Byta Presents:
#HowWeListen Live: In Conversation with
Miller Williams, Senior VP Creative, Kobalt Music Publishing
Music Publishing & Sync: Where to Start?
Tuesday 30th August 9am PT / 12pm ET / 5pm BST
Live online via Zoom
Free registration: https://byta.co/hwl-live-miller-williams
Before COVID, publishing had already become an essential part of developing a creator’s career and sustaining income. Over the past year, publishing and sync is in the news weekly. Artists are selling their catalogues (for big numbers) and TV shows have quickly pushed artists to the top of the charts.
What can new, emerging and DIY artists, and their teams, learn about publishing? When is the right time to look for or land a deal? Our next guest is Miller Williams, Senior VP Creative, Kobalt Music Publishing. Williams’ role at Kobalt covers A&R, songwriter services, and catalogue acquisitions. He also works with their international agents and sub-publishers to exploit their songs and help their writers with co-write opportunities. Signings include Becky Hill, Milow, Jef Martens, Houston Comma publishing, Carla Monroe, AJ Tracy, Martin Sjolie, and Alex Clare. Williams has also held similar A&R and/or creative positions at Sony ATV UK, BMG Records UK, PWL Records UK, and Terrace Music (Nashville).
Kobalt is one of the most successful independent companies for music publishing, label services and rights management. In his role as Senior Vice President Creative there, Miller works variously across A&R, collaborations and music marketing.
This is a monthly online event that will be presented in two parts:
- A workshop: Tips & insights for tomorrow’s artists & music industry leaders with Byta founder Marc Brown.
- An in-depth interview with Miller Williams: He will talk about the publishing ecosystem & music sync: when to look for a deal as an artist, the different types of mechanicals and royalties, getting music into TV series, movies, and video games etc. Alternative ways of promoting your music.
About the Event
This series is designed to deliver the knowledge to enable tomorrow’s artists and industry leaders to better manoeuvre their way through the music ecosystem. Providing fun and insightful Q&A along the way!
#HowWeListen Live: In Conversation is hosted by Byta’s founder, Marc Brown, whose deep music business background and digital audio knowledge have helped him deliver unique insights to audiences from Tallinn to Toronto. Marc is a former label owner, A&R, manager and radio plugger.
Key takeaways:
- What exactly is publishing and how does it work?
- Why has publishing become more important over the last decade?
- How does an artist get a publishing deal?
- What are people looking for when it comes to tracks for advertising, TV, and film?
- How important is “luck” when it comes to synch?
- What are the unexpected opportunities developing in the industry?
Free registration: https://byta.co/hwl-live-miller-williams
Event Format
#HowWeListen Live (part 1):
The workshop will introduce industry insights that Marc has picked up from his work in A&R departments, running his own radio promotion company, plus years of experience managing artists and significant large-scale projects. Some of the topics he will touch on include artists’ teams, timelines and connecting the web of the music industry. Plus, most importantly, tips on what you can do yourself to better increase the chances of your success.
#HowWeListen In Conversation (part 2):
Each event will feature an in-depth one-to-one conversation. This time around our guest is Miller Williams, who will discuss the ins and outs of the publishing world and sync. Tips and tricks to make sure creators and their teams are in the best position possible when a publishing opportunity shows up.
About Byta
Byta (“Bee-tah”: the Swedish word for exchange) is unrivalled in taking advantage of the unique properties found in audio files. By simplifying the reading and writing of file metadata, conversion of file formats and delivery of fast yet secure streaming, the platform enables everyone to send and receive digital audio in a clean, simple and secure way. Byta has also launched #HowWeListen, a not-for-profit organisation that complements the company’s ultimate goal: providing artists and their teams with the tools and knowledge needed to move their careers forward.
About Miller Williams
Miller Williams’ role at Kobalt covers A&R, songwriter services, and catalogue acquisitions. He also works with their international agents and sub-publishers to exploit their songs and help their writers with co-write opportunities. Signings include Becky Hill, Milow, Jef Martens, Houston Comma publishing, Carla Monroe, AJ Tracy, Martin Sjolie, and Alex Clare.
Kobalt is one of the UK’s most successful independent companies for music publishing, label services and rights management. In his role as Senior Vice President Creative there, Miller works variously across A&R, collaborations and music marketing.
Prior to joining Kobalt in 2012, he directed the start-up of Global Talent Publishing, building the company into one of the UK’s Top 10 music publishers. Signings included Corinne Bailey Rae, Ellie Goulding, The Vaccines, LMFAO, and Al Shux (“Empire State of Mind”). He also licensed songs for major brand advertising campaigns, feature films, TV productions and computer games.
Williams has also held similar A&R and/or creative positions at Sony ATV UK, BMG Records UK, PWL Records UK, and Terrace Music (Nashville).
About Marc Brown
Marc is the founder of Byta / byta.com. Run as a distributed team across three continents, Byta enables sending and receiving of digital audio in a clean, simple and secure way. Built for everyone working with music today.
He has an extensive music business background and considerable digital audio knowledge, which have helped him deliver unique insights to audiences from Tallinn to Toronto.
Marc got his start at murderecords, Canada’s premier artist-owned label, during the mid-90s. After working in A&R at the legendary London indie, Creation Records, and then at Alan McGee’s Poptones, Marc started his own boutique UK radio promotion company off the back of his success with The Hives. For over ten years, Marc worked with an impressive list of indie rock luminaries, including Wilco, Bloc Party, Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes, Spoon, and Refused as well as legends such as Tom Waits, Yoko Ono, Booker T and Mavis Staples.
Marc currently lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden.
