Sean Watson

Managing Director, Sony Music Entertainment Africa

Sean has over thirty years in the music industry. He’s previously worked with Roots Records, headed EMI Music SA and Clive Calder Productions (CCP). With Chicco Twala he worked on Brenda Fassie's historical "Memeza" which remains a best-seller in SA; headed South African Music Awards (the SAMAs) as CEO before joining SME Africa in 2010 where he successfully ran the FiFA World Cup music project for SME Africa and worked with the Sony World Cup project team in New York on “Waka Waka” by Shakira and Freshlyground, the best performing anthem in the history of the event. As a firm believer in the potential of Africa; he’s since opened new offices for Sony in Lagos in 2014 and signed up to Sony’s roster African artists such as Davido and Wizkid from Nigeria, Redsan from Kenya, and Alikiba and Rose Muhando from Tanzania. He’s the chairman of the Board of RISA, sits on SAMPRA board as well as SAMPRA Development Fund that supports growth, development and security of SA music industry. He’s also a member of IFPI’s SSA regional Exco and member of the board of the Recording Industry of Kenya.