What do they deal with? Royalties, copyrighting, licensing.
Who do they represent? Songwriters, composers and performers/publishers, lyricists.
The Performing Rights Society for Music is a collective management organization for royalty collection and distribution to society. Its members consist mainly of songwriters, composers and publishers. Customers of the PRSfM are music users and streaming companies such as Spotify. PRSfM issues licenses to its customers which allow them to use members music; monies raised from issuing licenses are paid as royalties to members whose works have been used. To join PRSfM, you must make a one-off payment of £100 of which covers a lifetime membership and almost 150 countries around the world.
PRS ROYALTY PROCESS
If you want to make money from creativity in the music industry, it’s important to understand the copyright process. Copyright can make you money as anyone who wishes to use your music needs permission and authority to do so through a license usually with a fee. The Performing rights society of music deals in particular with copyright dealing with musical works and publishing rights (music and words). The Phonographic Performances Limited deals with performers on recordings and ownership therefore most issues they handle are to do with sound recording and master rights. Once available in material form it is considered viable from copyright. Whoever owns the equipment or has paid for the recording usually owns it. Copyright lasts throughout the creator’s lifetime +70 years after their death, this also applies to sound recording but copyright doesn’t start till its release. It is also possible for the self-releasing artists, record labels, featured and non-featured artists to join PPL. If someone wishes to use or borrow a piece of from a song or composition that has been copyrighted by me, they must ask for permission of which I have the right to refuse. If they still go on to use my work without my permission, they are liable to be sued, as being a PRS member allows me protection of my work. PRS is important for songwriters as it allows a claim on work created by them while also getting payed for its use.
As a songwriter the PFRSfM is important to be a part of as if not you will not be paid for your musical contributions when your music is played or streamed. There is also the possibility of someone claiming your music as their own and you will not have copyright on your composition. It is important to keep physical copies of your work and date them with the correct titles just in case of copyright issues. These envelopes can be used in court once still sealed with the proper identification for the tracks in them.
CASE STUDY- An example of PRS is the Zutons in 2006 who originally penned and recorded the song Valerie under Delta sonic records. Delta sonic is a part of PPL, therefore whenever the song is played on the Radio, the Zutons and the label get paid. However, Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse covered the song a few years later. Every time Ronson’s version is played, all those related to the track, including their record companies, plus the Zutons are payed. However, this does not apply to Mark and Amy when the Zutons version is played as they do not hold original creative credits.
Hello, my name is Aaliyah Claxton and I am, a freelance songwriter and A&R executive for Atlantic Records.
Pensions are a secure income for life which increases by at least the rate of inflation each year. They apply to those who are of retirement age, the current retirement age is 65 years old, but this is likely to change in the future. Pensions are defined by regular made payment by the state to people of the national retirement age, they also apply to widows and those with disabilities. During a person’s employment years, a sum of money is added, to support the persons retirement. The money is paid periodically (£168.60 a week) after retirement. Entitlement to the pensions are built up through contributions to N.I (national insurance) during your working years -of which must be 35 to get a full pension or at least 10 to get any. Pensions are an important part of planning the retirement process. Pensions for those who are not employed by corporations can be more difficult as there is no one to assist in choosing a pension scheme, no guaranteed regular income patterns and no employer contributions. Through self-assessment those who are not employed by companies can still receive government pensions by filling out details and paying towards their N.I, as this record is what determines how much state pension you receive. On the other hand, private or personal pensions are optional, the money received from these at retirement depends on how much has been invested in and on whether the performance of the economy and your investments is good. Regular contributions can be made, or it can be done ad-hoc where only one-off payments are made, and the pension provider adds tax relief. Private pensions can help support any money that you receive from government pensions which is just over £8,750.00 a year.
This self-assessment sheet is of someone who earns a medium income. The sheet shows that this person earns £17,500, above the threshold for which tax should not be taxed which is £11,500. This person will automatically have 20% of tax removed from their final income. That means that £6000.00 of their income lies in the 20% tax threshold. 20% of £6000 is £1,200, which in result means, this amount will go towards tax. However, some of this goes towards N.I contributions (£840.24) for state pension. In total, the government is owed £2,040.24. It is important to pay this on time and also save to ensure that you have enough to pay this, as if not there are various consequences.
This self-assessment sheet is of someone who earns a low income. The sheet shows that this person earns £9,500, which is below the threshold for which you can be taxed- £11,500. This person will not have tax removed from their final income. To be taxed they must begin earning above £11,500. However, their N.I contribution is £120.24 which must be paid.
Tax is a compulsory contribution to state revenue, taken by the government on workers’ income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions. Taxes are involuntary and enforced by a government entity of which can be local in order to finance government activities. The money is used to help fund public works and services and to build and maintain the infrastructures used in a country and for the betterment of citizens. The money could be income earned from salary etc. Only a percentage of the taxpayer’s earnings or money is taken and if you do not earn above the first threshold- Personal Allowance of up to £12,500.00- you may not be taxed. Payment of taxes at rates imposed by the state are compulsory, and tax evasion – of which is the deliberate failure to pay one’s full tax – is punishable by law. Most governments utilize an agency or department to collect taxes. In the UK most taxation is payed forward to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and local councils. If employed, paychecks are taxed automatically but if you are self-employed, you must rely on self-assessments to pay tax forward. Self-assessment is a system used to collect income tax that must be filled in after the tax year it applies to for example April 5th. Tax returns can be done in both paper and online forms, in order to fill them in correctly you must keep records – for example bank statements and receipts. The more you earn, is the higher you will fit in on the tax threshold and the more you will have to pay: the less you earn, the lower you will sit on the threshold and the less you will have to pay.
Band
Taxable income
Tax rate
Personal Allowance
Up to £12,500
0%
Basic rate
£12,501 to £50,000
20%
Higher rate
£50,001 to £150,000
40%
Additional rate
over £150,000
45%
Tax evasion of which is the deliberate failure to pay tax- can result in jail time of up to six months or a fine of up to £5,000 fine, the maximum penalty is an unlimited fine and seven years maximum in prison. The provision of false documentation in order to pay less can result in penalties up to and above a £20,000 fine or up to seven months in prison. Assests can also be seized or liquidized by government officials for debts owned, resulting in bankruptcy of which can cause restrictions with banks and future loans etc. Accountants can be hired to handle these affairs, the hourly rate of one costs between £60 and £80.
Invoice
An invoice is effectively a bill. It is a payment demand used by a seller to a buyer. It details what goods have been provided or the work done and how much must be paid in return. Invoices can be used to bill for one-off projects or for recurring work, but they are most widely used to request payment after work is completed, and where there is an ongoing relationship with the customer. Traditionally, invoices are in paper form, either handwritten or typed, and sent by mail but recently, many have used email to speed up the delivery process. Some even use specialist software to generate e-invoices immediately, with information flowing automatically between seller and buyer.
Regardless of how it’s delivered, an invoice includes these elements: the word ‘Invoice’ marked clearly at the top of the document, a unique number/reference number, the name, address, and contact details of the individual or company issuing the invoice, the name and address of the person or company being invoiced, a description of the product/service the invoice covers, the supply date of the goods/service, the date the invoice was issued, the amount of money owed, if applicable- detailing the VAT sum, or any pre-agreed discounts, the overall total due and the deadline date for all final payments. Invoices are important to keep as they are needed to track payments made in and out, so that details for tax returns are filed correctly.
This is an invoice delivered to an artist for songwriting services.
SELF MANAGEMENT
PLANNING & TIME MANAGEMENT
Time management is the process of planning how much time is allocated to certain activities, this allows you to complete all tasks diligently, lowering stress and ensuring accurate completion. As head of A&R, time management is important as days must be planned concisely in order to prioritize tasks and be successful not only within meetings but within the artist roster and their careers. An example of this is overseeing the recording process of an artists such as Judah & The Lion while also talent scouting through attending shows of lesser known artists on YouTube or Soundcloud and listening to demo’s sent to the office by established music industry professionals such as producers and agents, as unsolicited material cannot be accepted. As the label is always looking for new artists, it is necessary that no time is wasted as there are many meetings to plan and attend plus time must be spent with the artist due to me being a gatekeeper to the industry.
In order to keep on track of the day to day, I create schedules and reminders to make sure that I don’t forget to complete anything or run behind schedule, setting alarms and leaving enough time to get to different locations and complete tasks is important as I would rather overestimate the amount of time it would take me to do something and be ahead rather than underestimate and fall behind. Planning is a huge part of time management, as it helps make everything more efficient by allowing you to know when and where you must be to get tasks done and at what times. In the process of breaking down the day, you can allocate specific times to certain activities that don’t have a time of immediate importance. Planning is very important as an A&R exec as I must know when I am available to have meetings with higher ups, talent scout and meet to improve the careers of those already signed to the label. It is useful to write down events I plan to attend and it helps to know if any of these dates or times clash with other commitments for example if I have planned to listen to artists demos on October 7th but also have a concert for an upcoming artist to attend, I must know and decide of which is more important or can be done later, having a clearly laid out schedule can help with this process.
Both the schedule and alarms set for September 10th, 2019
Occasionally, I do forget to set my schedule and am late to shows and recording sessions due to traffic or grounded flights in the result of bad weather, on other occasions I may fall behind in one task and have a hard time catching up to the others therefore making sticking to the schedule difficult. Some days, the schedule doesn’t completely align as meetings must be postponed or may be cancelled etc., therefore causing changes to my day and its layout. Major interruptions to my schedule can throw off the way an artist can work and therefore is not an ideal situation.
To improve my time management, I know I must make sure all necessities are completed before taking time for a break to avoid having to spend extra hours after the workday to catch up.
Time management training courses could help with this. Through attendance I can learn how to better manage my time, distractions and errors that may occur. A course like this will help me to improve my flexibility to change, among other things.
As I become more successful and move up the hierarchy, longer work hours will be expected of me, therefore the way I manage time will have to change in the slightest to accommodate family time and personal matters. Naturally, I will become accustomed to hectic schedules and learn to better manage my time, but it will only become increasingly difficult to balance it all the more successful I get.
GOAL SETTING AND RESPONSIBILITY
As an A&R exec it is important to set goals not only for myself but for those on the label’s artist roster. Goal setting helps you to not only achieve but also helps in the visualizing a clear pathway to how to achieve the goals you have visualized; without an objective it is nothing but a dream without a plan. This process is important as without clear set goals you will become comfortable with where you are, which in short term may not affect you but will keep you back long term, as you aren’t making much progress. In this business planning ahead is important as it is how you have a successful career.
Following the ‘SMART’ abbreviation (Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time bound) can help you ensure that you’re aiming for meets the criteria of a successful goal. A more specified goal for a specific avenue is usually more successful than one on broad terms. If the goal is measurable it’s easier to see the progress made for example, the process of transitioning a rising star from arenas to stadium shows and successfully selling out first priority seats to their first stadium gig in less than five minutes, is a measurable goal, as you can judge the progress made. There are always check points to ensure that I am on track to achieving what is best. You must also weigh out whether the goal is achievable for example a smaller artist on the roster such as Thirdstory may be able to sell out smaller venues such as the Scala but would have a harder time selling out the 02 or SSE arena than an artist such as Shawn Mendes as their fanbase isn’t at the same outreach level, therefore setting them up for a large scale European tour would not be realistic as not enough tickets would be sold to keep the shows going. Over time, by working with the group, releasing albums, ep’s, merch and other products and growing their fanbase, playing bigger venues will become a more realistic goal and achievable as once they have their minds to it and perform to a high standard it can be done.
As an A&R exec a goal consistently set for myself is to ensure that I set unsigned and sometimes even established artists up with the right labels for their sound and creative direction, amongst other things. As I must continue to work closely with the artist after, acting as a liaison between them and other departments including label head, I must remain a diligent advisor who will help nurture a certain sound and image by aligning artists with the right producer and offering the best creative input.
For an unsigned musician, A&R can be the gatekeepers to the industry, therefore making it our job to find marketable music and artists for the companies we are employed by. A&R reps are the musicians’ point of contact at the label during contract negotiations, we also play an important role in development of the artist, marketing and sometimes even choose songs for the musicians to record if they don’t write their own material. We play a key role in building a basic promotional foundation for albums and the musicians. This means as the first point of contact I must know and maintain my vision for the artist, this is because my career success also depends on their success. Goals I have include signing at least two new artists every 3 months, begin the process of album visions for Charlotte Lawrence- this includes artwork, sound for this era, future singles release of the three best of the twenty songs she has written and finalization of the album track list for Sabrina Carpenter’s third full length album. As I become more successful my goal setting will change as I will have to be more ambitious and set larger ones, especially as artists on the roster grow.
As A&R exec I am responsible for overseeing all activities within the department and must report back to the head of the label. I am responsible for finding and signing new music talent, the budget of the department, managing the staff, hiring new staff and researching and scouting artists, I must take responsibility for errors made in these areas and make the necessary arrangements to improve them instead of tossing the blame on someone else. This means I must answer to higher ups on any major departmental error.
Hello, my name is Aaliyah Claxton and I am a freelance singer-songwriter and A&R exec for Atlantic Records.
Health and safety are important as it is vital for musicians, especially those who freelance, as to protect yourself and safeguard your career.
Ear Protection
Although noise is a part of the production of music and not unwanted, musicians can still be affected by noise levels which can pose a problem as hearing is a crucial part of the job. Music is a job known for having high noise levels that are essential to the event. However, this can cause irreversible repercussions. As an A&R executive I am in attendance of concerts for emerging talent quite often and as recreational music exposure is a potential risk factor for noise induced hearing loss it is important to combat this. Regularly wearing hearing protection when in attendance of these events such as Senner earplugs can help prevent premature or permanent hearing loss due to loud noises levels. This is as the earplugs can reduce decibel exposure while not deteriorating listening quality.
Maintenance and Pat Testing
PAT Testing- also known as Portable Appliance Testing- is the process of routinely checking appliances for safety issues.
When using electrical equipment, you must ensure they are safe to use before and after using them. Testing must be done by a competent and qualified person; if you feel as if you are not competent enough to do so you should not carry out the tests as it can lead to damage to not only the equipment but possibly yourself and others. If a PAT test is not done properly, you can be putting unsafe equipment into circulation therefore an electrician or someone who has completed a course to an appropriate standard should be enlisted to do the job. There are no outright rules regarding PAT test frequency and maintenance itself can include visual inspection, testing, repair and/or replacement. Maintenance will determine whether the equipment is fully serviceable, or if remedial action is necessary. Testing will depend on the type of use and how much wear and tear the equipment receives. If there are any signs of damage or poor electrical standards the equipment should not be used until it is made safe.
A full and accurate record of test result and equipment details should be kept for example the identification numbers, appliance description, serial numbers and time between tests. All data should show the tests undertaken and the results obtained.
Cable Coiling
Every cable has a natural coil and trying to coil in the opposite direction of that can cause it to twist to the inside and fail. the best method of action is “over under”. Coiling cables around your arm is the incorrect way of doing it and should be avoided. For coiling cables you should be able to make three to four loops by Cables should be coiled approximately 15 cm apart to prevent them from coiling too tightly as if they must be hung on a hook, the less loops means the larger the final coil will be made and the easier it will sit place on the hook. Using this technique cables will last for a longer time. The velcro on the cable should be wrapped around to ensure that it is secured in the coil. As a singer-songwriter I may have to coil equipment wires when packing things to move between locations for writing sessions. A consequence of not coiling properly is not only messy or tangled cables but broken wires to the inside. If cables are not cooled properly, when needed they could fail which -if there are no spares- could cause inconvenience and push back the songwriting session.
below is a video on proper cooking technique-
Floorboards
Floorboards are common in music environments and must be shut correctly when not in use. If cables or wires are plugged into the electrical system below you must pass them through the hatch, so when the floorboard is shut, it will not slice the wire. As a songwriter many times I may need to plus equipment such as an Amp into the floorboard therefore placing wires and ensuring I close it correctly is important in order not to cause injury to myself and others present. It is important to set this up correctly as in the worst-case scenario if anyone is injured badly, people may not want to hire you again.
Amps
An amp is used in order to amplify or add effect to the sound of instruments such as guitar and bass. As amps can be quite heavy lifting them correctly is important as if it is done incorrectly you can injure yourself instantly or over a period of time. To lift an amp, you must first go into a squat position and then stand with a straight back as you lift and move. As a songwriter I may have to lift the amp to various areas of the room and to and from locations if I move to different studios for sessions.
Part of having a successful career in the industry is the ability to market yourself and stand out from others in the modern music world. Being able to brand yourself through an online portfolio, a blog or website is a good way of branching out and exposing yourself to a wider audience. Through a website or blog on a platform such as WordPress, I will be able to present a concise view of who I am as a musician. Through my own website, I will be able to advertise myself and my brand – a regular teenage girl who makes songs about the musings of what she knows about the world. As an individual who is self-employed, the internet is an advantage as it enables me to reach people who may not live locally, expanding the audience that engage with my music. Employers generally look for artists who are reliable and have skills they can build on, such as the ability to play or produce their own tracks. It is import you showcase these skills and demonstrate that you are a desirable candidate to potential employers and industry professionals.
CV JUSTIFICATION
A CV is a snapshot of your musical career to date. On this document I can state my main instrument, any other instruments I play, and the genres in which I specialize. I can also compile a list of my gigs and highlight other skills and achievements as a CV is designed to help you stand out from other applicants. I chose to make and place my CV into my blog as it gives easy access for employers to see what I have accomplished. As a CV is usually the first basis of introduction and contact in an employee-employer relationship, it is important to sell/market yourself appropriately by tailoring it to the job roles you wish to fill. It is important to place the correct information onto the CV, in order to give yourself a higher chance of employment. As a freelancer, I will have to regularly update it with note-worthy positions and achievements. These positions would be in chronological order so the employer can follow my employment history easily and will also highlight my most impressive gigs, while keeping everything to the point, making it easy to assess from a glance. My CV currently highlights performances I have done in the past, including an ABBA tribute at Woodlands School. The skills I have chosen to highlight include modern foreign language (Spanish), and creative direction in areas such as music video production. It also highlights my leaderships skills through roles such as Choir leader and Deputy Head Girl, a role that saw me oversee a team of student leaders.
APPROACH TO IMAGE
My approach to image and design, although to an extent is aesthetically pleasing, is not to the standard I hope it would still be when developed to its full extent, as there should be a clear difference between the work of someone who specializes in website design and someone who is learning as they go. Once I believe I am earning enough in my career, I will invest further into the layout of my blog.
I am firstly comparing my blog to that of Camila Cabello- a Cuban American singer-songwriter. Although this layout and color scheme is not entirely what I would go for if I had the skills and money to present my blog this way, this site is still an excellent example of image and design correlating perfectly to artist and brand. Cabello’s website currently reflects the aesthetic of her album ‘Romance’ this is seen in through a color theme of red, black and nude plus gothic roman font. The dark theme could also reflect an ongoing trend of ‘dark modes’ in websites for example Twitter and Instagram, where the appearance is inverted so the background is black and text colored. Recently, this has gained popularity as it improves visibility and can be helpful to those sensitive to light. Her theme overall helps to brand this era of music as more passionate and sensual. The darker aesthetic doesn’t entirely appeal to me and as I have no album to draw layout inspiration from, I have decided to stick to the aesthetic of my YouTube channel by sticking to darker images with bursts of color and reflect more of an ad hoc, playful and unbranded feel.
Cabello’s blog contains many images of her, and as she is an established performer with a large following her cover image is that of her album while her logo only states her name. The ratio of images I have of myself to those she has is currently one: fifteen, this is because she has her Instagram feed linked to the website and has more professional photography for her artwork for singles. The main difference between her cover art and mine is that all cover art for my singles and videos is created by me using Adobe Creative Suite and photographs I have taken. Unlike Camila, I would much rather have graphically designed artwork or more personal photographs that are edited by me. Overall, I feel that my blog is more suited towards my personality and the way I wish to be represented. I believe it gives forth a feeling of small-town charm, bordering ‘girl next door who records covers in the corner of her room.’
On the other hand, Alessia Cara’s website follows a lighter color theme of yellow, greens, pink/red and black. This not only loosely reflects the color theme of her last two albums and EP but also the youthful, uplifting, pop vibe her songs have. The brighter colors work nicely for the way she wishes to portray herself to her audience, as she commonly refers to herself as ‘a regular person who makes songs”. This is shown through the creative approach of her homepage such as the sketches of stars, hearts and flowers plus the brush font. Her approach to image is quite natural and less professional than Cabello’s as her main header image is one taken by her friend using an iPhone camera. Cara’s page- also unlike Cabello, lacks as many images of herself, as there are only six and she does not have a gallery on the site. Cara’s cover images and the logo also feel more DIY, and very similar to art class sketches further helping brand herself as ‘the girl next door’. The homepage of Alessia’s site allows for easy access to her latest singles and videos, upcoming tour dates and a short bio that highlights her achievements; unlike Cabello’s, it is less clustered and has a more concise breakdown of her brand and latest works. There are immediate links through the form of a slideshow, where you can stream or download from her latest additions to her discography. To the top left-hand corner, there are also icons with links leading to her store and the widgets on the homepage, this is effective as you do not have to searching for her social media pages and can instead have easy access.
I believe that having links helps simplify the viewing experience for employers and fans as it gives them a direct link to the information, they want instead of trying to sift through everything, to find one line. Ideally, I would have my links to the top of the page as the side bar on Cabello’s blog blended into her image and I was unaware it was there. My blog does have a version of this add on, but the links are limited to SoundCloud and Youtube.
Many artists throughout their careers struggle to find a niche, but it is important to find your own identity within a genre and in the music world in order to build a brand off of it. Although many artists are branching out into various genres ad business ventures, the most marketable artists tend to have a certain persona and float between certain genres. For example, Ashley Frangipane is professionally known as her stage persona Halsey and is known for making songs commonly categorized as angst-pop or alternative, but on her recent album she ventured into country-influenced pop with her song ‘you should be sad’.
Having a brand also allows for companies to reach out for sponsorship and collaboration, an example of this is Camila’s partnership with MasterCard. Through this partnership MasterCard holders who are fans of Camila have access to fan presale, among other things.
As of this moment it’s not difficult to establish a brand for myself, as through my website I can showcase the unique selling points of my songwriting and style when covering songs by other artists. However, there are other unique aspects of my blog, for example there are educational videos and information on safety within a studio- 5 TOP TIPS- but also a showreel of cover snippets to give a flavor of what I can do. There are also articles within my blog to highlight my knowledge on issues such as performers rights, and other legalities I could be subject to at some point in my career. Through articles on the Musicians Union and Performing Rights Society, I will be able to deter ill-intentioned employers who want to exploit those they hire through clearly showcasing my knowledge on artist protection. Another way of branding is through ‘artist eras’, for example visual concepts and aesthetics surrounding an album that can be used for merchandise and tour visuals, as well as costume and set when filming for music videos or performing on shows. Cabello’s current era of sound and aesthetic follows themes from the renaissance period and romance era of music. This is portrayed through many aspects of her marketing such as album artwork and the invitations used for listening sessions to the album release video and original teaser posters. This was done as most songs off the album talk about love, therefore making Cabello and her team believe that promotion would be better used if they showcased it through a specific time period. Eras and themes help give unique selling points between older discography’s and newer albums. I have established a loose theme for my blog based off past works that I’ve created and used colors that establish the tracks perspective and my personality musically at the time of their creation.
Themes are common across the industry, whether that is to promote a certain LP, EP or single. An example of this is Matt Maeson’s trilogy of releases Who Killed Matt Maeson, The Hearse and Bank on the Funeral. A common theme in his music throughout his career has been how he openly talks about how detrimental his own mindset and actions are to his wellbeing. The basis of it is Matt Maeson burying Matt Maeson, which when linked to lyrics about ‘bruises on his conscience’ and ‘dancing after death’, has become part of his image. I hope later in my career to be able to give myself more of an established theme using imagery related to more popular tracks, allowing for things that haven’t really been done before to establish an image for myself as an artist. It’s not too early to take career risks but it is better to wait until I have a stable support base.
Camila uses her website to promote her music videos and behind the scene footage connected to them, whereas I use my blog to promote my cover videos and tutorials. This makes it clear that her job is supply and demand, as she provides videos to entertain her audience but mine are more suited for engaging potential employers and fans, this outlines that we have different target audiences.
A piece of marketing that my blog is yet to have are links to social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook. At some point, I do intend to add these, among others as social media is a crucial part of marketing broadening your base in a modern world. This part of Camila’s blog shows the viewer her Instagram feed, as it is linked to her social media. Images of Cabello are a predominant part of her website. From these photos you can see the way in which she markets herself, as she displays her personality, her current era and events she’s participated in recently for example The Better than, Better now riff off with James Corden and her Grammy’s performance, plus an image from Save the Children and quotes from authors and people she looks up to. All these things can give someone viewing the blog, an idea of what the artist is about. Putting social media links onto my blog, would show those who view it my achievements and other things such as visuals regarding my brand. As I believe the gallery is a little too much, I would link my social media profiles in icons on the page, making them easily accessible, through immediate access.
On the other hand, Alessia markets herself quite simply and a little more laid back as she isn’t too fussed about popularity. The way she markets also reflects the brand she originally garnered attention for, it’s very ‘girl filming covers in her bedroom closet’ and creating videos using her phone, than big budget pop star as she doesn’t believe she should be judged for the superficial but on how talented and capable she is on making thought-provoking art. Alessia’s brand is very inclusive of different ages, backgrounds and situations, this is evident through her music videos and the lyrical topics discussed in songs for example Scarsto You Beautiful– released in 2015-takes aim at society’s beauty standards and the deleterious behaviors many take to fit in. This song was used by I AM THAT GIRL for their manifesto and further marketed her as more of an empathetic friend than an established pop star like that of Camila Cabello.
Overall, there is very little marketing for Cara and her brand as she enjoys being an understated artist. Cara’s website reflects the theme of her last EP, with its bright colors, sketches and summery feel. As Alessia Cara paints in her free time, her team have found a way to incorporate her personal touch through the drawings. When more established I would very much like to present myself this way and find things that can be added that tie into my interests and attract employers.
Unlike Camila who uses images of herself, quotes and organizations to present herself, I find less photos and more personal additions such as home-made lyric videos and bright color themes, are more unique selling points when promoting yourself. (Alessia’s original videos were done by her and up to recently OKAY, OKAY was filmed in her car.
Neither of these websites have educational or informative aspects such as Tutorials, making them differ majorly from mine. A merch store is another aspect that they have, that is not present in my blog. Through a merch store, fans can purchase digital and physical copies of records as well as items of clothing with lyrics that relate to previous albums and colors and imagery that reflect Alessia’s brand.
Through my blog, I hope to brand myself not only as a singer-songwriter but also an educator through my tutorials; for example, my Steelpan tutorial can give the impression that I am well versed in playing to an employer.
Both Cara and Cabello’s blogs lack as much personal information as mine, allowing for their privacy and a separation of their personal and private life. I need to improve my contacts page, to avoid giving away too much information for example instead of having my CV as a blog post, it can be sent to potential employers on request. As for right now, as a freelancer, it is important to keep this set up.
My blog shows through my CV that I have had an opportunity in my career to perform and write, in various areas. However, there are no pictures from these events present in my blog the way they are available through Cabello and Cara’s social media, for example their Grammy performance images and footage from concerts- Alessia was on a world tour until recently. On top of the lack of performance footage, I don’t believe I have a large amount of credible experience to talk about in detail, like that of established performers. An example of opportunity presented through Cabello’s website is her tour date display. Through this widget fans can buy tickets and those signed up to Camila’s fan club can access fan presale and reserve extra tickets and purchase them before general public sale. There are currently 48 dates set for tour, stretching over the U.K, Europe and North America, with dates set for South America to soon be released, maximizing the exposure of her artistry but also giving her more tour experience as a solo artist and showing employers she is capable enough as a performer to book multiple venues for shows.
Opportunities to showcase her talent and perform solo are important to an artist like Camila, as she was once in a girl group. Now as a solo artist she has the opportunity to showcase her songwriting and personal sound, at shows such as Billboard’s Women in Music. Touring and live performances also allow for footage that can be uploaded to an artist’s YouTube channel; these videos are usually used for reaction videos by YouTubers such as Keisha Erin, where performances are watched for the first time and critiqued genuinely. Depending on the visuals and creative direction of the performance, the videos can trend on platforms such as Twitter and YouTube once again giving artists the opportunity to expand their audience and showcase their skills, an example of this is Camila Cabello’s performance of Havana at the 61st Grammy Awards, in which she collaborated with J Balvin, Ricky Martin, Young Thug and Cuban-American jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, to bring Latin flavored pop to the forefront.
Collaborations can also maximize opportunity, especially in the charts. For example, ‘Old Town Road’ by Lil Nas X, although a hit before, went #1 on the Billboard charts after Billy Ray Cyrus featured on the remix version. The remix charted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-setting nineteen weeks. The collaboration ultimately helped push forward the songs popularity and helped Lil Nas win his first Grammy award.
Beside tour and collaboration there are also other opportunities that can be taken to expand your audience and gain experience in the industry. An example of this is Alessia Cara’s future hosting position of the Juno Awards 2020 and her work penning songs for the Walt Disney animation movie Moana and the Netflix series The Get Down.
As I am not as established as these artists opportunities of that magnitude are yet to approach me, and I therefore look for opportunities that are local to my area for example Thursday night Open Mics at Henry’s Kitchen and the EDSA showcase. To improve my website, I can include a calendar of different events I take part in and include links where tickets can be purchased and information on running times etc. can be found. I think that my branding idea could potentially be successful and as I am a music student, I will gradually find more things to incorporate into my career and blog. I believe that I have consistency in font and color throughout my blog but as I grow as an artist would like to adjust my color scheme, font and theme.
I am a current college student working towards attending The British & Irish Modern Music institute to pursue a career in music, marketing and communication at their London Campus. I have 4 years of debate experience and am a skilled public speaker. I also have experience in Customer Service through a recent ASOS course that taught the way in which specific branches of the company operate. I have many years of volunteering experience ranging from childcare to environmentalism. In addition, I currently serve as the social media manager for a non-profit organisation that aids in providing communities with educational and entrepreneurial opportunities to empower them and end the poverty cycle in the South of Trinidad.
An A&R representative oversees the division of the label that is responsible for finding promising new artists for the record label or publisher to sign as well as the creative and commercial development of artists already signed. Their duties include listening to demos, aligning artists with the right producer, and offering creative input. For those unsigned, A&R can be the gatekeepers to the industry and are a point of contact at during contract negotiations. The main responsibilities of an artists and repertoire representative is finding new and established talent, overseeing the recording process and assisting marketing and promotion through helping pick songs to be recorded and future singles and also basic promotion for album releases. An example of a prominent A&R representative is Ziggy Chareton- Senior Vice President and Head of A&R for Island Records.
The pathway to becoming an A&R rep-
In order to attend the university of my choice for this course -BIMM- I must achieve above 64 UCAS points, or BTEC Level 3 equivalent, and three GCSEs at a minimum grade C/4, including English Language. If I achieve these grades and am eligible to be on this course, I must consider other aspects such as finance, accommodation and other necessities. I must also ensure I am prepared to pass any auditions needed to get onto the course and ensure that I am confident in my ability.
Year One, the start of university:
In the September after my college education is over, I hope to pursue my career in A&R at BIMM- The British & Irish Institute of Modern Music to study Music, Marketing and Media Communications of which is a BA (Hons). This is more suitable than a conservatoire because I do not take A-level music and am less interested in the performance aspect of the music industry. This course would give me knowledge in business ethics and music law, marketing & PR and creative identity among other modules. This course will also offer industry engagement and will therefore allow for professional development and the foundation I need before I start my career. As the campus is in London – a good places for live music- I will be able to attend gigs and open mic nights which will allow me to gage what I would look for as an A&R rep when searching for talent to sign.
By my third year of University, I would hope to have developed my professionalism to allow me to enter the music industry. At this point, I will be close to the end of my education and should begin looking for a jobs and internships in my chosen field. Through specialist workshops that would have been offered throughout my final module. I will be informed enough to be able to use my portfolio to showcase my personal and professional journey to that moment. This portfolio will be able to communicate my professional identity and how I’m different from other promising A&R students, in addition to my future career plans. I would hope at this point that I would have developed other skills, such as events planning and digital marketing. At this point in my life I should also have my driving license which will allow me to travel to gigs and networking events. At this point in time I should also have an internship in order to bring in a steady income and gain experience as I build my career. An example of an internship in my chosen career path is paid A&R Coordination at Def Jam Recordings which involves liaising with A&R admin to book studios and work together on album delivery, manage calendars, meeting requests, and processing travel and expenses plus involvement in the creative process and day to day communication with artist management and pitch various artists (across multiple genres) to creative executives.
Year Five, employment:
At the end of university and my internship, I am hoping to have worked up the roster towards a permanent/long term position within the A&R sector in the music industry either at the company of my internship or somewhere different such as the UK bases for Island and Sony music. At this point I am hoping to have brought in a few clients and hopefully have a name for myself within the industry and be working towards promotions and opportunities to further my career and gain the most experience possible. Networking on sites such as LinkedIn might also help my career as I can establish my expertise and network with others in my industry.
Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to a performer who writes, composes and sings their own material including lyrics and melodies, often providing the sole accompaniment to an entire composition or song. An example of a popular singer-songwriter is Julia Michaels, who started her career at 14-years-old through networking and writing for television shows before being enlisted to write for artists such as Fifth Harmony and Ed Sheeran before starting her own career in 2017 through the release of her own song ‘Issues’.
Alternatively, if I weren’t to attend university, in the year after college, I would work towards my individual music development and a career in songwriting by attending courses to improve my craft as well as looking for gigs, open mic nights and overall work in the industry to develop my skills, build a repertoire and establishing my name in the industry. As I will not be attending university, most work towards building connections etc., would be done on my own., meaning most career development would be independent. In order to support myself while I pursue my career, I would assure that I have my Grade 8 vocals, so that I can teach part time to earn an income. I would also join the PRS and MU as if I’m planning to write and release music or write and produce for other artists, this will help to protect my creativity.
A short course somewhere such as City Academy will help me immensely as it will cover a range technique such as lyricism and song structure and the industry in general. This would give me insight into what works and how to improve my writing, the showcase at the end of the course could also help my confidence in performing and sharing my work with others. The music production aspect of this course will also aid in my musical development as skills from varying parts of the industry can make me more marketable. In addition to this I would also better my Steel Pan skills through joining an orchestra such as Nostalgia Steel Band or the Caribbean Band London.
Year Three, the start of apprenticeship or establishment in career
After three years, I would hope to have established or built a foundation in my career. At this point I am hoping to have built a small fanbase on social media and would have been working part time and attending open mics and gigs for the years before, in order to establish myself on the scene. In addition to this, I am hoping to have created my own home studio in order to record my own music and release music to streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music for it to be accessible to the public and for use in the mainstream. As well as this I would also take to apps such as LinkedIn and Facebook to establish myself as a performer and therefore play at weddings and other functions to generate an income and gain exposure. Music related apprenticeships could also be useful and can help make me a versatile candidate for future companies in the industry.
Trade Fairs
Trade fairs are important to consider in my career, and are important to attend, as if I have saved, I can invest in some high-end equipment as trade fairs are used to exhibit and promote products and services from big-name companies, these fairs allow for musicians to get equipment, and also discover further opportunities and areas of the industry, through meeting with other professionals. Networking may not be as relevant to me in the first or third year of my career, however by year 5, I should have enough of a portfolio to able to attend sessions offered in trade fairs such as BBC Introducing.
Year Five, employment and establishment
Having freelanced for 5-years, by this time I am hoping to be an established member of this industry sector. I would hope at this point to be able to charge more for vocal lessons and performances but also to have self-released an EP or Album due to being a more well-known musician. If having found a company to work for as a songwriter in year 3, at this point in my career I would have also hoped to have gained enough experience to be able to charge more for songs written.
To conclude, as an A&R representative it would be better for me to go to university in order to get the support needed from industry professionals and the insider knowledge needed to start my career, as university will allow me to develop my skills more efficiently and make better connections as it may be difficult to break into the industry without a portfolio. As a songwriter the no-university route may be better than attending school to learn how to write as it allows me more creative freedom, however it may be more difficult to find opportunities to shadow others in the industry sector I’m interested and find places to perform than if I was at a school where I had the assistance to find them.
Aaliyah Claxton Freelance Blog 