Sound Advice- The Music Industry Podcast

After seeing a video about how PR is a waste of money, I decided to bring that question to an expert, so I spoke to Rosanna Connolly, a PR professional with a decade of experience for companies including Universal Records, Apple and Virgin EMI before starting her own company Morena Comms. We spoke about whether PR is worth the money, how to craft a good press release, figuring out your why and how...

How is social media changing in 2024? All the way from Brooklyn, New York, I'm joined by music trend forecaster Gui Goldschmied to talk about how artists can thrive on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. We talk about the continued growth of sped-up songs, the psychology behind their popularity, and whether you should take a leaf out of SZA's book and release sped-up versions of your musi...

Pop is the most popular music genre (it's in the name) but its one of the hardest to find in small independent music scenes like Liverpool. Why is that? To find out, I spoke to Pop in the Pool founder Giorgia Bortoli , who's trying to change just that. We spoke about why Pop is perceived as less authentic, how she performs with backing tracks, dealing with anti-pop bias from promoters and...

This week I spoke to Nina Himmelreich and Connor Di Leo , co-founders of new organisation Music Seen that's set to revolutionise Liverpool's music industry. Music Seen is a project that aims to make the information on the local music scene accessible in one central place, representing the creative talent the city has to offer, the work they do, and how to find them. We spoke about how the...

We're joined once again by A&R maestro Marwen Tlili to talk about his journey in the music industry, from working in a restaurant when he was 18 to signing deals with BMG in 2024. We talk about how his career took off after signing Belgian producer Lost Frequencies with the multi-platinum single 'Are You With Me', his work at a UK major record label and how he nearly signed Lewis C...

On the 10th of April, the ReMap report , detailing the experiences of Black music makers and industry professionals within the Liverpool City Region and making recommendations to pioneer change, was released to the public. In collaboration with the Liverpool City Region Music Board , I was invited to record the panel discussion held as part of the report's launch event at District. The panel w...

How much does it cost to make a music video. What about promoting a new single. Or even releasing one in the first place. I sat down with independent pop artist Giorgia Bortoli to ask just that, and break down the costs that went into her latest single Big Love and the surrounding release campaign. 🔗 GIORGIA BORTOLI: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giorgiabortoli/ 🎵 Watch the 'Big Lo...

Paul McCartney. Alicia Keys. Sting. Noel Gallagher. These are just some of the names that been guests on the Sodajerker on Songwriting podcast, a show that dives into the craft of songwriting hosted by Simon Barber and Brian O’Connor, who are my guests in this episode. We explore how the decade-long podcast got started, the best songwriting advice they got from Paul McCartney, tools to overcome wr...

Everything from releasing a single, to playing a cover at a gig, or even writing a song with a mate is subject to music law, and if you don’t have a basic understanding of it, you can easily get exploited. That’s why I sat down with again with Grace Goodwin , an artist mentor at Future Yard and an expert in music law, to make all things legal a LOT less complicated.   We talk about the different r...

Why are most festival line-ups made up of 80% male bands? This week I spoke to co-founder of Where Are The Girlbands Ella Fradgley to answer that question, and what her organisation are doing to give female creatives a platform in Liverpool. We also spoke about how to create a safe space at gigs, why pop music is underrepresented in local scenes and her new podcast.   🔗 Ella Fradgley: 📸 Instagra...

Do you need a record deal? And how do you go about getting the attention of a record label? Well this week I’m joined once again by Marwen Tlili , a former A&R at Armada Music and Atlantic Records , about what it takes to get the attention of the biggest record labels on the planet. We spoke about what an A&R actually is, the benefits & downsides of getting signed, his new tool to help...

Only 5-10% of the workforce behind the scenes in live music is female. Why is that? And what can be done to fix it?   This week I spoke to extraordinary live sound engineer Hannah Brodrick about her career and the challenges she has faced along the way. Hannah is the co-founder of Women in Live Music , an organisation that offers work opportunities, community support and education to women looking...

Being an independent artist can be REALLY expensive. From recording to marketing to merch and more, it can be difficult to fund your creative ambitions alone. So in this episode, we’re delving into the world of music funding with Grace Goodwin , who works with PRS for Music to decide which funding applications make the cut. Drawing from her extensive experience, Grace shares invaluable tips and ad...

In a slightly different episode, I sat down with music industry legend Marwen Tlilli to react to the ongoing conflict between Universal Music Group and TikTok, which has resulted in major artists like Taylor Swift, Drake, The Weeknd and more having their music removed from the social media platform. We discuss which industry titan has the leverage in this situation, and Marwen shares why he believ...

This week I spoke DJ culture with Liverpool-based Mia Mai as we explore her journey as a student DJ to the creation of her ground-breaking classical-electronic fusion event Mia Mai and Friends. We also discuss the recent closure of Liverpool radio stalwart Melodic Distraction and whether high rates for DJs are killing live music.     🔗 Mia Mai: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miamaiiiiii/...

What do artist managers really do? Do you need one? This week, myself and the wonderful Mali Anthony of MALANTMEDIA are peeling back the layers on what managers really do, from PR, radio, booking gigs and more. We also spoke about how to avoid gig scams, the state of the Liverpool scene in 2024, why MALANTMEDIA are doing things differently to other management companies, and how to build connection...

All the way from North Carolina, this week I spoke with Ava Rose Lynch , founder of the Rose Peak branding agency and the Why Music? Podcast , as we explore how Ava builds social media strategies for her artists that result in long-term success on Instagram and TikTok. We also spoke about Instagram's new Broadcast Channels feature, and whether artists should be using it to connect with their f...

Merch is a great way to generate income as an independent artist, but there's a problem that no-one in the music industry seems to be talking about: it's negative impact on the environment. In this episode, I spoke to James Gillaspy about how his project AGAIN is shaping the future of sustainable merchandise by screen-printing designs onto second-hand clothing, creating a zero-waste produc...

In this podcast, we delve into the experiences of an independent artist navigating the music industry and Liverpool's local scene through a mixed-race, non-binary and queer lens. Our guest Zara Smile as they share insights into challenges faced, using songwriting to share their anger at a broken system with the world, building an inclusive community through their work and the empowering role o...

WE’RE BACK! In 2024, independent artists are supposed to be doing a LOT of things. This week, I spoke to independent artist Zara Smile about the wide variety of roles that independent artists like them take on, such as songwriting, recording music, social media strategy, music marketing, booking gigs, music PR, making merch and more, all whilst balancing other commitments. Join us as we uncover th...

Is radio dead? Does it still help artists get their music heard? This week, renowned radio broadcaster Roy Basnett of Liverpool Live Radio offers insights on the evolving importance of radio in today's digital landscape, how to secure airplay on local radio, and how it contributes to an artist's trajectory. Discover the relevance of radio plays for independent artists and gain valuable str...

This week we have an in-depth conversation with Joe Edwards , Senior Marketing Director at AWAL , as we delve into the world of content strategy to promote your music. We speak about the secrets behind successful marketing campaigns, including a deep dive on the content Joe helped create for Bombay Bicycle Club 's latest album My Big Day . Joe shares expert insights on leveraging storytelling,...

In this special episode recorded at the book launch of 'This Must Be The Place' at Waterstones Liverpool, we've got a compelling panel discussion featuring author Shain Shapiro , neo-jazz artist Ni Maxine , Head of UNESCO City of Music for Liverpool Kevin McManus , and Liverpool's Public Health Director Matt Ashton . Delve into insightful conversations on music's role in city d...

In this week's episode, we explore the world of music press features with James Booton of Boot Music . We dive into strategies and tactics for securing magazine, blog, and press coverage for your music. Learn first-hand from a Liverpool-based music magazine creator about crafting an effective press feature strategy, positioning your music for recognition, what press look for in a music EPK, an...

In this episode, we spoke to James Booton about his Liverpool-based music magazine and blog Boot Music . We delve into the origins of Boot Music, uncover the challenges faced by local music venues, discuss the new era of the music press, and dig into the essential role of community-building in finding an audience. 🎧 LISTEN TO THE SHOW https://linktr.ee/soundadvicepod 🔗 BOOT MUSIC: 📸 Instagram:...