Where are you based?
I live in London but I split my time for work between here, Bristol and the rest of the West.
Where do you work? What do you do?
I work for PRS for Music who are a royalty collection and distribution society. At PRS for Music, I work as the Outreach Manager for the West of England. In my role, I meet with artists, bands, publishers, managers and industry organisations to ensure they understand what PRS does and therefore maximise royalties from their music. I also (used to and will do in the future!) put on events hosting panels and networking which covered a number of topics including how to make a career from music and how to achieve equality in the music industry. As well as hosting my own events, I regularly sit on panels at other music industry events and festivals discussing a wide range of topics. Finally, I’m passionate about discussing topics surrounding diversity, inclusion and mental health in the music industry with the aim to bring about change and progression.
What are you listening to?
Oh, there are so many.
At the moment, I’m listening to Fontaines DC’s new album a lot which I think is outstanding. An album called You’ll Be Fine by Hot Mulligan is on repeat a lot, an instant lift for when life seems unfair and a bit s**t! Girl Band’s album, The Talkies, is also high up on my list – a brilliant album. Phoxjaw have just released a spectacular album alongside Protomartyr and Billy Nomates, if you haven’t listened to them – go and do so! Finally, IDLES Ultra Mono – they just keep smashing it don’t they?
How do you discover new music?
Streaming and online platforms are a brilliant way to discover new music. The ‘Fans also like…’ feature is brilliant as well as playlists such as ‘New Music Friday.’ I also discover new music over the radio when I have it on in the background whilst I’m working or cooking. Recommendations from friends and family is a particular favourite of mine, I think it enhances your relationship and connection with those people.
Finally, my job plays a massive part in discovering new music. I get to work with so many talented artists, bands, organisations, promoters, managers and publishers across all genres, all over the country. It’s a really rewarding feeling for me knowing I’ve helped a band/artist whose music I enjoy.
What formats do you usually listen to? LP, CD, Cassette, Digital, Streaming Services? Why?
I listen to streaming services, radio and vinyl. When I’m out and about or going for a run, I’ll listen to streaming services. At home, when i’m working i’ll normally have BBC Radio 6 Music on in the background. Vinyl, for me, is in the morning or evening when i’m relaxing with a book or playing video games. Vinyl to me, is special. It gives me time to pause and really listen to the music and let the rest of the world melt away whilst I submerge myself into my (carefully) chosen album.
Where do you do most of your music listening?
One of my favourite places to listen to music is in the car. There is no better feeling than going on a long road trip, creating a playlist and shouting along to every single word in every song.
How do you find and listen to pre-release music?
A lot of it will be via the radio, normally 6 Music. However, sometimes I am lucky enough to receive pre-releases from bands or artists I work with which is great!
What are your frustrations with listening to music digitally? Any benefits?
COVID-19 has hit songwriters, composers and musicians hard, in turn shining a light on the current lack of fair remuneration from streaming royalties. The Ivors Academy and Musicians’ Union are campaigning on this matter via the Keep Music Alive campaign. That said, the benefits of digital music are immeasurable – to have any song in the palm of your hand in an instant has been life changing. I hope one day an agreement can be reached on royalties that works for everyone.
“the benefits of digital music are immeasurable – to have any song in the palm of your hand in an instant has been life changing. I hope one day an agreement can be reached on royalties that works for everyone.”
How do you keep track of everything you are listening to?
Homemade playlists are my go-to but I’m terribly unorganised when it comes to my personal life so I often lose track.
Do you tip other people off to new music? How?
Of course, sharing is caring, right? Normally I’ll send music via WhatsApp or email. I’m one of those people who, when they find new music, is really annoying about it and won’t leave someone alone until they’ve listened to it and I love it when people do the same to me.
Anything you want to “promote”?
I want to promote the importance of PRS for Music and the work the Outreach Team does and has been doing. We, the Outreach Team have been ensuring that we are doing everything we can to help our members during these uncertain times. Our main priority is to ensure our members are maximising their royalties as much as possible, especially during a time when the live sector is down. If anyone has any questions about PRS for Music, please don’t ever hesitate to get in touch!
