Music Industry Podcast | Almost Famous

Attitude Is Everythng - Suzanne Bull MBE

Suzanne Bull MBE joins Zaid in the latest episode of Almost Famous. She is the founder of Attitude Is Everything [http://www.attitudeiseverything.org.uk/], the charitable organisation that connects disabled people with the music industry to move as one and to improve accessibility to live events for performers and audiences. In this episode, she talks about how she said she “fell” into the music industry being surrounded by creatives at Goldsmiths and through her first volunteering role in Deptford. From there she talks about how Attitude Is Everything came into existence and how it has continued to grow its reputability to the point where venues are approaching them to work with, and the public assumes AIE is working events that they are not- she notes the difficulties that this has created. We’re grateful to her for sharing her unique COVID story and telling us about how lockdown forced her to acknowledge the necessity of music in her life. In the episode, you will learn about the barriers that disabled performers face that you might not already know about. Suzanne touches upon the controversies surrounding Wireless and tells us about what she wants promoters and managers to realise when booking disabled artists. We’re so thankful to Suzanne for coming on the show and speaking so honestly to us. Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls [https://www.goteampod.com]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Booking Agencies: 101 with Naomi Palmer, Managing Director of Earth Agency

We’re really excited to welcome onto this week’s show Naomi Palmer - the Managing Director of Earth Agency [https://earth-agency.com/], the booking agency who’s roster includes the likes of Children Of Zeus [https://open.spotify.com/artist/2UZjIISzcezFJLo0ngik2Z?si=pttlYUStTDCCU9OYWEfw-g], Chaos in the CBD [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0QOQc6jEsPX5Y45TV0hXQy?si=smBm9iOlQISFxqTvW2e3ZQ], Erika De Casier [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1nIJEqPyIj5qutlgWNmQB0?si=35CABHawRMOY_7wnlUNyew] and Kassa Overall [https://open.spotify.com/artist/7qzzcFzliEAHMlDA9qaRVf?si=JOE_uiyhS1Ghfh9GQCKMXw]. She was there at the birth of Brownswood Recordings [https://open.spotify.com/user/brownswoodrecordings?si=2265b1f1619b4d71] with Gilles Peterson and has gone on to be an important player in the development of the beautiful Worldwide Festival in Sète. This is an important podcast for artists and people who are looking to take a step into the booking agency world. Zaid asked the questions you have always wanted to ask and Naomi was there to break down exactly what we wanted to know: what do they do that artists can’t do themselves? What do they look for in artists? How do you choose a booking agency? How do festivals pick the line-up? She was also on hand to help newer artists with knowing your worth when having the awkward conversation of negotiating your gig fees. In the episode, she talks about her own unique journey of entering the music industry, proving there’s no clear cut way of doing it. She discusses the importance of working as a team, how she discovered Portico Quartet and what she really thinks of the inimitable Gilles Peterson. Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls [https://www.goteampod.com/]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

No Music On A Dead Planet - Lewis Jamieson (Music Declares Emergency)

This week, Zaid was joined by the one and only, Lewis Jamieson - co-founder and communications manager of the environmental movement Music Declares Emergency [https://www.musicdeclares.net/], which has attracted interest from big names like Billie Eilish, Radiohead, The 1975, and many many more. He has been working in the music industry for over 30 years, across A&R, artist management, and PR, and has worked the press for some of the biggest UK names such as Oasis, Elbow, and Madness.  Zaid and Lewis chat about not only how he entered the industry, and the imprint he has left on the music industry but what it was that inspired him to take environmental action and form Music Declares Emergency. They talk about the unifying force of music, how it has been a vessel to carry the messages of MDE in order to trigger systemic change in the music industry, as well as Festival Republic being one of the latest organisations to work with movement which will inspire more to get involved. In this episode, you will find out what “No Music On A Dead Planet” really means, and how the music industry can be working to combat climate change. Plus tune in to hear what happened when the incredible Billie Eilish got involved! Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls [https://www.goteampod.com/]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Carl Loben on DJ Mag and Pitching Your Music To Publications

Carl Loben has been a chronicler of dance music since the 90s and for many of us has hugely shaped our taste in music. We were so excited to talk to the editor-in-chief of DJ Mag [https://djmag.com/], and he didn’t let us down. Zaid and Carl talk about what the editor-in-chief of a best-selling, globally successful magazine actually does and some misconceptions of what music journalism is about. They talk about the intertwining of dance music and drugs, what this means for “Generation Sobriety” and how the music industry is closing the gender gap in line-ups. He is full of sage advice- he has tips for aspiring music journalists and, in this episode, you will find out the best way to land an article in DJ Mag. Listen in to hear Carl talk about the interview with Noel Gallagher that didn’t go to plan and his words of sincere encouragement to the music scene. Although he claims he still gets nervous before interviews, we’re pretty happy with this one… so thank you Carl! Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls [https://www.goteampod.com/]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Leroy F. Moore Jr. (Founder of Krip-Hop Nation)

We’re honoured to welcome to the stage, Leroy F. Moore Jr. He is a poet, hip-hop artist, academic and co-founder of the Emmy-Award winning Krip-Hop Nation [https://kriphopnation.com/]: the global association of disabled artists with the clear mission to connect, make great art and recognise the overlooked history of disability in music. Leroy takes us back to when Hip-Hop was diverse and inclusive in the 70s, when you would see people breakdancing with crutches, and why this changed. Growing up in these times with a disability was hard but he talks about how this made him the person he is today. We learn about how society is failing disabled artists - he is done with ridiculously good artists not being taken seriously by others with the “charity bullsh*t” mindset, and so are we. Leroy discusses the need to go deeper, and change the intrinsic structures that are keeping disabled artists from entering the mainstream arena. Krip-Hop Nation is actively dismantling them by continuously creating exceptional music and changing perceptions. One thing is for sure - our attention is squarely set on them and what they’re doing next. Tune in to hear what an artist from the disabled community REALLY thinks about Lizzo’s controversial lyrics and Leroy’s hot takes on the music industry today - we think you’re going to like this one. Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls [https://www.goteampod.com/]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.