So… I’ve dropped a day per week from my day job to focus on this stuff; Indie Music Matters, Indie Music Marketing, Humans & Other Animals, Your City Festival and the North Staffs Music Network.
Below is just a recap of the projects I’m involved in really - Feel free to reply if you’re inspired to let me know what you’re up to for the foreseeable!
Indie Music Matters is my not-for-profit CIC that aims to bring funded music projects and individual funding opportunities to bands and artists in Stoke, Staffordshire and the West Midlands - The Bootstrapping Bands project is the current focus. The funded recording part of the project is underway and I’m making headway with the panel sessions. Hoping to have more information in the next couple of weeks on those but the details for your diary are Monday evenings from 7-10 pm at the Pilgrims Pit in Hanley for six consecutive weeks from Monday 2nd March.
Panel sessions will include:
1) Make Better Music – ‘How to write better songs’
2) Make Better Music – ‘Making music that people want to hear’
3) Earn a Loyal Fan Base
4) Become a Viable Touring Act (Actually make money from touring!)
5) Artist Income Streams
6) Self-Releasing Masterclass
Registration will open soon and capacity will be limited so make sure you’re quick!
Indie Music Marketing is a marketing service for independent musicians. I’ve struggled to nail down exactly what the service is since setting it up in May 2018 but since then I’ve worked with artists on release strategy, digital marketing and social media, mentoring and coaching, project management, playlist pitching… and right now I’m trying out D2F (direct-to-fan) digital marketing with a couple of artists.
Humans & Other Animals was the name I wanted to call my band many years ago but our producer wouldn’t let us as it was too “alternative” and wouldn’t help us get on the radio! Nowadays, I’m using the name for everything I’m doing on the music management/label services side.
Your City Festival is Stoke’s answer to Sound City, Focus Wales and The Great Escape. It’s a privilege and an honour to have been offered a role helping to organise such an awesome local music event.
North Staffs Music Network - Last on the list but still a big part of what we’re trying to achieve. Networking and relationships are crucial to developing the local music scene and helping improve things for local artists.
Feedback from my wife... "Is that it? No ending?"
Maybe next week I'll add a better sign off! ;)