MUSIC IN MANCHESTER
	(Manchester Bands Section)
	YMG Presentation Lowry (Compass Room) 16/4/02

Bathed in the glorious glow of a slowly setting sun, the Lowry tonight played host to a presentation by the YMP organisation, a unit that is primarily based in London, but is putting time and money into providing access to top quality information and advice about the music industry.  Other talks will be held in Bristol, Glasgow & London

As a result of the Urbanite (www.urbanite.co.uk) winning a YMP supported competition last year, this is the first in a series of discussion panels to which there is pretty much an open invitation for anyone interested in music to attend.

With a panel comprising of Dave Haslem (DJ/Journalist/Writer etc.) Gary McClarnan (Music Box, Potential Development), Luke Bainbridge (City Life) & Andy Chappell (Flux), hosted by Paul Leigh (YMP) it's obvious that there is a wealth of talent and experience to be tapped into.

Twin aims of this discussion were to

· Provide a snapshot of the state o f the music magazine industry

· Put forward some advice on how to promote a band

Here are some items that I picked out, though they may seem obvious to some, the intonations were never condescending, and they do not necessarily reflect the views of the panel

What are the plans for the band? It is no good getting nation wide coverage when the talent is still being refined and the material is still being developed.  Decide on a timetable for the development of the band. E.g. gig for 6 months, get the material together, then release a demo, then gig, build the fan base, then get the local press, another release, then national press, etc.
 

Scheduling of press releases is necessary to maximise effect.  For example, don't necessarily release items at the height of festival coverage, a time when anything else is swept aside
 

Tailor how the publicity material is to be designed & released to the specific media. IMMEDIACY and quirkiness in the material means it is most likely to stand out from the other 10 packs that the features editor is likely to see that day
 

Understand what is required in the promotional pack, and this should reflect where that band is at and what the intentions are.  Publicity should be built up over a period of time, not in one big hit.  Quality and Timing are essential
 

For photographic advertising material, get assistance from someone who understands the technical difficulties with producing a magazine as opposed to just supplying photographs that look good.  Because a snap looks ace with blurred images and dark outlines in it's own right doesn't mean it can be successfully re-produced
 

Try to give different photographs/images to different contact.  No magazine wants a piccie that is going to appear in a dozen other mags., so build up a varying portfolio
 

Bands hate being phhtographed. It's boring, though necessary.  Yet it can't be done in an hour with someone the band have just met.  At least a day is required, and avoid if possible the "easy - band in the pub" arrangement
 

Establish a rapport with the different contacts.  Don't think "Magazine" but rather "Journalist"
 

Decide how you need to engage the PR arrangements.  Is a phone call sufficient just to keep thing ticking over or will you need to go and visit the journalist?
 

Artists can be their own worst enemy. If someone is taking the time out to meet you, then don't turn up pissed and disinterested, then wonder why a poor review ensues.
 

Use the journalist as an access to your fan base/medium. Not to be abused, but a mutual working arrangement to be facilitated
 

Seek to gain acknowledgement for your peers.  Word of mouth tends to let a journalist believe that they have solely tapped into a scene
 

Ability is only one part of the requirement to "make it"  A lot of hard work and preparation is also essential
 

If your band can't get any press coverage, change the focus of your ambitions, and concentrate on increasing your fan base until the press cannot avoid you.  See the Stone Roses for an example
 

The business is a game, and unless you know the rules, success will be hard, though not impossible, to come by.  The artist may want "The music to speak for itself" , but that is only one element in the chain

Was it worth it?  Depending on how involved with the industry you are the answer would vary, but there was something for everyone and it's nice to see attempts being made to feed something back to the local roots of music, away from the smog of London

Click to link to the various bands    

Ithaca

My Mate Mark

Tribeca

 

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