UK Trade and Investment - Helping the government to co-ordinate all marketing activity for British Music Abroad at SXSW in Austin for 2011

MusicConnex – a new three day music conference and event for those wishing to build a career in the music industry independently by going the DIY route. I am bringing in commercial and strategic partners both UK and international.

This was a new business we set up to provide financial and expertise resource to unsigned and breaking acts. My role was to shape the business from an industry perspective and identify and pull in the relevant skill sets to provide the right services to artists.

Selected Achievements;
• Wrote a business plan to create the business from scratch including extensive research into similar propositions in the marketplace
• Developed the business from concept to reality with artists engaged on the program
• Helped to secure funding to set up the business from HNW’s
• Sourced partners and suppliers for the business across all disciplines including manufacturers, distributors, agents, PR’s, lawyers etc.

Moles is a well established live music venue operating for over 30 years with well known artists at the early stage of their careers. I was responsible for overseeing all marketing and promotion of the venue including the promoter, general manager and HR activities.

Selected Achievements;
• Helped to secure funding to buy the business from HNW’s including writing the business plan
• Developed a new brand for the venue changing the perception internally and externally that Moles was not a night club including new corporate identity
• Recruiting new staff who were better able to deliver the level of customer service and who understood the role of Moles as a live music venue
• Recruited a promoter who’s music policy was much more aligned with that of the business thereby increasing the venues profile and footfall
• Planned, built and opened a café serving food in the venue for the first time
• Brought in artists to record at the studio
• Press coverage locally and with the industry of the changing role of the venue.

Managing two bands and also ran both bands’ independent record labels. I was responsible for all aspects of marketing, promotions and merchandising, event management, PR, street teamers, distribution, manufacture and production, advertising, artist liaison and partnerships with national and regional radio pluggers, TV pluggers, and agents.

I took the bands to Paris, Bucharest, Dubai, Monaco, New York, Austin and the bands played key industry events including SXSW, The Great Escape, Eurosonic, In the City, Liverpool Sound City. We released singles and albums and I secured independent funding for one band to make 2 albums.

June 2009 – December 2009 (Also December 2008 2 week contract)
Events and Communications Manager – UK Music
To run all events at UK Music headed up by CEO Feargal Sharkey and Chairman Andy Heath MBE. Also co-ordinated all marketing communications with member organisations which included the BPI, AIM, MMF, MPA, MU, BASCA, PRS for Music, PPL and the MPG.

Selected Achievements;
• Organising and hosting a reception at No.10 Downing Street for the music industry and key politicians
• Organising debates at both the Labour and Conservative party conferences for the CEO with editors of New Statesmen and The Spectator and culture and shadow culture secretaries.
• Research and content gathering amongst key industry players for the creation of Liberating Creativity, the UK Music published document that for the first time outlines the music industry’s vision for the future.
• Launched the Creators Conference – an event bringing together the UK’s leading music creators to discuss issues affecting the future of the industry including copyright ownership. The event keynote was given by the Culture Secretary.

Handing the launch event of the Featured Artists Coalition which was a new venture set up by musicians for musicians. Liaising with a range of A list artists alongside emerging musicians, venue management, press liaison and artists liaison. Also part of the core team to research the goals of the MMF in the changing industry and formulate a plan for its future.

A new business I created with a business partner, The Essential Essence was a brand experience agency working in music, fashion and film. I was solely responsible for the music side of the business. I brought together commercial brands with events, sponsorship, PR and showcase opportunities.

Transmission worked with clients in sport, film, fashion and general entertainment and lifestyle. Looking after all aspects of sales and marketing, I sought out new business opportunities, compiled proposals, researched and pitched for sponsorship funds and managed accounts including negotiating contracts and supporting the clients throughout their sponsorship deal. This included PR, event management and marketing implementation. Transmission Inc then became The Essential Essence.