Music journalism

I have written for magazines including Making Music, Melody Maker and Future Music and I have a particular interest in music technology.

University of Death: A hilarious satire of the music industry

It took Jonathan ten years to create the perfect song. Clive Bigg is the only man who can bring it to the world, but his record label has built defences to keep fresh ideas out. Can Jonathan break in and convince Bigg to gamble on his track? The future of the music industry is at stake.

'University of Death' by Sean McManus is only available through Lulu.com. Your copy will be professionally printed and despatched to you when you place your order. The book is 380 pages in 6x9" Royal format and priced at £9.99. You can pay by credit card or Paypal using a secure server.

• University of Death homepage
• Order the book at Lulu.com
• Read the first two chapters for free now

Music journalism careers

Want to be a music journalist? I've written an ebook with advice on breaking in to journalism, inspired by 64 of the most frequently asked questions I've had from site visitors over the last five years. The ebook is called 'Journalism Careers - Your questions answered' and is supported by an extensive website at JournalismCareers.com.

On this site you can read two excerpts from the ebook, 'How can I get into music journalism?' and 'Which comes first, pitching an idea for an interview to a magazine or seeing if the artist will give you the interview?'.

Read the careers advice for budding music journalists.

Free MP3 downloads and music websites

I've created a new links page of Music websites and free MP3 downloads, including links to some of my favourite artists and some sources of free (legal) downloads.

Prince

During summer 2007, Prince set up a residency at London's former Millennium Dome and played 21 dates. I was there for six of them. Read my review of Prince's O2 gigs, and my analysis of Prince's decision to give away his album 'Planet Earth' with a Sunday newspaper.

Live Earth: the view from the pitch at Wembley

The concerts for a climate in crisis took place 7/7/7. I was on the pitch at the new Wembley Stadium to see Genesis, Foo Fighters, Madonna, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Razorlight, Paolo Nuttini, Beastie Boys, Metallica, Spinal Tap, Duran Duran and many more. Read my review of Live Earth.

Jean-Michel Jarre

In March 2007, I travelled to Lint in Belgium to be at Jean-Michel Jarre's showcase for his new album 'Teo & Tea'. It's like Chronologie and Metamorphoses cross-bred with dance music, and the intimate club-style gig was a day to remember. It was followed by a Q&A session and a fan meet and greet. My report includes many exclusive photos from the day.

Playing music on the Nintendo DS

If you've got Nintendo's DS handheld games console, read my blog posts about Electroplankton and Jam Sessions.

100 bands I've seen live

I started by compiling a list of 100 bands I've seen live and the list keeps growing. If you compile your own list, let me know and I'll link to it.

Kylie Minogue at the V&A

Kylie's so famous even her pants can go on tour. The V&A Museum hosted an exhibition of her wardrobe in 2007. Here's my review of Kylie at the V&A, together with some stock photos from the show.

77 Million Paintings by Brian Eno

Brian Eno's latest project is a DVD-based software package that layers and combines hand-made slides to generate 77 Million Paintings. Accompanied by a generative music soundtrack, the package creates ambient art that is unique each time it is run.

Read the full review of '77 Million Paintings' by Brian Eno.

Erasure pioneers customised MP3 sales

Sean McManus reports on a new technology that enables you to mix a version of chart hit 'Don't Say You Love Me' and then download your preferred mix as an MP3.

The website won't sell the same mix twice, which means every version of the single is a limited edition of one. Read more about Erasure's technology for mass customising MP3s.

Ripping vinyl

Read about a proven and quick way to get vinyl recorded into your PC with the minimum of fuss and hassle using free software that comes with Windows.

Mike Oldfield

In 2004, Mike Oldfield released a new cooperative computer game he'd designed. The puzzles are fiendishly difficult but if you can crack them, the prize is access to some exclusive music. Throughout the game, there is theme music composed by Mike that fades in and out as you approach different zones. I took a flight through Maestro with Mike Oldfield.

ExileInside and My Life Story

Now on to their second album, ExileInside is the new band from Jake Shillingford, who fronted My Life Story. I've followed both bands for years: Read the ExileInside interview here and then dip into the archive for my first My Life Story interview, in which Jake explains how My Life Story came together and how debut album Mornington Crescent was recorded. In 1999, I interviewed him about My Life Story's free e-single, one of the first digital record releases to use secure digital rights management.

Inspiral Carpets

This Inspiral Carpets mini-site collects together several interviews, gig reviews and exclusive photographs. There's an interview with Tom from 1993, an interview with Tom and Martyn from 2003 and articles about Tom and Clint's solo projects between the Inspirals and the 2003 reunion.

Colin Vearncombe / Black

Read about the origins of worldwide hit 'Wonderful Life' and how it has influenced Colin Vearncombe's songwriting in this 1993 Black interview conducted when Colin was on tour in Germany.

In my 2000 interview with Colin, I ask him about the album 'Abbey Road Live' that saw this song among others re-recorded acoustically. Read my review of Black's 2007 tour with The Christians on my blog.

They Might be Giants

"If we wanted to be quirky," the two Johns begin, "we'd be a lot more quirky." Known primarily for 'Birdhouse in your Soul', the band discusses the sincerity of their songwriting in this They Might Be Giants interview

Music bargains at Amazon.co.uk

Archive reviews

Here's a selection of short gig reviews I wrote for Making Music magazine

• Fosca - Orlando's Dickon Edwards' next band
• Radiohead - from the day second album 'The Bends' was issued
• Whale- including photographs
• Rarebreed - Sheffield's latest export
• Jesus Jones - Coming back
• Frazier Chorus - A rare live show
• Clint Boon Experience / The Lovers - at my Inspirals mini-site

Radio Sean.co.uk

Tune in to Radio Sean.co.uk, where you can hear a hand-picked selection of new music from all over the world and all over the web. The playlist includes many of the acts you can read about here, as well as others I've come across online. Links are provided so if you like what you hear, you can visit the band's website for your iPod fodder.

You'll need to have the free Macromedia Flash Player installed.

Promoting your music online

I wrote a regular column for Making Music about music technology and promoting your music on the internet. I've archived some of those columns in the section of my site formerly known as the 'virtual a&r list'. Click here for the music technology articles and advice on promoting your music online.

Rock and Pop concert photography

I'm interested in concert photography and have a selection of concert photos in my gallery. While many of them are exclusive to this website, some have appeared with my reviews in Making Music.

Bands featured include My Life Story, Kenickie, Radiohead, T'Pau, Babybird, Noel Gallagher, Whale and Right Said Fred.