Industry news & advice blog

‘The Know How’, Generator’s annual seminar series returns to the region with a stellar line-up of music industry luminaries, for four evenings of panels and events at Northern Stage (between 6pm & 8pm) from Monday 23rd May.

In a series of free panel discussions established industry professionals and chart-topping North East musicians will cover a number of important topics including the decline of broadcast media, filesharing, and the relationships between artists and labels.

Kicking off the series is Radio 1 DJ & BBC Introducing host, Huw Stephens with a session looking at traditional and new broadcasting models on Monday 23rd May. He will be joined by Jeff Smith who is Head of Music at BBC Radio 2 & 6Music together with Dave Haynes from Soundcloud. The seminar will be chaired by Trevor Dann. Guests will look at new broadcast models and the impact on artists of the decline of regional broadcasting.

This seminar will be followed by a live event ‘Huw Stephens presents...Transmission’ at The Other Rooms from 8.00pm with three of the most prominent emerging bands from the region: Let’s Buy Happiness, Grandfather Birds and Mammal Club. As the nation’s favourite champion of new talent, Huw is the person best placed to host this event for Generator, and will even be putting in DJ sets at the event.  Entry is free but on a first come, first served basis.

Chaired by Generator’s CEO Jim Mawdsley, Tuesday’s seminar asks the vital question: who are the primary representatives of artists these days?’ To discuss this important subject, Generator has invited Paul Smith, front-man from Maximo Park, Jim Chancellor, MD at Fiction Records (home of Elbow, Kate Nash, The Cure and White Lies). Expect a lively discussion as we attempt to find where responsibility for talent development now lies.

The seminar on Wednesday 25th May asks ‘What does the term ‘scene’ mean?’ and invites three of the best positioned individuals to work this out. Bill Brewster, a dance music demi-god who enjoyed early connections with Forensic Records and later Shindig, then went on to become a well respected author and DJ will be presiding over the event. He will sit alongside Ralph Lawson and Luke Una who have both built impressive careers themselves, as musician, DJ, promoter and festival organiser.

In previous years, ‘The Know How’ as featured owners and founders from Domino Records, XL Recordings, and Rough Trade and this year the seminar series completes with Martin Mills MBE, sole owner and Chairman of the Beggars Group.  In conversation with BPI Chairman and former CEO at EMI, Tony Wadsworth, Martin will be talking about his experiences in building the small empire that now takes market share with artists such as Adele dominating the charts.

‘The Know How’ has previously featured owners from XL Recordings and Rough Trade and as Beggars now houses these labels, Martin Mills is in a perfect position to show us the big picture as The Beggars Group now takes position as worldwide the largest owner-run group of labels in the alternative sphere.

Whether you are an artist, producer, manager or label, ‘The Know How’ series is the place to mine information and network.

Generator CEO, Jim Mawdsley says:

“We are delighted to announce our strongest ever ‘The Know How’ line-up as part of a week of Evolution Festival related events. 

“Generator has a strong history of producing world-leading music industry events.  Our selection of the biggest names in the UK music industry allows aspiring musicians and music businesses to hear from the likes of Martin Mills, Bill Brewster and Huw Stephens.  To have these big names in Newcastle for free is unmissable – book your spaces now to avoid disappointment.”

The seminars run from Monday 23rd to Thursday 26th May between 6-8pm at Stage 2, Northern Stage and places are free.

Related Links

http://www.generator.org.uk/theknowhow

http://www.evolutionfestival.co.uk

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the know how, generator, music development agency, music industry, music business seminar