Ean Thorley
From MTV to Mega Events! A 30-Year Journey in Entertainment.
Supported by Warehouse Four - Dubai's best independent event venue.
In this episode, Ean Thorley, founder of Whatever Live, talks to EventNewsDXB host, Ian Carless, about his journey from MTV intern to Executive Producer of some of the world’s biggest music award shows. From launching MTV Asia, Hong Kong and China to producing groundbreaking events like the Chinese Music Awards, Ean reflects on over 30 years in the industry.
Through highly entertaining anecdotes, Ean recounts the highs and lows of large-scale television event production, including handling crises like fires during Dubai’s New Year’s Eve fireworks and Snoop Dogg’s unconventional requests at the MTV Music awards. The conversation also delves into MTV’s shift from music videos to reality TV and its cultural influence, including projects like Dubai Bling.
Looking to the future, Ean discusses the Middle Eastern event scene, with Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi all competing for global recognition. And he highlights the need to balance local talent with international expertise while adapting to the industry’s evolving financial landscape.
Podcast Rundown
• Ean discusses his early career at MTV.
• Insights into producing large-scale events and shows.
• Crisis management lessons from past experiences.
• Importance of fostering local talent in Dubai's entertainment scene.
• Challenges of client budgets and managing expectations.
• Future of events in the competitive Middle Eastern market.
• The significance of personal connections through events.
Production Credits:
Presented by: Ian Carless
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producers: Ian Carless & Joe Morrison
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio