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
The Music Network Meeting Minutes 25th February 2010
Chaired by Andy Derrick
Andy Roberts – Blue whale studios based at the Custard Factory in Digbeth – looking to connect with potential customers – they offer live location recording, filming plus lots more – blog: http://bluewhalestudios.wordpress.com – also running training courses in music production, final cut, logic etc.
Vince – MX – guitar tech – update on MX Colin – MX –
Keisha Thompson – singer, songwriter and poet – looking to network with other musicians.
Abi Seabrook – freelance singer and community musician
Katie Southall – Wolverhampton Community Radio (WCR) – community development role – only community station in Wolvo – 280,000 listeners 20-55 age group – volunteer dj’s production training plus courses – http://wcrfm.com
Andy Ward – Musoplex – company of creative enterprise in Oldbury – Framework recording studio, video production and editing, live sound, sound stage, green screen and rehearsal rooms
Tom – local assistant – recently did the sound for amateur film ‘Killing Me Softly’ – student at BCU music technology – electric blues player also
Adrian Kimberline – Exit recording – songwriter and producer – always looking for interesting collaborations.
Paul Linton / Mark Horton – Punch taverns – looking to recruit a partner for a large pub/music venue in the Black Country
Nicola – Oxjam festival – interested in bands, engineers and others in Oct 2010 – 16th April The Victoria, raise money and awareness – showcasing four acts with female lead –
Caroline Bevan – ex-Kerrang journalist now working as an independent blogger/journo, run the blog for Wolvo Civic Hall
Darren – Birmingham Uni – research in music
Simon Howes – professional live and studio sound engineer with experience in live music and TV.
Keisha Action for Haiti – 7/3/10 – charity event for survivors of Haiti earthquake @actionforhaiti – twitter evening gig and afternoon education session. £5 ticket
Andy Ward – looking for publishers interested in licensing a band Discotheque Wreck
Tom – The Camp – open mic night – Thursday nights £9 – Free – Pershore Road – Stirchley – jam/open mic night – looking to expand the night for a broader night – sound assistant looking for work – hard worker – looking for gigs for a blues band (A Boy Named Sue – gigging already in Aylesbury). Teched The Old FOlkers – worth a look – very entertaining
Paul and Mark – publicans – Punch Taverns – A site in Kidderminster – think it could become a live music venue (with outdoor license and covered area). Hosting an open day 10th March and have a look. Looking for a pub manager to rent it – no criminal record!, investment required, no experience required – but pub knowledge obviously a bonus.
Nicola – Oxjam – looking for a female compere. Also looking for people interested in putting on smaller satellite Oxjam events.
Caroline – carolinebevan.com – former presenter and newsreader at Kerrang – interested in opportunities in music journalism online/video suggestions: Katie FItzgeralds, City TV, Balcony TV. ELT Records launching a music show in the midlands. Also offers media training for musicians.
Musical Exchanges – week 53 – live! – musicalexchanges.com – 3 parts – networking – 1-facebook-esque 2-auction site like ebay but without traders 3-recuitment(find a muso, crew, arrangers, art work etc.). New: coming soon a diary system.
Carlo – Birmingham Promoters – signed touring bands and local groups
Gary Seeney – Birmingham Yamaha Music School – 350 students – lots of activity for Childline – Beatles Tribute band – gary at byms.co.uk New course – Yamaha – junior play for keys Key stage 1
1. In your view, what is the current state of the region’s “Independent Music Industry?”
I think a lot of people are out there making moves and looking for ways to do what they do and avenues to progress. It’s happening in clusters, niches and apparently “underground” There doesn’t appear to be many linkages in the regions Independent Music Industry and limited advice and support.
2. What do you think are it’s immediate needs with reference to the areas that you are most familiar with?
Immediate needs for the the regions Independent Music Industry are
• Consolidation/better links with each other • Advisory support • Practical initiatives
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?
Greatest potential is the people who are in the industry and continuing to follow the passion, music and buzz inside of us to create the outcomes we want. Anything is possible, it just takes time, commitment and the willingness to work with each other to do so. Having access to knowledge, expertise, resources and finances makes it a whole lot easier.
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?”
I wish I knew what they were! I know of Gigbeth… oh and of course THE BIRMINGHAM MUSIC NETWORK, oh and Barry Tomes Music Business classes
5. Can you list any projects or initiatives that you think have proved “of little use or benefit” to the “Independent Music Industry?”
Hmmm, not sure. It’s a difficult question with various factors. i.e. Barry Tome’s music businesses classes were ok but not very fluid and I didn’t benefit immensely, but it gave me a brief overview. If I had been at a further stage in my music, I might have benefited more.
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?
YES YES YES! And PROMOTE THEM WELL
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?
• Developing personal music strategies for artists (guidelines and possible options for musical pursuits (Coaching/mentor support) • Regular informative events targeting specific groups within music. E.g. in the same way that Creative Networks has monthly speakers, having a similar project or series of courses where artists/bands can learn a particular music processes. E.g. 2 “Creating your own CD” on a weekly/fortnightly basis over a period of 2/3 months – introducing experts on each stage per week. This could be followed by other relative courses. • Trips to national/international seminars and events (subsidised)
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?”
• What positive and progressive changes have been made as a result • Is there any tangible evidence? • Have the people involved got out of it what they intended and expected to. • Really and truly the outcomes need to be set in the first instance and evaluated according to the aims and outcomes of the projects/initiatives
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?
STRENGTHS
• Committed and Passionate people • Good foundations and expertise within the region • Lots and various talents/skills
WEAKNESSES
• Fragmented • Need collective and collaborative support • No central venue/organisation 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?
I will continue to create musically and collaborate with a variety of artistic, technical and management and promotional expertise in efforts to keep the positivity and creativity thriving in this city holding much potential. My reason for doing this is to use my strengths to contribute in the development of Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry.
Thank you, Keisha Thompson.
The Music Network was contacted in January 2010 by a group drawn from Birmingham City Council and the Arts Council England to begin to determine an overview of the current state, needs and potential of the “Independent Music Industry” in Birmingham.
The Music Network invites people with an interest or active role within Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry to answer 10 questions.
Simon Howes has also created an easy to use google survey for these questions here too.
All completed questions will be published here unless you state otherwise. Please be sure to include your full Name and any links to your website or blog so you can be credited in full as the author of the response. Views from all sides are sought so don’t be afraid to speak your mind. We all may learn something.
