Un-convention Blog

VIDEO by unconvention

Un-convention 2008

 

PICTURES by unconvention

Above (from top down): Howard Monk chairs the Live Panel, the Label Panel with Howard Mills, Nathan Sudders, Lucinda Perkoff, Jay Taylor and Mark Carlin discuss the current live music scene, Huw Stephens with the Exposure Panel, Michael Fuller, Andrew Dubber, Michael Cassidy and Laura Kennedy as part of the Label Panel.

 

Above (from top down): Silverclub, Cynic Guru, Toolshed, Denis Jones, Down The Tiny Steps, Cats In Paris, Beth Jeans Houghton, The Ironweed Project

…Exhibitors by unconvention

This year’s exhibitors…..

 

http://www.markbrownstudio.co.uk

Mark Brown is a freelance graphic designer and illustrator based in Manchester. Mark has been in the business for over eight years, creating striking and effective work for a diverse range of companies, from large multi-nationals to local arts groups and live music venues.

If your business has a project you think Mark may be suitable for, or you’re in need of creative support on a freelance basis please get in touch.

 

 

 

 

 www.myspace.com/emilydennison

Originally from an arts background, I found myself launched into the rocky terrain of self employed photography 2 years ago shooting musicians after a stint working full time at a commercial studio that specialized in food photography. I’ve been battling it out doing something I love, collaborating with creative talented people to make beautiful pictures whilst putting food on the table at the same time…

WIN EMILY DENNSION PRINTS!

Sponsor Emily’s exhibition at this years Un-convention, and you could win an exclusive print.

Click here for more details.

Music by unconvention

If you want to check out the a new and innovative way of buying and selling music, take a quick look at the little Independent music store we’ve set up via our friends at ithinkmusic.com.

Michael Cassidy from I Think Music will be at this year’s Un-convention explaining how this wonderful system works, and how it can benefit Indie labels and artists, or in fact anyone with a love for music!

Our store currently stocks music by labels involved with the organisation of Un-convention, but anyone who has an I Think Music store should get in touch if they would like us to include any of their music in the Un-convention store.

 

 

click on the logo below to see the Un-convention store.

 

2008 – 5.1 – Attendees by unconvention

5 – Who’s Who 2008 by unconvention

People who are involved with this years Un-convention (click names for Biogs): 

Andrew Dubber (New Music Strategies)               Mike McNally (McNally Consulting)

Jay Taylor (The Ruby Lounge)                              Michael Cassidy (I Think Music)

Dan Parrot (Channel M)                                        Emily Dennison (Photographer)

Chris Long (BBC Manchester)                               Nathan Sudders (The Whip)

Howard Monk (The Local)                                     Gareth Main (Bearded Magazine)

Dave Cooper (In House Press)                             Huw Stephens (Radio 1)

Jayne Compton (Switchflicker / Club Brenda)      Clare Edwards (Gigbeth)

Luke Bainbridge (Observer Music Monthly)          Rudi Kidd (Gray and Co)

Ian Chamings (Higher House Productions)          John Cullen (Lawyer)

Michael Fuller (AIM)                                              Adam Goodyer (Concert Live)

Stewart Parsons (Get It Loud In Libraries)             Lucinda Perkoff (CODA)

Matt Johnson (Club Fandango / XFM X-posure / Live Nation / Sparkle Street

Caroline Elleray (Universal Music)                        Mark Brown (Graphic Designer)

Howard Mills (Humble Soul)                                Andy McLoughlin (Soundmob)

Karen McBride (Photographer)                             Chris Stevenson (Common)

Duncan Sime (Red Deer Club)                            Ruth Daniel (Fat Northerner Records)

Laura Kennedy (Piccadilly Records)                    Stephen Bass (Moshi Moshi)

Mark Meharry (Music Glue)                                Andy Salmon (Sacred Trinity Church)

Dan Thomas (Fat Northerner Records / Manchester Mastering House)

Mark Carlin (Sounds from the Other City / Islington Mill)

Crispin Parry (British Underground)                  The Manchester College

…Live Panel by unconvention

The live panel, chaired by Howard Monk, will be made up of:

Jay Taylor (The Ruby Lounge)

Adam Goodyer (Concert Live)

Stewart Parsons (Get It Loud In Libraries)

Lucinda Perkoff (CODA)

Nathan Sudders (The Whip)

Crispin Parry (British Underground)

Mark Carlin (Sounds from the Other City / Islington Mill)

Howard Monk on this year’s live panel…

I’ve been involved in live music for what seems like ages. I feel like I am learning all the time yet if pushed I reckon I could get animated enough to share my stronger feelings with a group. I’ll try and chair this session with as much impartiality as possible. I’m an independent promoter in London, and increasingly out of London. I am not as DIY as I once was although some would argue that I never was. I’ve been in all the positions in after show arguments. As a band member arguing for the agreed amount of money I thought we’d been guaranteed, as a tour manager doing the same, as a promoter being harassed for not having the money that the artist expected, as a promoter being bullied into doing something, by an agent or label or artist, against my better judgement, as a promoter being proved wrong, as a drummer not being paid for countless hours of dedication and watching an artist take credit (and money) for work I have done, as a band member promoting my own shows, as a promoter/band member/agent agreeing and understanding that working hard with your colleagues and counterparts in the organising of a show is the best and only real way to ensure a shows great success.

I’d like to see what the panel thinks of the following:

- Do they think there is a strong independent network of promoters and like-minded venues all over the country?

- Do they think it’s any harder or easier in the last few years to be an indie promoter?

- Who do they consider their competitors to be?

- What’s good for the business at the moment? What’s Bad?

…Label Panel by unconvention

Chaired by Howard Mills, the label panel will be made up of:

Andrew Dubber (New Music Strategies)

Stephen Bass (Moshi Moshi)

Michael Cassidy (I Think Music)

John Cullen (Lawyer)

Michael Fuller (AIM)

Dave Cooper (Melodic)

Laura Kennedy (Piccadilly Records)

Tony Morley (Leaf)

With the music industry deep in the throes of the biggest shake-up in its history, and the validity of recorded music itself being challenged (Bill Drummond’s 17), do we think there is a future at all for the record label?

Come to think of it, in the digital age, what exactly is a label? Is there even a place in the music industry of the future for labels as we currently perceive them?

You would be forgiven for thinking that no-one in their right mind, given the current state of the industry, would even dream of starting a new record label? How, then, do we explain the current explosion in independent labels and self-releasing artists?

How do existing labels cope with falling physical sales and adapt to make the most of new opportunities, and what advice would they give to those about to start up a new label?

All these questions and more…

The opening panel of Un-convention will attempt to discuss as much of this as possible in the short time available.

The panel will be chaired by Howard Mills of Humble Soul, who obviously believes that there is a future for labels, because he started one a mere two years ago. He hopes that the collected wisdom of the panellists will provide hope and inspiration to aspiring labels and artists, and perhaps some forward-thinking and practical solutions to the problems faced by the DIY and independent sector.

Un-convention has a blog. One of the main ideas of Un-convention is for people to get involved. Please use the blog to start up the discussion before the event, and continue it afterwards. Send through any burning issues you would like the panel to discuss. Send through your own ideas, answers, inspiration.

…Innovation Panel by unconvention

Chaired by Ruth Daniel (Fat Northerner Records) the Innovation panel will include:

Clare Edwards (Gigbeth)

Ian Chamings (Higher House Productions)

Rudi Kidd (Gray and Co)

Caroline Elleray (Universal Music)

Andy McLoughlin (Soundmob)

Karen McBride (Photographer)

Christopher Stevenson (Common)

Mark Meharry (Music Glue)

This panel aims to explore successful careers and businesses in the music industry outside of traditional sectors.

With panellists including Young UK Music Entrepreneur 2008, Clare Edwards, founder of Gigbeth; the woman behind Coldplay and Keane, Caroline Elleray, of Universal Music; and Dragon’s Den success, Ian Charmings, Director – Higher House Productions.

Featured organisations include Music Glue, Common Bar (Manchester) and Soundmob. Panelists will discuss what inspired them to start their career; explore the issues and challenges they faced throughout their career and what is the future for their organisation.

The panel will cover topics such as women in music and issues and benefits of operating from the various regions.

…Exposure Panel by unconvention

The Exposure panel will look at the challenges of getting your music heard.

Chaired by Huw Stephens (Radio 1) the Exposure panel consists of:

Dave Cooper (In House Press)

Chris Long (BBC Manchester)

Jayne Compton (Switchflicker / Club Brenda)

Andrew Dubber (New Music Strategies)

Gareth Main (Bearded Magazine)

James Thirkettle (Just Press Play)

Whether you’re a self-releasing band, or a label breaking new talent, the single most important thing you need is people’s ears. This panel looks at how to get exposure in an ever-changing environment.

Technology has dramatically changed not only the ‘how’, but also the ‘who’ of music production and distribution.

People can sell, or give away, what they produce immediately, and without any real overheads.

Making a release, or having a public profile, is easier than ever, and so the battle for exposure is as hard fought as ever.

There are new problems, but also new opportunities, and new solutions

There is more access to fans, reviews, and airplay.

There is more competition for fans, reviews, and airplay.

Not only can you release yourself, you can promote yourself.

So if anyone can put a record out, how do you get peoples attention?

Are we in danger of saturating the market?

Is a record just a tool to gain exposure?

Has ‘a release’ lost its meaning?

Who decides what’s hot and what’s not?

How do people ‘discover’ music?

What exposure has the most value, and what does it cost?

The debate will cover exposure across print, radio, television and online. If you would like to suggest a particular question regarding exposure please feel free to comment below.