Sean Flahaven is the founding worldwide CEO of The Musical Company, a joint venture between Concord Music, now the fifth largest music company in the world, and The Really Useful Group, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s landmark production company. TMC handles theatrical licensing, music publishing, and cast recordings for theatre writers and producers—the first time such services have been combined. He supervised Warner’s worldwide theatrical producing and licensing, print/digital sheet music, and orchestral rental. He has had the privilege of working with Stephen Sondheim for 20 years. He has been a producer on 25 albums, 9 of which were nominated for Grammy Awards, including the Grammy-winning, triple-Platinum, chart-topping smash hit, Hamilton. He has produced or managed over 100 shows, concerts, workshops, and readings for landmark institutions on and off-Broadway and was General Manager and Director of Music and Marketing for Theatrical Rights Worldwide and a music editor for Music Theatre International and the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.
Sean sat down and chatted with me about how he found his way from trombone player to CEO, as well as . . .
- How working in politics helped him start a conversation with Stephen Sondheim.
- Why he felt an MFA was important to his future career.
- What all musical theater writers, from the big stars, to the unknowns, have in common.
- The challenge behind producing cast albums and what can be done about it.
- Why getting your show licensed is essential and tips on how to make it happen.
Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway