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Know How

The seminar programme has an inspirational function for the people who attend, and we have enjoyed record attendances over recent years, due in no small part, to the calibre of guests speaking.These seminars are useful for a broad section of people working in music – from artists and managers through to producers and musicians looking to find alternative sources of revenue for their music.

Generator has a strong track record of securing music industry heavyweights to speak about their lengthy industry careers and in the last two years have organised three fascinating ‘In conversation with’ sessions with Lawrence Bell, founder of Domino Records, Alan McGee, founder of Creation Records (and the man who discovered Oasis) and Geoff Travis, founder of Rough Trade.

These are excellent and useful sessions for individuals pursuing careers in the industry or small/medium music business enterprise wishing to grow from ‘ideas’ stage through to ‘start-up’. They can help remove barriers that people wishing to start music businesses or a creative commercial business face. This seminar series is a vital tool in assisting all businesses and potential entrepreneurs in the sector to keep abreast of changing trends within the wider music industry. The Know How opens up access to experienced music industry professionals who discuss subjects aligned to their own business models and explained what strategies they undertook to guarantee business expansion.

Traditionally the series takes place in the week leading up to Evolution, the North’s leading outdoor 2-day music festival. Previous ‘Know How’ panellists include:-

  • Tony Wadsworth (Chair of BPI, former CEO at EMI and current Generator board member)

  • Jim King (Director of Loud Sound)

  • James Barton Chief Executive Officer of Creamfield brand)

  • Claire O’Neill (General Manager of AIF – Asssociation of Independent Festivals)

  • James Pitt (Your Army, a media promotions company who create campaigns for The Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, LDC Soundsystem)

  • Seth Jackson (Indie Mobile)

  • Range of A&R from both majors and independents

  • John Kennedy – (Former Chairman of Polygram UK and current Chairman and CEO of the IFPI)

  • Scott Cohen (Founder and Director, The Orchard)

  • Jon Webster (CEO of the Music Managers Forum)

  • Jonas Woost (Head of Music, Lastfm)

  • Thomas Dolby (Songwriter, Artist and Producer)

  • Dylan White – Director, Anglo Plugging

  • Simon Esplen – Partner, Russell’s Solicitors (leading entertainment firm)

  • Luke Selby - Marketing Manager/Label Manager, Vital Distribution

  • Caroline Elleray – Head of A&R, BMG Music Publishing

The Know How seminar series has a positive function for the people who attend; despite all these new difficulties the artist may now face, and the huge changes in how people access, listen to and buy their music, the message is still felt quite clearly: that the future of recorded music is still an area rich with possibilities with multiple opportunities for musicians, songwriters, labels, publishers and agents.

Read more on our recent 2009 event