A practical online masterclass series for independent artists, with leading industry professionals. Learn how to develop your practice, increase your reach, and ultimately further your career.
Sofar
Sofar Sounds, famous for their signature secret concerts in unique spaces and for being an early part of the story for artists such as Andra Day, Leon Bridges, Yebba, Lianne La Havas, Billie Eilish, Hozier (and many more) have teamed up with us here at Raw Material to run a masterclass for our members to debunk those myths of the live music industry, to share their advice on starting out/getting your sound heard and what it means to be a music manager.
Spiritland Productions
Learn the ins and outs of Spiritland Productions - how a producer can bring your ideas to life in Music, Radio or TV!
Spiritland Productions works with the likes of Disney, TikTok, Amazon and Twitch & BBC. They have produced national radio programmes, outside broadcasts, podcasts and live events for the biggest global platforms in the world.
This masterclass provides an insider look into how the productions you watch on TV or the radio shows you listen to come to life!
Vevo UK: Artist Management & Video Production
The world’s largest all-premium music video provider, offering artists a global platform with huge scale through its distribution partners. Alongside the 450,000 music videos, Vevo creates hundreds of pieces of original content each year, working directly with artists to find unique ways to bring their music to life. Vevo also works with emerging artists, providing them with a platform of global scale and reach, to find and grow their audience.
In this session, two members of Vevo’s team; Music and Talent Manager Jodeci Rampasard and Vevo EU Director Jim Wilmot, will discuss how Vevo partners with artists at every level, and why video content and artist management is so important for an artists success.
Alongside this - they will talk about what their roles involve at Vevo, and how they got into the industry with a Q+A at the end of the session.
Jim Wilmot
I am the in-house Director within Vevo’s Production team, working across all of Vevo’s Original Content output in the UK and across the EU. I work with everyone from cinematographers, gaffers, set designers and audio engineers - as we prep and film for DSCVR, ROUNDS, or STUDIO PERFORMANCES. I collaborate closely with Producers, Talent, Design and Editorial teams to ensure the end product is optimised for Vevo’s audience, its platforms/channels and also serves music fans new and original content, hoping to ultimately boost that artist’s profile and listenership in the process.
JODECI RAMPASARD
At Vevo, my role is to predominantly manage our label and partner relationships. Working with various labels and distributors to stay updated with their key campaigns. Discovering new talent and onboarding them onto the network. While booking in artists for our live performance offerings.
Workshop will be held online, via ZOOM.
Limited spaces available.
PRS for Music: Music and Royalties
Are you an aspiring musician or songwriter?
Get to know PRS, as members of their team tell you about the organisation and how you can make money from your music!
PRS for Music represents the rights of over 155,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers in the UK and around the world. As a membership organisation it works to ensure that creators are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed, and played in public. In 2020, 22.4 trillion performances of music were reported to PRS for Music with £650.5m collected on behalf of its members, making it one of the world’s leading music collective management organisations.
Claire Rose
Claire has been an Outreach Manager, for PRS for Music, for over 6 years. In her role, she meets with songwriters, composers, and music publishers to ensure they are making the most out of their membership and therefore maximising their royalties. She also meets with labels, artist development companies, managers, and other industry organisations to discuss the importance of PRS for Music and where it sits in the wider industry. Claire puts on regular events, workshops, and panel discussions focusing on the DIY approach to music and diversity & inclusion.
Outside of her role at PRS, Claire is also the Community Manager for Women in CTRL, a not-for-profit trade body representing women and underrepresented groups in the music industry.
Gemma Steer
Gemma has a history in singing, dancing, and acting having worked closely with Gareth Marlones BAFTA television series “The Choir” as well as the Choir Olympics in China. Gemma then went to study a BTEC National Diploma in performing arts at West Herts College and has now worked as a Representative for PRS Music for 10 years.
Her role involves onboarding new applicants joining as writers, publishers, and successors as well as liaising with external Music Publishing companies.
Sam Ilori
With a passion for music going as far back as when he was two, Sam is an avid music lover who has worked within the music industry for the last five years in music licensing, management and now as part of the Member Admissions Team for PRS for Music.
Having graduated from London Met University with a BA Hons in Music Industry Management, he has gone on to establish his own business (@ProducerTimesUK) shining the light on the achievements of Music producers within the UK. Sam has dabbled in the world of music journalism and interviewed the likes of Yemi Alade, Arlissa, and Fox. He has also written a stream of spotlight pieces for PRS for Music M Magazine aimed at highlighting the profile of members from the Afrobeats genre, some of which include the likes of Burna Boy, Kida Kudz, Rema, Tay Iwar, and Wizkid.
Sam’s biggest achievement to date is beating his battle with Cancer in 2020, followed closely by boasting a Vinyl collection of just 8 Vinyl (and counting). Forever the optimist, he is always looking for the opportunity to learn and collaborate with others, both within and outside of music.
Artists and Networks: Building Your Creative Team
Everyone knows that artists need networks and support, but how do you go about finding yours? We know how important and impactful collaborating with people is; both inside and outside your creative field.
Event hosted by Titania Altius
Join incredible award-winning artists Eska and Yomi as they talk you through their journeys as artists, their connection with other creatives, and the importance of building a creative network.
Eska Mtungwazi
ESKA is a South London raised multi-disciplinary artist who has garnered an international reputation as a vocalist, performer, songwriter, composer and producer. In 2015 ESKA was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize for her eponymous debut album.
Yomi Sode
Yomi is a Nigerian British poet, playwright, performer, and facilitator. In 2019 he was awarded the Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship. Highlights include opening for Saul Williams and The Last Poets, with appearances at Yahoo! Wireless Festival, Latitude, Lovebox, Olympic Village, Sadler’s Wells Theatre as well as working with Channel 4 and BBC Radio 1xtra. Yomi founded BoxedIN in 2012, a quick-fire, free Poetry night at Boxpark in Shoreditch.
Titania Altius
Titania Altius is the Creative Programme Manager at Help Musicians UK. She heads up the development, management, and delivery of the charity’s creative programme, including their grants schemes with The MOBO Trust which supports music creators to further their creative output, build their business skills and explore ways to maintain their wellbeing.
Artists & Branding: Working with Creative Agencies
WMA
WMA is an award-winning, unique global full service digital creative agency with offices in London, New York, Los Angeles and Nashville. They work across the music, entertainment and lifestyle space globally - our DNA is rooted in music and working with talent including; Billie Eilish, Jorja Smith, Tom Grennan, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus as well as brands like; Spotify, VEVO, Sony Music, Universal, Warners, Adidas, Netflix, Disney, Amazon (to name a few). WMA are a passionate team of experts across Marketing, PR, Social, Digital Advertising, Creative and Partnerships - all with a common goal of collaborating with artists to create the most impactful, creative-led work that builds and connects with their audiences.
Meet the Speakers
Cat Lazarra
Cat started at WMA as PR Assistant in February 2016 through Creative Access - an organisation that supports talented people from groups that are under-represented (including ethnicity and socio-economic backgrounds) to enter the creative industries - following graduating from Bucks New University with a BA (Hons) in Music Management, Branding and PR. She had previously completed internships in PR departments at Proud Camden and Dennis Publishing. Cat had also managed new artist J-Flowz, who was a part of London-based collective Sonne Bien as well as arranged open-mic nights for new artists in High Wycombe and London.
During her time at WMA, Cat has become a specialised Music Publicist who has worked with a large variety of major and independent labels as well as unsigned artists globally. Leading and strategising bespoke PR campaigns - she has worked with artists including Digital Farm Animals, Yemi Alade, Cat Burns, Tai Verdes, Maxsta, Tiggs Da Author, Black Milk, Sarah Close, Grace Davies, Sigma, Herizen and many more.
Dulcie Boote
Dulcie joined WMA as a creative intern, before joining the Design and Development team as a Junior Digital Designer in 2018.
In her current role as a Digital Designer, she brings to WMA a passion for all things digital design and abroad knowledge of the inner workings of social media, pop culture and music-related branding.
Dulcie gained an Art and Design Foundation Diploma with Distinction at Arts University Bournemouth. Her studies there sparked an ongoing interest in the intersections between art, music, and popular culture. Her final project was selected for the Origins exhibition at the Truman Brewery, which showcased the year’s best work drawn from all UAL foundation courses. She had previously worked as a freelance retoucher and graphic designer and had worked as a production assistant on various photoshoots for clients including The X Factor, Liam Payne and Little Mix.
At WMA, Dulcie produces a wide variety of content, from exciting and engaging social assets to animated lyric videos and album artwork. Her projects so far have included Louis Tomlinson, George Michael, Tom Odell, Celine Dion, Sony Legacy, Prime Video, and Netflix.
Chantal Libarikian
With over nine years of experience in PR & Digital, Chantal has worked with a wide range of clients from tech brands to high profile personalities, as well as creating global, innovative award-winning campaigns. Chantal has covered social media channels for events such as BMI London Awards, Legends of Football with Nordoff Robbins, The BRIT Awards, Fusion Festival, Hyundai Mercury Prize, as well as global artist campaigns for, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, James Arthur and Sony Music's catalogue label, CMG.
Her experience enabled her to solely plan, co-ordinate and manage social strategy and implementation for the Isle of Wight Festival as well as ownership on a number of social projects at SXSW partnering with SBTV and NBA All-Stars Weekend in Toronto.
She joined WMA in 2018 as Head Of Social UK, working with her team on an extensive roster amassing a global social count of 400m+. The WMA social teams success has resulted in recently winning a Webby Award for Celine Dion's 'Courage' album in the Social: Experimental & Innovation category and two Lovie Awards for our social work on the Louis Tomlinson 'Walls' album campaign, for Best Overall Social Presence and The People's Choice Award.
Alice Bell
Since joining WMA as a partnerships intern in 2017, Alice then went on to join the WMA Film & Photography team where she assisted in producing artwork and music videos for the likes of JP Cooper, MO and STEPS. In 2018, Alice then became Editor-In-Chief of music platform, Spindle Magazine and The Spindle Network. During this time, Alice worked with WMA's CEO & Founder, Seb Weller to build Spindle globally and as a platform for showcasing the best and new music talent. Whilst at Spindle, Alice worked with a broad range of artists, such as YungBlud, Madison Beer, Tom Grennan, PRETTYMUCH, James Arthur and introduced various features to the platform including their 'Spindle Session' Youtube live sessions that were shot across LDN and NYC.
Alice now sits on the Marketing team at WMA, leading artist and brand campaigns globally. Since being in this role Alice's clients have included the likes of Prime Video, Sony CMG, ABISHA, Amy Shark, Long Way Up/Apple TV, Lil Capi, Kaory Desole, SAPPHIRE and A2 Productions.
BBC Introducing
Are you an emerging artist who wants to feature on BBC Introducing? Do you want to get into producing?
Radio Plays & Press Packs
10th March | 6:30pm - 8pm
Learn how to put together an electronic press kit, get radio plays and capitalise off of them!
Ruby Ladlow
Ruby Ladlow is a radio producer and A&R Consultant. She found her way into the music industry through Reprezent Radio’s training programme in 2018. Since then she’s produced Remi Burgz’ energy-fuelled show on Reprezent and has also assisted DJ & BBC 1Xtra Presenter, Tiffany Calver. Extremely keen to push new music and artists, Ruby recently started working at Sony’s Black Butter as an A&R Consultant and is enjoying her new venture within the music industry.
Zacky
Zacky, an all-round creative producer/artist & presenter. Originally from South London’s Streatham, Zacky’s creative passion has carried him from a young age seeing him through Bournemouth University as an Engineer later leaving to teach himself Sound Engineering and build up his own home studio, this in-turn aiding him to discover his newfound talent in presenting and producing. He was later named BBC’s young audio award winner in “Best In Comedy & Drama” and now runs a bi-weekly show on Reprezent Radio and UltrabeamFM’s Afrobeat specialist show.
Writing a funding bid
Learn how to put together an electronic press kit, get radio plays and capitalise off of them!Writing a funding bid
Join Barnaby Duff from Help Musicians, as he guides participants through the foundations of grant writing. Learn the basics of how to write a funding bid and discover how these skills could help turn your dream projects into a reality!
Barnaby duff
Barnaby Duff is Creative Programme Officer at Help Musicians, whose triangle of support offers funding, mentoring and health and welfare services. He has UK-wide experience in music grant funding for independent artists, developing a strong national network of music organisations, industry figures and collectives. Prior to music grant funding, Barnaby worked in artist relations, promotion and sync and currently works as an independent music supervisor alongside Help Musicians.
Music & Community
Join Jaden Bonsu as he takes you through how to start a community project, build a creative network and receive funding for music led community projects!
Jaden Bonsu
Community Activist, Rapper and Youth Worker, Jaden Bonsu uses his lived experience hailing from South London to create more cohesion through working with communities and in the music industry. Co-founder of 'The Silhouettes Project' and Director of community label Root 73, Jaden has managed to create community music projects that have received national recognition with TSP's latest project receiving over 3 million listens on Spotify in its first 6 months. Also known as 'Eerf Evil' (‘Live Free’ backwards), Eerf combines his experiences growing up in challenging environments with a unique way of telling stories that provide an insight - exploring the rationale behind our decisions in life.
VEVO and the Power of Music Video
The world’s largest all-premium music video provider, offering artists a global platform with huge scale through its distribution partners. Alongside the 450,000 music videos, Vevo creates hundreds of pieces of original content each year, working directly with artists to find unique ways to bring their music to life. Vevo also works with emerging artists, providing them with a platform of global scale and reach, to find and grow their audience.
In this session, three members of Vevo’s Content and Programming team will discuss how Vevo partners with artists at every level, and why video content is an important part of an artist’s campaign, and how artists can optimize the content they produce.
Alongside this - they will talk about what their roles involve at Vevo, and how they got into the industry.
Speakers:
Carl Young – Head of Music and Talent
Nick Calafato – Senior Producer, Original Content
Jaqueline Lockinger – Editorial Co-ordinator
Managers: What is a manager? And do I need one?
The role of a manager is varied, and diverse, but what makes the relationship between a manager and a music creator work?
Join Raw in conversation with 2 incredible music managers to hear their stories. Working with music creators across the music scene, from producers and DJs, to singer-songwriters, these managers will share their stories of how to shape and develop an artists’ career. From first steps and how they met their artists, to negotiating difficult situations or juggling the creative vision with the business plan, learn from these industry professionals what the role of a manager really is and whether you need one. Listen to their tips, tricks, and learn how to bring these skills into your own music-making and career development.
With thanks to the MMF (Music Manager’s Forum)
Christopher Grey - Artist manager / A&R (Problem Child & First Access)
Christopher Grey is an A&R/ artist manager based in London. His entry point into the music business began with day to day management of well known urban artists, Yxng Bane & Bonkaz. From that, Christopher was able to gain knowledge and hands on experience within the music industry in a variety of roles that helped build his skillset. Shortly after, Christopher was recruited to work alongside XL recordings helping to put together the cultural impactful album titled ‘NEW GEN’. His role varied from a&r duties, creative direction & administrative responsibilities, these skills he also was able to bring to the table when working with rapper Nines, who XL signed and released his debut album in 2017.
Since then, Christopher has gone strength to strength, by founding his management company called ‘Problem Child’ in 2018. The company currently houses producers (Nyge, Gibbo, Clonez) who have worked with a host of successful global acts including AJ Tracey, Stormzy, J Hus, Logic, Krept & Konan, NBA Young Boy etc. Problem Child also represents an upcoming Singer / Songwriter named Paige Lihya. In two short years the company has been able to have acts on the roster who have signed publishing/record deals, Top 20 charting songs and produce records that are certified Gold & Platinum globally.
Towards the end of 2019 Christopher started a A&R role with First Access, whilst getting the gears in motion for the label aspect of Problem Child to begin putting out music, to replicate the previous success he has been a part of over the last couple years.
Sam Cantlon
Sam Cantlon is Artist & Label Manager at Raygun Music, a Brighton based Management company, Record Label and Publisher. As a manager, Sam represents joey maxwell (Polydor) and dream pop act RYD. He has worked on campaigns for the likes of The XCERTS, Luke Sital-Singh and The Wytches, covering a variety of roles including campaign management, marketing, digital and more. A passion for A&R and artist development, he recently launched a new label, Family Values, developing new artists from the ground up.
Self-Releasing: Getting Your Music Heard
Technology and platforms make it increasingly easy for independent musicians and DIY labels to release and promote their own music. However, understanding where and how to release your music for maximum impact can be a challenge. From the basics of where to start, through to running a successful campaign, this masterclass session delves deep with two key players in the independent releasing market: AWAL and Bandcamp.
Join us in conversation with Bandcamp EU Label Rep and owner of First Word Records, Aly Gillani and Cori Chinnici, an artist manager and AWAL Community Support Associate. Providing both a depth of knowledge across releasing, and experience working directly with music creators to develop their campaigns we will explore what makes a release work.
Aly Gillani | @djgilla
Aly Gillani is the European Label Rep for Bandcamp, a thriving, global music community where fans discover new artists, intimately connect with them, and directly compensate them for their work. Aly’s role involves expanding and managing the growing network of labels and artists using Bandcamp to connect with their fans.
He is also the founder / A&R for Worldwide Awards Label of the Year First Word Records, home to Children Of Zeus, Tall Black Guy, Eric Lau, Kaidi Tatham, Tawiah and many more. Originally a club promoter he ran seminal clubnights Funky Mule and New Bohemia in his adopted city of Leeds for many years. Starting First Word in 2004, he is also an acclaimed DJ with regular spots at a host of European venues and London radio stations Balamii and Worldwide FM.
Cori Chinnici | @Coru89
Originally from Italy, Cori moved to London five years ago to start their career in music. Their career began at the Music Managers Forum (FanFair Alliance) and they worked on Imogen Heap’s Mycelia Life Of A Song project as a research assistant. LOAS is an open source platform which encourages discussions around the Music Industry via interactive data visualisations. After working for Kobalt Music Publishing for two years, they’re now part of the AWAL Community Support Team. AWAL is redefining how artists and labels access the key services needed to succeed in today’s music industry. From world-class global marketing to real-time access into an artists’ music data and insight to ongoing education on the AWAL blog and community forum, AWAL is designed to support artists at every stage of their career. Cori also independently manages two artists (Geiste and Loelash), their mission is to work closely with artists to nurture their vision, whilst maintaining their artistic integrity.
With a great passion for education, they thrive to create a diverse and inclusive music environment.
Developing your Brand
Trying to stand out from the crowd? Join us for this branding masterclass with communications consultant Amelia Ideh. The class will cover branding on a budget, developing your voice as an artist, how to build an engaged fanbase, secrets for success, looking after your mental health and creating your own branding toolkit. There will also be plenty of time for questions, top tips and troubleshooting.
Amelia Ideh has worked in the arts and music industries for 15 years in marketing and PR, writing, creative production, fundraising and artist development/management for major and independent record labels, music festivals, venues, media companies and more.
Amelia Ideh | @putmeonit
Based in Barcelona, Amelia Ideh is the head of communications at London based arts organisation Fevered Sleep, tutor and artist mentor at Serious UK and The Roundhouse, a PRS Foundation adviser and freelance consultant. Following a degree in contemporary dance, Amelia became and remains music enthusiast. She founded the music blog, putmeonit.com, and currently writes for own blog ameliaideh.com and as a contributor for The Dancing Times, The Independent Theatre Council, and The British Council. Organisations and labels she has worked with as a communications consultant include Accidental Records, Parlophone, Ninja Tune, Warner UK, Nonclassical, Saatchi, BBC Blast, Sadler’s Wells, Glastonbury Emerging Talent and many more. Amelia has also worked as a promoter and producer on Soundwave Festival Croatia, Deviation, Tobago Jazz Festival and PMOI Live. She is a former governor of The Place and a Clore Cultural Leadership Fellow, and has been featured in or on The Economist, Cosmopolitan, MU Magazine, Okayplayer, Spine TV, BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra, BBC 6 Music, Rinse FM, and NTS Radio.