Musoplex, a rehearsal and recording studio based in Oldbury, is looking for opinionated creative residents of the West Midlands e.g. promoters, bands, artists and management, to have a chat on video about the state of music in the region. They have posted a few of their pilots online, filmed and edited by Musoplex Director Andy Ward.
Andy said “Musoplex as a studio and rehearsal rooms hears a lot of opinions as to the good and bad going on in music in the area. We have decided to do something about it, we are documenting views and opinions on film. If you want to offer your own opinions or comments to camera, in no more than a 10 minute interview e-mail andy@musoplex.com.”
Watch the videos for yourself, and if you have something to say, get in touch.
Last year, Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry was asked to answer 10 Questions. In 2011 The Music Network is asking Another 10 Questionsto continue the discussion. Replies by email can be sent to: info at birminghammusicnetwork.com
In recent weeks Emma Williamson (Group Overview and Scrutiny Manager) & Baseema Begum (Research & Policy Officer) at the Scrutiny Office of Birmingham City Council have been in touch. Emma & Baseema sent through several documents that ask a number of interesting questions. Rather than try to answer the questions on your behalf, The Music Network has decided to pass the questions on to you direct. The questions have no deadline for submission, the questions will be open to anyone to answer at any time. Your thoughts and opinions are welcome, at any time. We hope the discussion will continue. For more opinion, consultation and research we have collected together, read through our posts so far in the Strategy category.
If you want to submit your own “Ten Questions” or even just “One new question” please email them in. When we have enough, I’ll post them as “More Questions”. Completed submissions will be published at http://www.birminghammusicnetwork.com unless you state otherwise. Please include your Name, brief biography or information about who you are and what you do, and links to your website or blog. You will be credited as the author of the response. Views from all sides are sought so don’t be afraid to speak your mind. We may learn something. I will invite Emma, Baseema and their colleagues to read your published answers here on the website for themselves.
The following questions have been inspired by the contents of a letter to Birmingham Music Network from Councillor Philip Parkin, Chairman – Leisure, Sport and Culture, Overview and Scrutiny Committee, The Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB. (The letter was dated 29 July 2011)
The Music Network invites people with an interest or active role within Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry to answer 10 questions.
There has a been a lot of discussion around these Ten questions. The questions have no deadline for submission, the questions will be open to anyone to answer at any time. You thoughts and opinions are welcome, at any time.
For more opinion, consultation and research we have collected together, read through our posts in the Strategy category.
If you want to submit your own Ten Questions or even just One new question please email them in. When we have enough, I’ll post them as “Another Ten Questions”.
Completed submissions will be published at http://www.birminghammusicnetwork.com unless you state otherwise. Please include your Name, brief biography or information about who you are and what you do, and links to your website or blog. You will be credited as the author of the response. Views from all sides are sought so don’t be afraid to speak your mind. We may learn something.
Submission by email send to: info at birminghammusicnetwork.com – Thank You.
10 Questions for Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry:
1. In your view, what is the current state of the region’s “Independent Music Industry?”
2. What do you think are it’s immediate needs with reference to the areas that you are most familiar with?
3. As far as the region’s “Independent Music Industry” is concerned, what do you think shows the greatest potential for the next few years?
4. In recent years, there has been a range of initiatives and projects designed to support the development of music in Birmingham. Can you list 5 projects or initiatives that you think have proved beneficial to the “Independent Music Industry?”
5. Can you list any projects or initiatives that you think have proved “of little use or benefit” to the “Independent Music Industry?”
6. With regard to your answers to questions 4 and 5, do you think Birmingham should continue to pursue the idea of more initiatives and projects designed to support the development of music in Birmingham?
7. If you could make any changes to, or include any new ideas for, any “strategy for supporting the development of music in Birmingham” what would your top priorities be?
8. If you were given the task of evaluating whether a project or initiative had been successful, what would you suggest as the best indicators of success, failure, benefit or disaster for the “Independent Music Industry?”
9. As far as your knowledge or understanding of the region’s “Independent Music Industry” is concerned, what are it’s greatest strengths, and what are it’s greatest weaknesses?
10. If you could do anything to “support the development of music in Birmingham” what would you do and why would you choose to do that?
(The term “Region” as far as these questions are concerned refers to Birmingham or the geographic area Birmingham City Council works within.)
I have also quoted a number of existing articles below. Can anyone suggest any other existing articles that the group should read and consider that may have been omitted?
The Music Network is open to all on Thursday 27th May 2010 4pm til 6pm at Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7XG. The Meeting will be lead this month by Mark Badger
The Music Network organises a NETWORKING EVENT on the last Thursday of each month, for the benefit of music related businesses in the West Midlands region. If you have any involvement in music, come and talk about what you’re up to and meet some new people.These Networking events are about all things music in the region. They’re about helping you to teach yourself how to do it, by yourself, for yourself and encourages you to share the knowledge with others so they can do the same. If you are a musician, a student, someone who works with musicians, represents musicians, has involvement with the music industry, or are looking to make new contacts…..the meeting will be useful.
If you have news to report, a presentation to give, an event to promote, any new points for discussion, a pitch to make, business cards or flyers to hand round, an appeal for help, advice or guidance or even if you just want the free tea and biscuits and some serious discussion…you are invited.
You can also post in by email any news or gig dates or press release information for inclusion on the website and for distribution through the mailing list and RSS feed. More details on the website.
There will be luxury chocolate biscuits and good coffee for all. There’s food and drink afterwards supplied by the creative networks too. Please pass this invite on to Musicians you know or anyone else who you think may benefit.
Mark runs Iron Man Records, based in Birmingham England. The record label has been running since 1996 and in 2000 he set up Birmingham Music Network which is also known as just The Music Network.
Mark has organised more than 1000 gigs in and around Birmingham since 1994 using many different identities but most of them used the name Badger Promotions until 2002.
Mark plays in a band called Last Under The Sun and another called Police Bastard. He works as a tour manager and driver helping bands out on the live circuit and when he finds time he writes and maintains several music related blogs. Mark has assembled simple online strategies for established bands, like the The Orb, and countless other new bands who have asked for help.
Mark has done some lecturing at Birmingham City University as part of their Music Business degree course, and bits and pieces for the Musicians Union, Birmingham City Council, Learning and Skills Council and Advantage West Midlands.
Mark also operates a shop on ebay selling all sorts of good alternative music on cd or vinyl.
Midlands Calling?…the new opps and apps for audio broadcast Speaker – Robin Valk www.radiotogo.co.uk
Robin Valk is a broadcast and software consultant whose career started in the 60s at the very first Student radio station in the UK. In the 70s he worked in US Rock Radio before becoming the first DJ hired at BRMB, and in the 90s at BBC Radio 2 at Pebble Mill.
When not consulting in the UK and Europe, teaching, podcasting or blogging, Robin works on radio and music projects. He is currently working on a documentary project about the music and musicians of Handsworth, Birmingham, as well as leading a pilot project for the British Library. He is one of the most experienced Selector music programming software operators in Europe and has a ten year association with RCS New York as help author for their flagship products.
A Panel Discussion will follow Robin’s keynote presentation. We’ll be looking at the status of Radio today, where the talent that’s needed is to be found and how the digital age affects production yet offers new opportunities. We’ll examine the expanded horizons for audio broadcast platforms and how to capitalise on the perfect synergy of local music with local radio.
To join us for this FREE event, please call Dave Taylor on 0121 331 5400. Alternatively, register online at www.creativenetworksonline.com
Mark Badger (Iron Man Records / The Music Network), Keisha Thompson (M.M.I), Simon Howes (Sound Engineer), Hannah Smith (‘iamRuby’ Singer Songwriter), Darren Roberts (University of Birmingham), Kieran Williams (ATM), Gary Seeney (Birmingham Yamaha School of Music / Melting Ice Artist Management), Marc Malone (ATM Malone Productions), Richard Mitton (Mitton Audio Live Engineer / producer), Michael Wood(Songwriter performer Composer), Jenny Tate (Violet Sky Management Ltd), Andy Roberts (Blue Whale Studios), Sebastion Tulinski (Decibel Studio), Steve Beddington (Gotseen.com), Kieran Graham (Gotseen.com), Clare Edwards (Soweto Kinch productions), Nicola Toms OxjamBrum, Rose Brown Upbeat PR, Mark Winters (BCC / Songwriter / Performer), Adrian Kimberlin (Exit Recording), Saurabh Thomas (BCI Student), Alice Martinez (Academy of Gospel Music),Itehl Campbell (Accuprint / Promo), Thomas Richardson, GuillameRousere, Spence Cater (Focuspoint photography.co.uk), Ed King (edkingfreelance@yahoo.co.uk)
apologies: Dusky Edwards, Anthony Hughes, Andy Derrick,
Steve Beddington: Gotseen.com Music Website, similar to myspace, artist’s do what they like Gotseen.com offers live streaming of gigs across the net. At The moment they have permission to use the 02Academy Recent good reviews in Music Week and Guardian 6 months old so far. Contact: steve at gotseen.com
Michael: A songwriter, interested in working to promote a christmas song Looking for a music producer and someone who knows what to do with a christmas song suggestions: Barry Tomes? Gotham Records? discussion followed.
Rich: A sound engineer, interested in looking for work providing technical support he can offer production management, front of house engineer, looking for work www.mittonaudio.wordpress.com Sound engineer for hire plus all forms of production and technical support.
Darren: Doing a phd at Birmingham university. He wants to talk to people as part of his research, looking to talk to people in the music industry in attempt to get an idea of what happens in the growth and development of entities in the music industry. He is looking at power relations within the industry. dxr827@bham.ac.uk 07727689806 please get in touch if you want to participate.
Kieran: Currently working with ITV fixers and looking to get his music into tv like bbc looking for event opportunities www.myspace.com/kvibe1 07973998661
Keisha Thompson: Here on behalf of a friend organising shows on the 2nd and 4th week of month at the yardbird if you are an artist or musician and want to play at Yardbird if you want to play jazz blues reggae or soul or acoustic: Call: 07776 480734
Clare Edwards: The Flyover Show working with Soweto Kinch www.soweto-kinch.com Miss Dynamite will be playing and exclusively performing new single for first time at the event. 29th May 2010 Saturday its all freeif anyone wants to volunteer get in touch with clare edwards. clareedwards at mac.com 07973694913 www.theflyovershow.comEd King: First year he has worked on the Flyover Show. Concept of the event is using parts of the city that dont usually get used for music.
Nicola: Oxjam Birmingham wants to put out request for help. Oxjam is run by volunteers with other full time jobs Oxjam are trying to recruit a team of volunteers, marketing coordinator, production coordinator, fundraining coordinator details on website www.oxjambrum.org.uk deadline to apply is 9th May. Job starts early june also recruiting for one other position: smaller music event organisers in the region wanted for an idea to put on more events in October which is oxjam month. Oxjam Month is a music month that runs up and down the country.
Rose: Student from BCU Rose said that one of the researchers at BCU came up with an idea of a Birmingham Music Month and tried to organise it last year but the project didnt work and was deemed a failure. BCU has suggested birmingham music month should be run as a student project this year and the students are keen to do it properly this time and make it work. The whole idea of a Birmingham Music Month is being relaunched and May is now the Music Month. Rose asked that anyone who wants to get involved in BirminghamMusic Month should get in touch, in particular anyone organising an event in the month of May. Currently the only event organised under Birmingham Music Month is an all day event at the Rainbow May 6th from 2pm www.brummusicmonth.co.uk May is now brum music month the charity to benefit from bum music month will be sound it out. It would be great if people can come to the event or if people want to get involved email: roseybrown@live.com
Mark Winters New library of Birmingham is starting to be put together, in 2013 it will be a brand new building, possibly to include a recording or rehearsal studios, maybe looking at partnerships to help plan rooms or ideas for the new library mark.winters@birmingham.gov.uk
Hannah: Singer Songwriter in pop rock genre ‘iamRuby’ is her artist name She has co-written many of the songs and she wants to get these songs out to other producers also interested in opportunities to play and perfom from september onwards, interested in collaborations. she will be doing national schools tour backed by global radio and idea is that in certain areas they will be media partners iamRuby@hotmail.co.uk
Tom: in a band called Thomas Richardson Blues Band. His band have started opening up for band called after hours band play originals to covers, play a lot of blues music. Tom is also a sound engineer from yardbird, used to work at venues, foh, thomas.blrichardson at gmail.com
Tom asked about places to play and suggestions made included: tower of song, southern blues collective,
Kevin
from south birmingham college Kevin is head of Music at South Birmingham Community Radio He is getting ready for next broadcast and on internet Kevin wants bands and labels to get in touch: send in cds or mp3 www.southbirminghamcommunityradio.co.uk sbcradio at gmail.com put: “attention head of music” in subject of any emails
Lee Ditto music Ditto distribute about 12,000 artists and help people set up record labels etc lee@dittomusic.com 0121 551 6624 also offer digital pr
Alice: Works at Academy of Gospel Music just opened in hockley Its a christian type organisation Currently looking for opportunities she is a manager of amazing artist called: www.myspace.com/afropunkno1 live sound engineer and also studio engineer martinez@niktame.re studio based in hockley part of academny of gosel music
Andy from Blue Whale Studios does a show on Rhubarb Radio, get in touch with cds or mp3 for airplay
Simon Howes
Birmingham Social Media Cafe for anyone interested in social media 10am at the coffee lounge navigation street downstairs www.birminghamsmc.com