Sound Advice- The Music Industry Podcast

In the last of our series of episodes in collaboration with Help Musicians, I spoke to Liam Hennessy about how the charity is helping UK artists not just survive, but thrive. From career development and funding to health, hearing protection, and wellbeing support, this episode breaks down how Help Musicians is removing barriers and creating real opportunities for those working in music, and how yo...

What role can mentoring play in building a sustainable music career? In this episode, we’re joined by Saffie Halke from Help Musicians and Mike Spearman , drummer of Everything Everything and mentor on their Co-Pilot programme. Together, they unpack how mentoring helps artists gain confidence, fill industry knowledge gaps, and build meaningful connections. We discuss what makes a great mentor–ment...

Touring can be exciting, but behind the curtain it often brings sleep disruption, financial strain, poor diet, and long periods of isolation, all of which take a toll on mental health. In this episode, I’m joined by Grace Meadows of Music Minds Matter , the mental health arm of Help Musicians, to unpack the realities of life on the road before touring season begins this autumn. We discuss why ment...

In this episode, I’m joined by singer-songwriter and music industry professional Ben Hutcheson to explore the power of live recordings for artists. Alongside his own career as a performer, Ben works with Setmixer , a company on a mission to make sure no live show is ever lost, capturing gigs in studio-quality audio within hours of the performance. We talk about how artists can use live recordings...

What if a music video didn’t live on a screen, but unfolded around you in real time? In this episode, I speak to Phil Charnock from Draw & Code , a Liverpool-based immersive tech studio, about their groundbreaking AR collaborations with artist like Skepta and local rapper Koj. This episode is all about how emerging technologies are changing the music industry, and whether that's for the be...

In this episode, I sit down with music industry coach and UK hip-hop pioneer Basil Reynolds to explore the emotional and mental demands of building a creative career. From his early days on Top of the Pops to helping today’s artists navigate burnout, identity, and purpose, Basil shares powerful insights on resilience, self-worth, and how to thrive in the industry without losing yourself in the pro...

We're back after a brief hiatus to chat with local singer-songwriter Miles Temp , an artist who is picking up real momentum with performances at Sound City and Radio 1 Big Weekend, and praise from the likes of John Kennedy and Jess Iszatt to name just a few. We spoke about his journey in the music industry so far, the Radio 1 Big Weekend experience and what's next for an 18-year-old already making...

A short announcement on the future of the podcast.

This epiosde is probably the closest I'll ever come to vlogging... Last week I was lucky enough to be invited down to The Great Escape in Brighton to make the most of the UK's biggest conference and festival combo. In this special episode I'm reporting live from my hotel room to debrief the biggest talking points and trends in the music industry today, plus introduce you to some of the hottest eme...

In the first of two music industry conference special, this week I'm recapping what went down at Liverpool's very own Sound City + conference. I debrief some of the best panels of the day, discuss some of the big takeaways and talking points of the music industry in 2025, and share my own experiences being a guest on a panel for the first time. Next week will be a similar thing, I'll b...

In this episode, I’m joined by author and academic Dr Rosemary Lucy Hill to discuss her new co-authored work 'Unsilenced', a powerful new book exploring gender-based violence in the popular and live music industries. We talk about how abuse is enabled by structures within the industry, the stories of victims like Ke$ha, and what artists, promoters, and fans can do to create safer, more inc...

In this episode, I sit down with Tom Williamson, founder of Ripe Records – a new independent label born out of a love for Liverpool’s vibrant music scene. We talk about the realities of launching a label from scratch, what it really takes to support emerging artists, how artists can get noticed by labels, and Tom’s vision for putting Liverpool back on the world music map. If you enjoy the show ple...

This week Sketch Benjamin is back on the show to give you an expert guide on creating video content for TikTok and Instagram that looks great, feels good to create and gets people listening to and talking about your music. We talk about the affordable bits of gear that makes a huge difference to your video quality, how to make sure the algorithm serves your song to people who will love it and unlo...

In this week's episode (part 1 of 2) I spoke to local videographer Sketch Benjamin about the challenges of building a freelance career, adapting work to the algorithm and why copyright law is so confusing. A really enjoyable chat that goes on lots of interesting tangents. If you enjoyed the show please give us 5 stars and tell your music friends :) Check out Ben's work here: https://www.in...

Want to get your music featured in the press without hiring a PR team? In this episode, I’m joined by Rachel White – founder of Brick PR and House of DIY – to share 5 essential tips for doing your own PR. From finding your strengths to nailing your key messages and attracting press opportunities, Rachel breaks it all down in a way that’s accessible, affordable, and totally doable for independent a...

This week I sat down with one of the lovliest people in Liverpool's music community, Dan Astles, who releases muswic under his last name. We spoke about finding your path as an artist, working with managers and booking agents, the struggle of giving up creative control and releasing his debut album on vinyl next month. You can listen to Dan's gorgeous new single here: https://ditto.fm/reme...

This week I'm joined by Mia Thornton, the creator of the fantastic new BBC Sounds podcast Instrumental: Black British Trailblazers , which explores the Black artists who have shaped British music in genres often seen as 'white.' In this conversation, we discuss Mia's journey in the northern creative industry, the impact of desirability politics on Black female pop stars, the proces...

The music industry is facing a mental health crisis. Research has shown that people working in music are more prone to mental health problems than the general population, with musicians being up to three times more likely to suffer from depression. But why is this the case, and what can be done to change this? This week I spoke to Grace Meadows, music therapist and head of Music Minds Matter, to f...

After a brief hiatus of life getting in the way, we're back with a brand new episode. This week I wanted to discuss what has become a real buzzword in the music industry recently: superfans. I broke down why they've become such a lucrative market, how artists are shifting their strategies towards the top 1% of their fanbase and what you can do to build a die-hard fanbase without exploiting...

Putting on gigs isn’t just about booking bands—it’s about creating moments that stick with people. In this episode, I sat down with Tom Hardie of Bus Stop Promotions to uncover what makes a local show feel special, the fair way to pay artists and how to sell out your local venues. Whether you're an artist, promoter, or just love live music, this conversation reveals the highs, lows, and behind...

I'm joined again by Nikki Camilleri this week to discuss every type of deal going in the music industry today, what they all mean, and when to sign them (or crucially NOT sign). We cover everything from record deals to publishing, music industry development deals and loads more. If you like this episode please rate the podcast wherever you're listening to help others find the show :)

For our first episode of the year, I spoke to artist development specialist and Forbes 30 under 30 honoree Nikki Camilleri , who has over a decade of experience working for some of the biggest music companies in the world, including Warner Music, Believe Group and Glastonbury Festival. Nikki shares her expert insights into what it really takes to grow as an artist in today’s music industry, buildi...

It's the final episode of the year! To wrap things up for 2024 we're looking back at 5 key insights from the podcast over the last twelve months to take with you into the new year and make 2025 the year your journey as an artist truly takes off! Featuring clips from: #024 with Marwen Tlili #027 with Gui Goldschmied #028 with Rosanna Connolly #033 with Giles Bidder #039 with Simon Pursehouse

This week I’m delighted to be joined by Music Venue Trust CEO and owner of the legendary Tunbridge Wells Forum Mark Davyd to talk about their huge news; thanks to the MVTs advocacy, it is now government policy that all tickets to arena and stadium tours should include a £1 contribution that goes directly to supporting grassroots music in the UK. I spoke to Mark about why grassroots music venues ne...

In part two of our live panel with Future Yard's Cath Hurley and Boot Music's James Booton , we spoke about building a team, getting gigs and securing funding to take your music career to the next level without signing to a record label. If you like this episode please give the podcast a rating as this really helps others find the show :)