Music Network Meeting Minutes

28th May 2009

Those present:

Andy Derrick – Web Music Solutions http://www.webmusicsolutions.com/
Vince O’Malley – Musical Exchanges / Guitar Tech www.musicalexchanges.com
Colin Tippin – IFA / Musical Exchanges www.musicalexchanges.com
Jamie – Sound engineering student at TIC releasing original electronic music
Josh – Manage and play Holy Moments – punk/hardcore band from Birmingham.
Andrew Bland – re-entering the music scene in Birmingham
Clare Edwards – working on number of music projects around the country and locally – including the Hockley Flyover Show with Soweto Kinch
Simon Howes – freelance sound engineer for tv, live sound etc. www.audioguy.co.uk
Abigail Seabrook – singer and community musician and lurker
Angela – Open mic nights for original
Pete Baker – songwriter/musician

Birmingham Music Network is an unfunded network and information point for anyone working in music in Birmingham and beyond.  The room used at the TIC is kindly donated by Dave Taylor and his staff who run Creative Networks on the last Thursday of each month at the TIC, Birmingham City University, Millennium Point.  The refreshments for the meeting have previously been supported by the Musicians’ Union.  From now on, the £45 cost is being supported by local music businesses and musicians in return for advertising and exposure during the meeting and via the website.  This months sponsor is Web Music Solutions, www.webmusicsolutions.co.uk If you are interested in supporting the Birmingham Music Network in the coming months, please get in touch via the website www.birminghammusicnetwork.com

Andy Derrick – Andy launched his new company Web Music Solutions which provides fixed price affordable and accessible websites for musicians.  www.webmusicsolutions.co.uk is the place to go for more information.  He also reminded those present about his music industry advice blog www.andyderrick.co.uk and his other site www.sessionhornsdirect.com which provides brass, string, percussion and music scoring/preparation services for live music projects.

Vince – Musical Exchanges is nearing launch and will feature a proper auction site for musical instruments and equipment as well as musicians wanted etc. A successful visit to the Manchester guitar show with lots of signups for website test pilots – soft launch soon, etc. They were looking for funding and found banks not liking start ups, and they are lacking finance for PR.  They have now sold parts of the site to various investors and are  looking for investors willing to support in £1k blocks – any potential investors please get in touch via email: enquiries at musicalexchanges.com

Jamie – Birmingham Music Month – as a result of twitter conversations, June should be a celebration of Birmingham music possibly including an online compilation of original artists, covers, remixes.  Anyone interested in submitting a song, cover, putting on a gig, remix etc. a branded event in June 2009 – www.brummusicmonth.wordpress.com  @brummusicmonth is the twitter id.

Angela – community based singer songwriter – looking for open mic focused on original material.  Suggestions included: The Robin – Sunday night, The Roundhouse – Cotteridge, The Tower of Sng – Cotteridge, The Old Moseley Arms – Sunday nights, Katie Fitzgeralds – Stourbridge, The Yardbird – central brum – Tuesday, The Island Bar, near to Alexandra Theatre.

Music Network : next meeting June 25th at 4pm