UK Music Industry Titans ,Marc Marot & Jeremy Marsh to speak at #MEX26 in Cape Town

Breaking Wave Group leaders bring decades of experience behind U2, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Annie Lennox, The Cranberries, Take That and more to Music Exchange

Cape Town, South Africa Two of the UK music industry’s most experienced executives, Marc Marot and Jeremy Marsh of Breaking Wave Group (BWG), will bring decades of international record-label, artist-management and creative-business experience to Music Exchange #MEX26, taking place at the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Cape Town on Saturday, 31 October 2026.

Between them, Marot and Marsh have worked at the highest levels of the international music business and contributed to the careers of artists including U2, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Annie Lennox, Take That, The Cranberries, PJ Harvey, Neneh Cherry, Soul II Soul, Richard Ashcroft and Yusuf/Cat Stevens.

Their participation speaks directly to what Music Exchange has stood for over its 16 years: putting people with genuine industry experience in the room with South African artists, managers, songwriters, producers, entrepreneurs and students.

Marot and Marsh are part of Breaking Wave Group, a new UK music company created as a boutique alternative to the traditional major-label model.

BWG describes its approach as bringing creative legacy and commercial expertise together while giving artists and music rights the individual attention that can become difficult within companies managing enormous global rosters.

DECADES AT THE TOP OF THE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC BUSINESS

Jeremy Marsh, Chief Operating Officer of Breaking Wave Group, has held senior leadership positions including Managing Director and President at companies such as Virgin, RCA, BMG and Warner Music Group.

He was involved in teams that launched and developed the careers of artists including Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Soul II Soul, Maxi Priest, Take That, Annie Lennox, M People and Neneh Cherry.

Marsh spent the last 15 years of his major-label career at Warner, where his positions included Vice Chairman, EVP International and Global Chief Marketing Officer.

Marc Marot, Chief Creative Officer of Breaking Wave Group, brings an equally formidable creative track record.

Marot oversaw U2’s career for 18 years, and during his tenure as Managing Director of Island Records, the label signed artists including Tricky, Pulp, PJ Harvey, The Cranberries, Nine Inch Nails and N.W.A.

After leaving Island, Marot established a management company and worked with artists including Paul Oakenfold, Richard Ashcroft, Lemon Jelly and Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens). As Chairman of Crown Talent, he also played a role in the management of Jessie J, Ella Henderson and Becky Hill.

At MEX26, the two executives will share their experience around a subject at the heart of today's rapidly changing music economy:

“REIMAGINING THE RECORD LABEL: FROM LEGACY CUSTODIAN TO IP POWERHOUSE IN THE AGE OF AI”

The discussion will examine how the role of a record company is changing, how intellectual property can be developed and protected, and what artificial intelligence and new technology mean for artists, rights holders and music businesses.

For Music Exchange founder and convener Martin Myers, securing executives of this calibre is central to MEX's outcomes-based philosophy.

“When you have people like Marc Marot and Jeremy Marsh participating in Music Exchange, you are accessing decades of knowledge from inside the international music business. Look at the artists and careers they have worked with. These are people who have actually done the work at the highest level. MEX is about access to knowledge, and I want delegates to come into the room with questions and use that opportunity.”

Myers added:

“For 16 years we have said that Music Exchange must deliver outcomes. Inspiration is wonderful, but delegates also need knowledge, contacts and information they can put to work the following morning. Marc and Jeremy understand where the music business has been, but importantly, they are also building for where it is going.”

A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE AT MEX26

The Breaking Wave Group session forms part of a MEX26 programme bringing together South African and international expertise from organisations including SAMRO, Gallo Music, Breaking Wave Group, Kopton Music, Content Connect Africa and the Academy of Sound Engineering.

SAMRO CEO Annabell Lebethe will deliver the keynote address, The Future of the Entertainment Economy, while other speakers will explore royalties, publishing, sync, streaming, sampling, artist branding, AI, leadership, collaboration and the business opportunities emerging from a changing entertainment economy.

MEX26 takes place under the theme:

“Navigating Today’s Entertainment Economy: Strategies, Skills and Opportunities for Success.”

The conference is hosted by DJ Eazy and forms part of the wider FAME Week Africa programme.

EVENT DETAILS

Music Exchange #MEX26
Saturday, 31 October 2026
Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Cape Town
Host: DJ Eazy
Tickets: R150 via Quicket

A MEX26 ticket also provides access to FAME Week Africa activities from Wednesday through Saturday, creating four days of learning, networking and industry engagement.

Come with questions. Leave with knowledge, contacts and opportunities.