Stage 2, Northern Stage
May 23rd – 26th
The Know How seminar series was created to offer support to musicians and music businesses by furthering their careers by means of advice-based seminars and events.
Transmission
Who Develops Our Artists?
What Does 'Scene' Mean?
The Beggars Group Story - In Conversation with...Martin Mills
Transmission
This seminar examined the past, present and future role of music broadcasting (TV, radio and new technologies), and identify existing and new opportunities for emerging artists to get noticed.
Points for discussion:
- The role of traditional broadcasting (radio & TV)
- New broadcast platforms and modern music consumption (podcasts, online and DAB radio, video-sharing websites, blogs and music streaming)
- Associated revenue models
- How do emerging artists and businesses embrace new technologies and broadcasting platforms?
- The changing face of regional broadcasting and consequences for emerging artists
Huw Stephens – BBC Radio 1
Dave Haynes – Soundcloud
Jeff Smith – Head of Programming, Radio 2
Trevor Dann – Independent Radio Producer
This event was followed by an amazing ‘Huw Stephens presents’ gig at The Other Rooms, Newcastle
The Know How - Transmission. How do you discover new music?
The Know How - Transmission. Getting played - presenters, producers and 'the plot'.
The Know How - Transmission. The role of the radio plugger.
The Know How - Transmission. Revenue streams from broadcasting platforms
Transmission videos by our SPEAR:TRANSMISSION volunteers from Gateshead College.
Who Develops Our Artists?
In the current economic climate traditional models of developing talent for the UK music industry are significantly fewer but there is no let up in the amount of quality artists coming through. Record labels no longer have the resource to adequately develop talent which begs the question: Who are the primary representatives of artists these days?
Points for discussion:
- The impact of the diversification of label services on the artist
- Is the role of the manager outdated?
- The consequences of inadequate artist support
- Should central government have a responsibility for talent development?
Jim Mawdsley – CEO, Generator, Director – Evolution
Paul Smith – Maximo Park
Matt Thornhill – A&R Director at XL Recordings
Cerne Canning – Supervision Management (Franz Ferdinand manager)
Jim Chancellor – Managing Director, Fiction Records
What Does 'Scene' Mean?
Reviled and relied upon in equal measure – is ‘scene’ a convenient ‘catch-all’ journalistic term or something more substantial? Guests looked at how dance and electronic music scenes develop and achieve longevity, and examined how emergent scenes rise and what they owe (by influence or outlook) to the original operators.
Panel guests will offer their views on:
- Myth or not? What makes a scene?
- The impact of new influences or new entrants
- Can it generate creative complacency?
Bill Brewster has a particular connection with Newcastle given his early connections with Forensic Records and Shindig moving on to a significant career in promoting, DJing, and journalism, where in his book ‘Last night a DJ Saved my Life’ he described Ralph Lawson as ‘Britain’s best kept secret’.
Bill Brewster – Lowlife, ‘Last Night a DJ Saved my Life’
Ralph Lawson – Back 2 Basics, 2020 Soundsystem
Luke Una – Unabombers, Electric Chair, Electric Elephant
The Beggars Group Story - In Conversation with...Martin Mills
Previous ‘The Know How’ talks have featured owners and founders from Domino Records, XL Recordings and Rough Trade, and Generator was extremely pleased to invite Martin Mills MBE, sole owner and Chairman of the Beggars Group to complete our series of ‘In Conversation’ sessions with BPI Chairman, Tony Wadsworth.
The Beggars Group now takes position as worldwide the largest owner-run group of labels in the alternative sphere and houses labels 4AD, Matador, Rough Trade and XL Recordings.
Artists that Martin Mills has worked with over the years include White Stripes, Pixies, Interpol, Cat Power, Basement Jaxx, The Prodigy, Adele, Radiohead, Gary Numan, Vampire Weekend, Bon Iver, and TV On The Radio.
Mills has been actively involved in promoting the interests of the independent music sector, and was instrumental in the setting up of the Association of Independent Music in 1999, IMPALA in 2000, and most recently the Worldwide Independent Network.
Tony Wadsworth, Chair of BPI, and former CEO at EMI was on hand to ask the questions and offer his own views.
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