Hello, is it me you're looking for? *** 

"Matt the Music Man", aka Matthew White, is a freelance writer, editor, proofreader and researcher whose credits include Guinness World Records (2008-13), the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums (editions 16-19), British Hit Singles & Albums Interactive (2005-06), Virgin Hit Singles (2008 & 2010), Hit Albums (2009) & Top 40 Charts (2009), the Official Ultimate 80s Pop Quiz (2009), Carlton Hit Singles (2007 & 2010), Rock Atlas (2011) and successful projects for the likes of EMI, Sony, the Official Charts Company, the British Music Experience exhibition at London's O2 Arena and Broadchart. Matthew is currently the Music Consultant for Guinness World Records.

 Matt the Music Man

After leaving full-time education at the age of 18, Matthew trained as an NCTJ-accredited journalist at Harlow College (1995-96), which quickly led to a job as a roving reporter and a highly unskilled photographer on a local rag called the Cambridge Town Crier. After four years of late nights, busy weekends and extremely low pay, and a further two years as a pop idle, Matthew made a bold, life-changing decision. It was time to head to the City with his beloved hand-written charts in hand - and a head bursting with Chris De Burgh melodies - to seek employment in the music industry. Fortunately, this tale had a happy ending when British Hit Singles & Albums, suitably impressed by those aforementioned charts, came calling.

Today, after growing tired of life as a heavily perspiring commuter and the general argy bargy of London, Matthew happily works as a home-based freelancer. Home, in this particular case, is the sleepy Suffolk town of Bury St. Edmunds (or "the new Seattle", as John Peel once put it), famous for Kate Jackson, lead singer of the now defunct Long Blondes, Bob Hoskins, a very ruined abbey, a pungent sugar beet factory and not much else.

When Matthew is not sifting through his mp3s or blasting ballads out of his car stereo, he can be found enjoying a stroll along the promenade at Felixstowe, admiring pop goddess Cheryl Cole, swatting shuttles with Horringer Badminton Club, following the fortunes of Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United, trying to learn Turkish, consuming copious amounts of chocolate and strawberries (but rarely at the same time), befriending local moggies and, more often than not, compiling random lists for absolutely no reason at all. 

Compiling a random list circa 1997

(c) Rebekah Hart Photography 

Hey, you're here now, so why not take a few minutes to peruse Matthew's website (which is very much a work in progress), have a listen to some of his favourite songs, buy a CD or two or simply submit your thoughts and comments - on anything to do with music, obviously. 

*** A shameless reference to the first single to find its way into Matthew's record collection, Lionel Richie's 'Hello'. The best ninth birthday present a boy could ever wish for.