Position/Title: Founder/Owner at Artists Only
How did you first become involved in the music industry and how did you end up where you are today? I've been playing in bands since the mid-‘90s. I started my legal career in 2003 and began dabbling in music law in 2008 through an affiliation with the Arts Law Centre. I went into full swing with music law in 2011 and then management (Tones & I) last year.
What's been the biggest change in the music industry you've seen over the past 12 months? Streaming changes the game monthly. It is incredibly interesting to watch how this revitalised income stream is shaking things up, particularly at the top end. There are a lot of major multinationals that are coming in from all angles and the shifting dynamics are keeping everyone on their toes.
What do you think will be the biggest issue affecting the music industry in the next 12 months and why? The ongoing development that I'm most interested in is the way so many high-profile artists are wielding their power to wrangle new and really innovative and cool ways to maintain complete control over their output and really drive their businesses, which filters down to the broader industry.
What advice would you give young practitioners in your area starting out today? Work hard and stay true to yourself. It's no secret that the music industry is tough. I've worked across multiple industries and there's really nothing quite like the music biz. It can be pretty ruthless, but the power of the joy it brings far outweighs the pain of its struggles.
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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? The panel I'm on is focused on the fact that a quality music career should start with an artist’s personal values and evolve from there. It's all about the ‘why’, and I'm pretty excited about it because I lurrrrrve talking about the why. I think the main outcome will centre around respecting the importance of ideals and ensuring they always take precedence in our creative business ventures.
Which acts are on your must-see list at BIGSOUND and why? Tones & I! I've seen her perform many times because I'm her manager but this show is going be particularly epic. Also excited to catch Jaguar Jonze, Adrian Eagle, and Royal & The Southern Echo.
What advice do you have for BIGSOUND first-timers? Brace yourself. And don't get smashed on the first night. BIGSOUND hangover days suck.
What's your favourite BIGSOUND memory? And which artist was your standout performance? Favourite memory is performing (with my band Aerials) many moons ago. The most memorable performance for me was the 'secret' Paul Kelly show at The Zoo last year. What a moment! The atmosphere was intense.
When and where is your BIGSOUND panel? 4 Sep, You Can Go Your Own Way, Moon Room, Cloudland, 1.45pm.
