Organisation: University of Melbourne - Author of Artist Management: Agility in the Creative and Cultural Industries
How did you first become involved in the music business and how did you end up where you are today? I became involved in artist management through working as a musician. I fell into the role by default by self-managing bands primarily because I was in bands that no one else gave a damn about. This passion for musical creativities then led to an interest in management.
What's been the biggest change in the music business you've seen over the past 12 months? There has been, and will arguably continue to be, a rapid escalation of complexity within the creative and cultural industries due to the digitisation of aspects of these industries. Furthermore, these industries will increasingly interface with the data economy. This rapid escalation of complexity is the biggest challenge facing artists.
What do you think will be the biggest issue affecting the music industry in the next 12 months and why? Communication is fundamentally changing. There is potential for artists and artist managers to use data analytics services to design strategies that will persuade consumers to purchase their art over the art of their competitors. This arguably presents artists with a highly sophisticated and non-transparent means of 'selling out'.
What advice would you give young practitioners in your area starting out today? My own rationalisation for being involved in artist management is that I want to be involved with helping to create content that I think is amazing. Young practitioners should also be driven to manage artists because they are chasing the 'five minutes of magic' that is generated by this activity.
What will you be primarily discussing during your appearance at the BIGSOUND conference and what are you hoping that people will be able to learn from your panel? My appearance at BIGSOUND will involve a conversation between Leanne de Souza (Association of Artist Managers) and myself concerning my book Artist Management: Agility in the Creative and Cultural Industries. This highly interactive and participatory discussion will throw up the BIG questions - what is creativity? What opportunities are created by digital disruption in the cultural sector? How do we operate in uncertain times?
What do you personally hope to take away from your time at BIGSOUND? I'm writing a new book concerning the visual side of the music business and I'm hoping to do some research interviews at BIGSOUND. I also manage a videographer Jefferton James so will also represent him.
Which acts are on your must-see list at BIGSOUND and why? Oh Pep! because they are amazing and are also based in Melb. Hazlett because he sounds amazing. Hachiku because her song is called Zombie Killer. Pinkish Blu because they sound amazing.
When and where is your panel? 7 Sep, The Judith Wright Centre, 12.30pm.
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