Tuned On - Panel Discussion "Breaking Out" @ Elevator Bar Liverpool
On Thursday 24th
October, a panel of four music industry leaders disseminated their knowledge to
a crowd of artists, A&R and people wanting to progress in the industry. Yaw Owusu was the host. The panel comprised:
- Ray Paul - The
Playmaker group
- Chris Bye (Arts Council)
- KOF (Artist,
singer songwriter and producer)
- Marcus Bronzy -
National DJ (Capital Xtra)
- DJ Twokind - with over 20 years’ experience (seven
waves)
Chris Bye extolled the virtues of the local scene, stating
that the North West was the home to the best music scene in the country. He
explained that the worst thing that you can do as an artist is think that you
have to go to London to attain success. He recommended-
1.
Being business smart.
2.
Do not overlook DIY promotion
and management of you as a band or solo artist.
3.
Remember -It is all about
presentation of your story - have the following available as a priority:
- a good radio edit of your music
- Press pack
KOF encouraged "Get your face seen; get your name
heard in your city and then move on to the next city." He is living proof that
artists and producers do not need to live in London to be heard in London.
DJ Twokind encouraged artists to "Keep pushing" - make local
DJ's aware of your product and artistry, create a network of DJ's.
Ray Paul stated quite succinctly - "Your local
relationship can have a national impact".
Marcus Bronzy and DJ Twokind gave artists tips on how to approach
DJ's when requesting airplay:
- Make sure that you have a clean edit of your track (s)
- Have high bit wav quality music
- Use mediums such as "We transfer" to get your music to the recipient.
Live Music
The panel discussed the importance
of breaking into the live music scene. All too often, mixtapes are received by
artists who can deliver in the studio but not in a live session.
Marcus Bronzy said that you need to be 360 degrees capable. Ed
Sheeran was a good example as he played numerous festivals before perfecting
and focusing on his recorded output. The consensus of the panel is that you
cannot underestimate the importance of the live arena.
Chris Bye gave the audience an insight into his background - hip hop,
electro and DIY label management. He explained how the Art council works and
that funding comes from two sources: Lottery cash and government cash. Artists
can apply for funding as there are grants for the arts. For more information,
visit the Arts Council website or
Twitter page.
Bido Lito has held group sessions at
Camp & Furnace guiding people on the grant application process.
Signing
Many artists and bands put a lot of energy into being signed by
a major label. Instead of making this a priority, focus on your fan base, play
locally to showcase your talent. Get airplay on local radio stations, and then
replicate with neighbouring stations.
Good Online presence
Facebook likes & Twitter followers are important.
A good YouTube channel is vital but
Ray warned about putting everything on it. Withhold some content from your
audience. Have a good Soundcloud profile.
Investment
Promoters like cheap bands - Ray
explained how he toured Scrufizzer with Kendrick Lamar for next to nothing.
This paid dividends for Scrufizzer further down the line. Artists should think
about long term goals.
Festivals to consider:
A Liverpool singer songwriter; Katy Alex bought the night to an end with a stunning 3 song set which included a mash-up of
Alicia Keys' "No-one , Jessie J's "Price tag", Miley Cyrus
"We can't stop" and Nikki Minaj "SuperBass".
 |
| Katy Alex during her set |
The evening was rich with tips and advice
and gave the audience the opportunity to ask questions from credible industry leaders. It was well subscribed and was a useful resource
for those embarking on their music industry journey. It was worth a visit.
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