Events

Where music really makes its money – monetising the act

When: 17.06.09 at 18:30
Where: Podium Lecture Theatre, London College of Communication, Elephant & Castle, London, SE1 6SB
view map & directions

freepts

With income from sales of records declining, bands and their managers have to either find additional ways of making money or focus on areas hitherto they may not have prioritised. Online networking and user generated content sites such as MySpace and YouTube have enabled many musicians and bands to share work with others and promote their music, but how can they turn their virtual popularity into real cash? This event will discuss ways of building a brand for musicians and bands, what role gigs can play to sell music and merchandise to fans, and how you can use your IP to maximise income.

Own-it, British Black Music and Black Business Initiative have invited a legal expert to explain the various intellectual property rights you may have when you are making music and how you can exploit these assets to generate income. A musician or band manager will talk about their experiences in creating a successful act and the importance of the internet and playing gigs when building a fan base. What kind of income streams exist beyond selling records and how do you work with manufacturers when for example producing a T-shirt.

The chair of the event is Kwaku, founder of the Black Music Congress (BMC), a forum for discussing black music issues, networking, and providing pathways to music industry education. He's a music industry journalist, lecturer, and consultant. A former columnist for Billboard and DJ, he has taught music industry courses at Collage Arts, City & Islington College, City University, and the University of Westminster. A former member of the now defunct Black Music Industry Association, he began his music industry career many moons ago running his own management, indie label and music publishing firm. He runs accessible music industry and accredited event planning courses for voluntary organisation BTWSC. He holds master degrees in Media, Music Business Management, and an LLM in Entertainment Law. He has a keen interest in intellectual property issues, has an eclectic taste in music, and speaks on black music sector issues on panels and in the media.

Speakers include:
Richard Antwi, director of Levels Entertainment.

Anthony Hamer-Hodges is probably best known as the manager of R&B/soul singer-songwriter Nate James. A seasoned music industry player, who has been a DJ, journalist and record company manager, he was listed in the Top 10 Rising Entertainment Executives Courvoisier Future 500 in 2007. His company, >4 Ltd, specialises in strategic management of international release campaigns to deliver profile, profitability and success.

Dennis Bovell (via video), a.k.a Blackbeard, a.k.a Dennis Matumbi, has pretty much done it all. He led one of the seminal sound systems, Sufferer HiFi. Band leader of reggae band Matumbi, the first British reggae band to be signed to a major company, EMI. He's engineered and produced artists ranging from Linton Kwesi Johnson, The Slits to Fela Kuti. He's written for films, and he's the writer of Janet Kay's No. 2 smash 'Silly Games'. Lately, he's been spending much time abroad gigging.

Photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography