Guest Lecture: Northampton University’s “Changing Futures” Week

I am pleased to announce that I have been offered the opportunity to guest lecture at Northampton University next month as part of their Changing Futures week to discuss my endeavors in the film and music industry.

Tight competition as Poornima Seetharaman of Zynga is speaking at the same time. Should be fun, I am looking forward to having a chat with the students and hopeful I can give them some ideas to think about. For any students who were present for the lecture and want some clarity, feel free to contact me.

Changing Futures Lecture: Talking Points

1. Introduction

   • MWB - Composer, Sound Designer, Engineer/Producer, Podcast Host & Founder of AEPL

   • A scan of the room... Musicians? Engineers? Industry?

   • A digital industry: The death of tangibles and the lowering of royalty rates

   • COVID-19: Highlighting the importance of the stage

2. New & Refreshed Opportunities

   • Live Streaming

   • Merchandise

   • Avid Artist Portal (Avid Link App)

   • Redefining Ownership: Non fungible tokens (NFTs) & Cryptocurrency

   • New video platforms (Odysee/BrandNewTube/Bitchute)

   • The Chinese Markets: Beijing has big plans to become a major global centre for music by 2025

   • Diary Services (The Knowledge, UK Music Jobs, LinkedIn, Taxi, Mandy, Production Switchboard, Callbox

   • Bandcamp!!!

   • Unions, the MU obviously… But check out AMPS (The Association of Motion Picture Sound)

3. The Don’ts

   • Don’t put all your time into social media promotion, find an API way to deal with your digital updates

   • Put too much faith in the online stores

   • Get hung up on a pitch, do the work, submit and move on

   • Work for free with nothing in return, but what does that mean?

4. The Dos

   • Understand how to register your work and protect yourself against thieves (PRS/Song-trust/Ad Rev/Tunesat/Routenote)

   • Establish a decent collaborative network (web, graphics, legal advice, mix & mastering engineer etc)

   • Be adaptable and apply an entrepreneurial approach

   • Have a B plan (choose a day job that is linked and/or does not destroy your creativity)

   • Network authentically

5. Summary + Q&A

   • ChartData, The Official Charts Company, BPI, RIAA, MU