrill was A&R Manager for the Hi-Life music imprint within the highly successful major music label Polydor Records between 1996 and 1998.
During his time at the label he signed, developed and promoted a varied roster of international recording artists and his major success was commissioning Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim to remix the now legendary ‘Renegade Master’ by the late great British house producer Wildchild. The result was a massive Top 3 hit single in the UK which achieved sales in excess of 350,000 copies. The record also went on to be a club and radio hit in many other territories around the world.
Ben was part of the Polydor A&R team headed by Lucien Grainge, which won the prestigious ‘Best A&R Award’ at the Music Week Awards ceremony in 1997. He was also responsible for commissioning remix packages and promotional campaigns for a diverse roster of major artists on the label including Ian Brown, Cast, Howie B, Monaco, Samantha Mumba, Boyzone, Nu Colours and The Lighthouse Family to name just a few.
Other Hi-Life artists worked with directly whilst at the label included Kim English, Mitch Moses, DJ Angel, Lucky Monkeys (Fluke), Sian, Revival 3000 (Matthew Roberts) and BBG.
Jason Ellis, MD Positiva Records (London)
Project: Positiva Records - EMI
Ben spent 5 years working as A&R Manager within this highly regarded major label music imprint between 2001 and 2006. He was responsible for signing and developing a commercial roster of international recording artists and negotiating worldwide music content deals, alongside managing financial budgets and having creative control over each project from signature through to release. Ben also implemented worldwide & pan European release packages, promotional campaigns and negotiated international 3rd party licensing deals through a vast network of personal music industry contacts around the world.
One of his key A&R successes included the rights acquisition and project development of the UK NO.1 single ‘Make Luv’ by the artist Room 5 feat Oliver Cheatham which achieved UK sales in excess of 350,000 copies and stayed at NO.1 simultaneously in sales, radio and TV airplay charts for 4 consecutive weeks. Ben was responsible for overseeing the synchronization of ‘Make Luv’ into the now legendary strategic worldwide TV ad campaign for ‘Lynx/Pulse’. He worked closely alongside BBH (London) and Unilever in order to maximize CD sales and the 'Pulse' product launch.
‘Make Luv’ was subsequently voted the inaugural winner of the ‘Best Music Exploitation’ award at the industry's prestigious Music Week Awards ceremony in 2004. (Please take a look at the promo clip in the player to your right)
During his time at the EMI owned label Ben also signed and developed many other UK hit singles and albums with combined sales of over 750,000 copies. Including Top 10 singles from Bhangra Knights vs Husan ‘Husan’ (licensed from Lowered Recordings and featured in the Peugeot 206 pan European TV ad campaign, watch the promo clip using the player to your right), Lovefreekz ‘Shine’ plus the 'Road To Perdition' sampling ‘Need To Feel Loved’ by Reflekt feat Delline Bass (see artist section) and Motorcycle’s ‘As The Rush Comes’.
Other international recording artists and DJs worked with whilst at the label include Paul Van Dyk, Ferry Corsten (2 albums), Deep Dish, Shapeshifters, Brad Carter, Trisco, Red Carpet & Kurtis Mantronik to name just a few.
Positiva Records was twice voted Music Week's 'Best Dance Label' at their awards ceremony during Ben's time at the label.
Other credits include being the 'executive album producer' for the soundtrack to British independent film ‘It’s All Gone Pete Tong’. He signed and negotiated a music content deal for the exclusive worldwide soundtrack rights between EMI Records and leading UK independent film company Vertigo Films.
EMI subsequently went onto also release the classic 80's inspired soundtrack to the hit Vertigo film 'The Business'.
Positiva Records
Music Week Magazine, UK
Project: Ben Cherrill - The Singles
The following songs and international artists listed below were ALL signed, developed and promoted for UK and Worldwide release by Ben Cherrill, during his time spent as an Executive A&R for internationally recognized major record companies in the UK.
Executive A&R - Hi-Life Records (1995 – 1998)
(Polydor/Universal)
Lucky Monkeys - Bjango
Sales Chart No.50
Club Chart 5
Released 09/11/96
Wildchild - Jump To My Beat
Sales Chart No.30
Club Chart No.7
Released 23/11/96
Kim English - Nitelife
Sales Chart No.35
Club Chart No.1
Released 30/11/96
Up Yer Ronson - I Will Be Released
Sales Chart 32
Club Chart No.3
Released 19/04/97
Kim English - Supernatural
Sales Chart 50
Club Chart No.6
Released 26/04/97
BBG - Just Be Tonight
Sales Chart No.45
Club Chart No.2
Released 05/07/97
Mad Moses - Panther Party
Sales Chart No.50
Club Chart No.5
Released 16/08/97
Sian - Stronger Together
Sales Chart No.65
Club Chart No.3
Released 20/09/97
Revival 3000 - The Mighty High
Sales Chart No.47
Club Chart No.3
Released 01/11/97
Kim English - Learn To Love
Sales Chart No.70
Club Chart No.2
Released 22/11/97
Wildchild - Renegade Master (Fatboy Slim Remix) *
Sales Chart No.3
Club Chart No.1
Released 17/01/98
Executive A&R - Manifesto Records (1998 – 2001)
(Mercury/Universal Music Group)
David Morales - Needin’ U *
Sales Chart No.8
Club Chart No.1
Released 15/08/98
Electribe 101 - Talkin’ With Myself
Sales Chart No.39
Club Chart No.5
Released 10/10/98
Yomanda - Synth & Strings
Sales Chart No.8
Club Chart No.1
Released 24/07/99
York - The Awakening
Sales Chart No.11
Club Chart No.1
Released 09/10/99
Taste Xperience - Summersault
Sales Chart No.66
Club Chart No.7
Released 06/11/99
Progress - Everybody
Sales Chart No.7
Club Chart No.2
Released 18/12/99
Yomanda - Sunshine
Sales Chart No.16
Club Chart No.3
Released 11/03/00
Rank 1 - Airwave
Sales Chart No.10
Club Chart No.1
Released 15/04/00
York - On The Beach *
Sales Chart No.4
Club Chart No.1
Released 10/06/00
Junkie XL - Zerotonine
Sales Chart No.63
Club Chart No.3
Released 22/07/00
Yomanda - On The Level
Sales Chart No.28
Club Chart No.5
Released 02/09/00
Junior Sanchez - Be With You
Sales Chart No.31
Club Chart No.3
Released 16/10/00
York - Farewell To The Moon
Sales Chart No.37
Club Chart No.8
Released 18/11/00
David Morales - Needin’ U II
Sales Chart No.10
Club Chart No.1
Released 20/01/01
Plaything - Into Space
Sales Chart No.48
Club Chart No.5
Released 05/05/01
Da Hool - Love Parade 2001
Sales Chart No.11
Club Chart No.1
Released 04/08/01
The Program - Love & Affection
Sales Chart No.22
Club Chart No.3
Released 19/01/02
Senior Executive A&R - Positiva Records (2001 – 2006)
(EMI / Capitol Records)
Ferry Corsten - Punk
Sales Chart No.29
Club Chart No.1
Released 08/06/02
Room 5 - Make Luv *
Sales Chart No.1
Club Chart No.1
Released 05/04/03
Kid Crème - Hypnotising
Sales Chart No.31
Club Chart No.5
Released 10/05/03
Bhangra Knights vs Husan - Husan
Sales Chart No.7
Club Chart No.3
Released 17/05/03
Harry’s Afro Hut - C’mon Lady
Promo Only
Club Chart No.10
Released 18/10/03
Room 5 - Music & You
Sales Chart No.38
Club Chart No.5
Released 06/12/03
Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes
Sales Chart No.10
Club Chart No.1
Released 17/01/04
Jungle Bros Vs Mr On - Breathe & Stop
Sales Chart No.21
Club Chart No.5
Released 07/02/04
Ferry Corsten - Rock Your Body
Sales Chart No.11
Club Chart No.2
Released 21/02/04
Ferry Corsten - It’s Time
Sales Chart No.51
Club Chart No.4
Released 10/07/04
Scent - Up & Down
Sales Chart No.23
Club Chart No.3
Released 21/08/04
Brad Carter - Morning Always Comes Too Soon
Sales Chart No.48
Club Chart No.2
Released 23/10/04
Red Carpet - Alright
Sales Chart No.58
Club Chart No.2
Released 11/12/04
Lovefreekz - Shine
Sales Chart No.6
Club Chart No.1
Released 05/02/05
Reflekt Featuring Delline Bass - Need To Feel Loved
Sales Chart No.14
Club Chart No.2
Released 05/03/05
* BPI Silver Sales Award – More Than 200,000 UK Singles
David Morales - Grammy Winning Producer & DJ
Project: David Morales - Needin' U
This profile page details a specific international recording artist and hit record that Ben Cherrill has personally developed during his A&R career between 1996 - 2006
David Morales presents The Face - Needin U & Needin' U II
(Manifesto Records UK - 1998 & 2000)
Along with his peers Frankie Knuckles, DJ Sneak and Roger Sanchez, David Morales has helped take house music to a worldwide audience through his big-room DJ sets and massive vocal productions.
Grammy award winning writer/producer/DJ David Morales has most definitely had an illustrious career over the past 30 years, but his most successful recording hit under his own artist name was the song 'Needin U', with its classic disco samples from Rare Pleasure and The Chi-Lites, which reached the UK Top 10 in August 1998.
This song also reached NO.1 in the UK club chart that year and had one of the highest played promotional video's of the year.
In 2000, David decided to write a top line for 'Needin' U' and enlisted the help of UK soul sensation Juliet Roberts, who delivered a truly classic yet commercial vocal performance, which helped propel the re-released version back into the UK Top 10 sales chart for the second time and also a further NO.1 position in the UK Club Charts.
Ben Cherrill was also responsible for editing the 'Radio Version' of this new mix which achieved substantial radio airplay in the UK and several international territories including the USA.
As a co-owner of Def Mix Productions in New York, David Morales remains a hugely influential figure in the global dance music industry.
You can watch both music videos by clicking the links below:
David Morales - Needin' U (1998)
David Morales - Needin' U II (2000)
Vito Lucente AKA Room 5
Project: Room 5 - Make Luv
This page details a specific recording artist that Ben Cherrill has personally sourced, signed and developed during his A&R career between 1996 - 2006
Room 5 feat. Oliver Cheatham - Make Luv
(Positiva Records UK - 2003)
Writer/producer/DJ Vito Lucente aka Junior Jack / Room 5 has had a prolific career in dance music over the past 20 years, but his most successful hit record was the song 'Make Luv' under his Room 5 moniker, which reached NO.1 in the UK National Chart in April 2003, where it stayed for 4 consecutive weeks.
This major hit song also reached NO.1 in the UK Radio and TV Airplay Charts for several weeks beating off major recording artists such as Coldplay, Blur, Madonna and Westlife. This song went on to sell nearly 400,000 physical copies in the UK alone, in a ‘pre-download’ market place.
'Make Luv' was also NO.1 in the UK club charts and subsequently went onto become one of the highest played songs on UK radio and one of the most played music video's of that year.
The huge mainstream success of this record was due to a cleverly planned promotional strategy and also because the record was synchronized into the now legendary Lynx/Pulse TV Ad campaign via the leading UK creative agency BBH.
In 2003 this was a truly outstanding result for a ‘commercial dance record’ and the campaign was recognized throughout the international music & media industry. It was an extremely well executed campaign, and Ben was duly awarded the ‘Best Music Exploitation’ award at the prestigious Music Week Awards ceremony in London in 2004.
Ben showed extraordinary ability and vision for signing the Room 5 ‘Make Luv’ music project in 2001 (18 months prior to it's commercial release) and it was also his first A&R signing for Positiva Records.
You can watch the Lynx/Pulse TV Ad by clicking the link:
Room 5 - Make Luv / Lynx Pulse TV Ad (2003)
Project: Ben Cherrill - The Albums
The following artist albums, international compilation brands and film soundtracks listed below were ALL signed, developed and promoted for UK and Worldwide release by Ben Cherrill, during his time spent as an Executive A&R for leading major and independent record companies in the UK between 1996 and 2010.
Manifesto Records UK
(Mercury/Universal)
Cafe Del Mar Volume 5
Various Artists
Executive A&R
Released 1998
Cafe Del Mar Volume 6 * BPI Silver Sales Award
Various Artists
Executive Producer & Co Compiler
Released 1999
Cafe Del Mar Volume 7 * BPI Silver Sales Award
Various Artists
Executive Producer & Co Compiler
Released 2000
Cafe Del Mar Volume 8 * BPI Silver Sales Award
Various Artists
Executive Producer & Co Compiler
Released 2001
Dave Pearce (BBC Radio 1) BPI Silver Sales Award
Dance Anthems Volume 1 *
Executive A&R / Co-Compiler
Released 1998
Dave Pearce (BBC Radio 1) BPI Silver Sales Award
Dance Anthems Volume 2 *
Executive A&R / Co-Compiler
Released 1999
Dave Pearce (BBC Radio 1) BPI Gold Sales Award
Presents Volume 1 **
Executive A&R / Co-Compiler
Released 2000
Junkie XL
Big Sounds Of The Drags
Executive A&R
Released 2000
Positiva Records UK
(EMI/Capitol)
Ferry Corsten
Right Of Way
Executive A&R
Released 2003
It’s All Gone Pete Tong
Original Soundtrack Recording
Executive Producer / Exclusive Compiler / Recording Artist
Released 2005
Room 5 (Junior Jack)
Music & You
Executive A&R
Released 2005
Ferry Corsten
L.E.F
Executive A&R
Released 2006
Global Underground UK
(Ministry Of Sound)
James Lavelle - Bangkok
Various Artists
Executive A&R
Released 2009
Plump DJs - GUDJ - Volume 2
Various Artists
Executive A&R
Released 2009
Nubreed - Sultan (Canada)
Various Artists
Executive A&R
Released 2009
Carl Cox - Black Rock Desert
Various Artists
Executive A&R
Released 2010
* BPI Silver Sales Award – More Than 60,000 UK Albums
** BPI Gold Sales Award –More Than 100,000 UK Albums