Scotland’s leading showcase event goNorth is set to feature an unprecedented number of seminars and workshops for budding artists and people interested in a career in the music industry. Taking place on the afternoons of Wednesday May 10 and Thursday May 11 as part of the Aberdeen festival, the master classes will include music tuition, management, online marketing and general tips on making a living from music. Over a dozen industry insiders from a diverse range of backgrounds have been drafted in to provide advice, among them veteran manager Bruce Findlay, music publishing expert Christian Ulf Hansen, and Mark Mackie who heads Regular Music, Scotland’s oldest live promoter.
“The purpose of goNorth is to help bands reach the next stage in their career,” says the programme organiser Caroline McLeod, who is the Business Manager of HI Arts, the Highlands and Islands Arts Development Agency. “At night acts get to show off their live skills, while in the daytime they can now get advice on all aspects of the music business.” She adds that the programme is designed to give a basic knowledge of all aspects of the industry.
Among the organisations giving advice will be the Musicians Union (MU), the Performing Rights Society (PRS), and the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS). Acts can also receive free legal advice from music industry lawyer Lesley Paterson from legal firm Thorntons, as well as tips from A&Rs at a panel hosted by Aberdeen label Fat Hippy Records. “GoNorth is the most important and interesting [music] convention to take place in Scotland, and has been since it started,” says Bruce Findlay, who manages Edinburgh band Aberfeldy and previously managed Simple Minds, as well as running his own chain of record shops. “These workshops and seminars provide an opportunity to demystify the music industry and show that it is not some kind of secret society.”
In addition to the workshops geared towards those considering a career in music, there will also be a seminar showing how music can be used to improve the performance of any business.
To check the workshops available click here.
Places can be booked for all workshops and seminars by contacting:
caroline@hi-arts.co.uk
telephone 01463 720883 |
