About Tony Clayman

In the early 1970s it suddenly occurred to me that I was not going to become a famous rock drummer. This revelation coincided with me deciding to work on the other side of the fence.

I have been in the entertainment business since 1978. I started off at Dick James Music as a rock band booker and then joined Derek Block Concert Promotions in 1979 where I became a concert promoter.

I ran my own promotions company from 1980 before forming a freelance association with Barry Clayman at MAM in 1985. When MAM was bought by Chrysalis, Barry Clayman acquired the promotional division and formed Barry Clayman Concerts in partnership with Apollo Leisure. BCC and Apollo Leisure were bought out in recent years by SFX and then Clear Channel and it has now been rebranded as LiveNation.

While working as a consultant with Barry Clayman Concerts and Apollo Leisure, the company became a major producer of quality shows in all spheres of entertainment. It crossed the barriers between rock and roll (Michael Jackson, Prince, Neil Diamond), theatre (Grand Hotel, Aspects of Love, Barnum, 42nd Street), concerts (Michael Crawford, Shirley Bassey, Michael Ball, Nigel Kennedy) and dance (Riverdance, The Kirov Ballet, Moscow City Ballet).

My role was spearheading a light entertainment division created for artist promotion, management and agent representation. This involved both working with established artists and nurturing new talent (Jim Davidson, Joe Longthorne, Lulu, Elkie Brooks, Michael Barrymore, Jackie Mason, Leo Sayer, Tommy Steele, Julian Lloyd Webber, Ute Lemper, Aled Jones, Bernie Nolan, Cheryl Baker, Bradley Walsh)

My association with Barry Clayman lasted until 2002 when I left and formed my own company, Tony Clayman Promotions Ltd. My company specialises in management, agency and concert promotions. I also conduct negotiations with television, record and radio companies on behalf of my artists.