EXCLUSIVE: Samantha Lawrence and Jane Atkinson have joined forces to launch Media MDs. The duo are well-known figures from the UK business and stated their new company will power-up indies that need to take their enterprise to the following stage. The pair convey years of high-level expertise to proceedings. Their new enterprise will work with small and medium-sized labels.
They’ll share their mixed smarts with indie purchasers, providing operational, monetary and inventive steering. Lawrence and Atkinson instructed Deadline they are going to plug into companies and particular providers will embody diversification planning, scouting funding alternatives and exploring completely different funding fashions.
Lawrence stated there’s a actual demand from the indie marketplace for the form of strategic experience the Media MDs can present small and mid-sized independents, which regularly have standout inventive and the potential to scale, however don’t essentially have the real-world expertise of getting accomplished so.
The duo promised their providers can be “efficient and reasonably priced” at a second when many indies are feeling the pinch. The UK sector faces quite a few challenges together with key commissioners easing again on program orders, and elevated prices. The UK sector stays, nonetheless, chock filled with expertise. Indie producer affiliation Pact claims 700 members.
Lawrence co-founded the brand new firm after a stint as Managing Director of Field To Field Movies throughout which she helped steer the Components 1: Drive To Survive prodco by a progress interval after which on to securing funding from personal fairness outfit Bruin. Previous to that she was MD of Common Worldwide Studios UK label Monkey, which makes actuality hit Made in Chelsea.
“With competitors out there at an all-time excessive, to outlive is to thrive, however with out deep pockets or a serious backer, indies usually haven’t any possibility however to prioritize creativity and supply over long-term progress,” Lawrence stated. “Setting out, Jane and I needed to lend our particular person expertise and skillsets to these with out C-suite budgets and roles.”
Atkinson, in the meantime, left Fremantle earlier this yr to co-found Media MDs. Throughout her time on the manufacturing and distribution large she served in varied roles together with Director of International Manufacturing, Leisure, which noticed her supporting the worldwide groups to ship exhibits together with Received Expertise in quite a few territories.
She stated stated the thought is to help new generations of indie prodcos: “We’re dedicated to disrupting the market standing to successfully help, nurture and lift the voices of the following era of distinctive and numerous indies. Our abilities will assist information companions towards natural, sustained success, and Media MDs will develop into a model corporations will have the ability to depend on to ship a variety of enterprise providers.”
