I Hate Mornings

I just got back from “Making Money With Music”, a “City Showcase”:http://www.cityshowcase.co.uk/ workshop in London featuring Remi Harris (”AIM(The Association of Independent Music)”:http://www.musicindie.org/), Anthony Hamer-Hodges (”management”:http://morethan4.com/) and Michelle Escoffery (”writer”:http://www.emimusicpub.com/worldwide/artist_profile/michelle-escoffery_profile.html, “musician”:http://www.myspace.com/michelleescoffery, producer and “promoter”:http://www.kindredspirit.org.uk/). I’m not sure exactly what I expected, but I’m starting to spot a pattern in these expert panels. The experts got where they are through some random chance and a lot of hard work, and there’s no concrete advice they can give aspiring music industry people, so they tell their story as if all the answers are hidden between the lines. It’s not their fault. Their own path makes perfect sense in their head. It’s our fault for asking them.

h3. We’re asking the wrong people

The first problem is that they don’t know the answers. The record company folks don’t know what’s coming next. We all know that. But neither do the managers, the publishers, or the lawyers. And the artists and songwriters know least of all - they don’t really know where the business is coming from, never mind where it’s headed.

The second problem is that these experts, arguably the most qualified to figure out the answers, can’t afford to get involved in the building of the new model - they have too much invested in the old model. All of these people rely on the existing corporate structures for their income, even those running independent outfits.

We need experts who really know what’s going on, and who don’t rely financially on the existence of the old music industry. And I think there are plenty of them around. People who have been constantly observing, criticising, discussing and reinventing the music industry in their blogs for years. Andrew Dubber over at “New Music Strategies”:http://newmusicstrategies.com/. “Steve Lawson”:http://www.stevelawson.net/. David Jennings, author of “Net, Blogs and Rock’n'Roll”:http://www.netblogsrocknroll.com/. They are all accessible through social media, blogs, articles and books. But that’s not quite the same as an expert panel, in a room, bouncing ideas off each other in front of a fascinated audience. Why not?

h3. What about networking?

Possibly the main reason people go to the City Showcase style industry workshops is to network. I walked away with a handful of business cards and a few scribbled Myspace addresses today. It’s worth going for that, even if you have to sit through the talk to get them…

But when the “new experts” speak at events they’re talking to a room full of industry people, who are invested in (ie. employed by) the old model, and therefore aren’t really listening. At best, the opinions and rants of the new media experts become novelty water-cooler conversations and pub arguments. We need a non-industry audience. A room full of people who are invested in the new model (whichever one) because the old one’s broken and the new way is the only way. People like me. ;o)

h3. Let’s do it right

So here’s my big ask to the universe:

*Bring me a ticket for an all-day freeform event in London where the real experts get to talk to people who understand and care, and the new generation of social media-savvy musicians, songwriters and labels get to hang out, learn, network, create and enjoy. With free wireless, obviously.*

I’ll keep you posted.