Sean has well over 30 years experience in the music industry in the UK and New Zealand. Driven by a passion for music he worked his way up into a senior role with HMV’s music retail chain in the UK before transferring to New Zealand in 1990 to run its New Zealand arm. In 1994 Sean got the opportunity to buy out HMV’s New Zealand stores marking the start of Sounds Music, which he subsequently built up to be New Zealand’s largest independent music retail chain. By 2006, when he sold the business to Blockbuster, Sounds Music had a nationwide network of 55 stores holding approximately 40% of the New Zealand retail music market. Through Sounds Music, Sean developed strong relationships with all of the record labels and many artists.
Sean acquired Pacific Entertainment in 2004 to capitalise on the growth occurring in the live entertainment sector and with the view to touring some of the top 40 artists whose music was being sold through the Sounds Music stores. By 2006 the impact of digital download technology on the music retailing business was evident, which was a factor in his decision to sell Sounds and shift his focus entirely to live concert promotion. Pacific now benefits from his strong business skills, industry contacts, and undying love of the arts.