Help Musicians UK is an independent charity which aims to make a meaningful difference to the lives of musicians. For nearly 100 years, the charity has provided a broad spectrum of help, support and opportunities to empower musicians of all ages, at any stage of their career, from times of great need to times of opportunity. The charity is uniquely placed to take a holistic approach, offering a lifetime of support when it’s needed most, to make a meaningful difference to the lives of musicians across the UK.
Help Musicians UK’s integrated programme offers Creative Development and Health & Welfare services, advocacy and initiatives around issues that affect musicians, such as mental health, hearing health, career progression and more. The charity builds strong, collaborative relationships within the music industry, the health sector and beyond, with a research-led approach that creates a rich evidence base from which to share insights, knowledge and best practice, influencing and improving working conditions for musicians across the sector.
Find out more: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk
If you have performed on or own the rights to a recording, have written a song, or composed a piece of music, you could be entitled to royalties. This may be when the recording is used in public or broadcast on TV, or if your composition is played live or streamed. How to ensure you receive and maximise these royalties was the subject of a Sound City panel earlier this year with The Magic Gang and music licensing companies PPL and PRS for Music. If you missed it, here is an introduction to each company and how you can start earning royalties through them. PPL and PRS for Music both license the use of music and collect royalties in the UK and around the world, with each company representing different rights-holders:
PPL collects and distributes money on behalf of performers and recording
rights-holders (e.g. record companies and self-releasing artists) for the use of their recorded music when it is broadcast or played in public. These are not just well-known names; they include session musicians, orchestral players, self-releasing artists and small independent record labels. It is free to join, so it is best to become a member as soon as you have performed on a recording or are planning to release a recording.
PRS for Music collects and distributes money on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishers for the use of their musical compositions and lyrics. This includes when they are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, reproduced, played live, or used in film & TV.
It is £100 to join as a writer and £400 to join as a publisher, so you should join as a member when you expect your royalty income to exceed these amounts.
You can be a member of both, or just one, depending on the types of royalties you are eligible to receive. For example, if you are a backing singer on a recording but do not have writing credits on that same track, you are eligible for royalties through PPL as a performer. However, if you wrote (or contributed to the composition of) that song and sung on the recording, you would be eligible for royalties as a performer and composer through both PPL and PRS for Music. Finally, if you own the copyright to the recording, you would also be eligible for recording rightsholder royalties through PPL, or mechanical and/or performing royalties through PRS for Music and MCPS.
Each organisation collects in the UK and abroad (through agreements with royalty collection companies in other countries) ensuring you are paid whenever your music is used around the world. This is important as your music may build a fan base outside of your home country. You need to give PPL or PRS for Music the right for them to collect internationally for you, which can be done when you join.
Both PPL and PRS for Music are here to support the UK music industry and do more than just collect and pay out royalties. Each supports the PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development. The foundation has supported over 6,700 new music artists and projects since 2010. The Magic Gang has been one such recipient, receiving money from the International Showcase Fund to perform at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. PPL also gives back to the industry by supporting a number of other initiatives, such as the British Association of Performing Arts Medicine, The BRIT School, Music for Youth and Nordoff Robbins.
The two organisations support their members by representing their interests at
Government level and influencing policy to ensure best value for their rights,
providing music business education so that members can carefully and successfully manage their rights, and invests in new technology to advance the way intellectual property is remunerated.
For more information and to join PPL or PRS for Music, visit their websites.
PPL / PRS For Music
They are here to support you in your career and make sure you get paid.
Sound City will land in Ipswich on Friday 4 October for a one-day music industry conference and multi-venue festival – the first of its kind for the town.
Sound City Ipswich is a partnership between the company behind the famous Liverpool Sound City, Out Loud Music and the team at The Smokehouse music venue in Ipswich, with support from Arts Council England, Ipswich Borough Council and the University of Suffolk.
The new Sound City event will bring Ipswich to life with an evening of musical programming, fringe events and street food.
Ticket holders will be able to gig-hop between The Smokehouse, Manor Ballroom, Corn Exchange and Corn Hill, taking in the best of local, regional and national talent.
The Sound City Ipswich music industry conference will showcase the area as a destination for artists, labels, booking agents and other industry figures. It will provide opportunities for the local community to meet with industry professionals who will attend from across the UK to take part in the talks and networking sessions.
BBC Introducing in Suffolk will host a free to attend stage at the festival.
Visit www.soundcityipswich.co.uk to register your interest as tickets go on sale at 10am Friday.
We are beyond excited to share with you our Keynote speaker who will be joining us at Sound City MCR as a part of Distractions; Limina Immersive’s CEO Catherine Allen. Limina Virtual Reality Theatre screens creative & cultural virtual reality to the public all year round. Limini’s business clients include Google, Telefonica and The Oscars.
Allen’s work is known for bringing immersive technology to the broader public. Catherine’s work has shaped the VR sector and has recently been recognised by the Marie Claire Future Shapers awards. Including receiving a BAFTA in 2014 for her contribution to the Disney and so many more notable achievements to date!
We can’t wait to have Catherine Allen join us at the Science and Industry Museum next Friday. Be sure to join us https://bit.ly/SoundCityMCR.
This year we have teamed up with Pride of Liverpool where exceptional acts such as Little Boots, Saara Aalto, Katy Alex & more will be taking to the Barclays Bank stage on the 27th July.
We are beyond delighted to be a part of Pride of Liverpool where we can showcase the very best diverse local and international acts but also celebrate yet another fantastic event which makes Liverpool the great city that it is. ❤️
Apply today to a be a part of Sound City Korea 2019 where we take artists from all over the UK across the globe to showcase the very best emerging talent! Closing date is midday on July 12th http://www.gigmit.com/liverpool-sound-city
Liverpool’s creative art scene takes an exciting turn. With bold use of colour, and unique artistic techniques, these two artists bring an individual interpretation of events in nature.
Come and see Carys Kilduff and Colette McDonald’s amazing art work as you pass through wristband exchange at Sound City 2019!
ATTENTION!
GRAPHICS DESIGNERS!
Watch out for the new kids on the block.
LJMU brings the best and brightest new designers in Liverpool to Sound City 2019! We have:
All joining Sound City for a very special combination of art and music within Liverpool’s biggest independent festival.
See if you can spot their work on you way through wristband exchange and tag us in all your pics!
Zutons lead singer Dave McCabe will help to launch this year’s Sound City music festival with a special performance at Queen Avenue in Liverpool.
His new ensemble Silent K will perform alongside several up-and-coming acts in the picturesque Victorian arcade on Friday 3 May, following the annual Sound City+ music industry conference and prior to the start of the two-day Sound City music festival.
Also appearing are Paris Youth Foundation, Katy Alex, SPQR, Monks, Ali Horn, Harry Miller and Jimmy & the Revolvers!
Whilst entry is free, tickets must be claimed in advance. Get them here!
Read more about Bruntwood’s involvement with Sound City here.
Following on from a difficult start with the tragic and untimely death of founding member and guitarist George Russell the time has now come for Phobophobes to take hold of what looks to be a promising future.
Phobophobes is now as settled as a band as they have ever been and the 2018 debut LP “Miniature World” served notice that a new era had begun. From this they have gained more and more attention. Lauren Laverne, Steve Lamacq and Iggy Pop have all regularly played the band’s tracks on BBC 6 Music, while the album was mixed by Youth, of Killing Joke. Since then they have gone on to record their second album with Youth, due for UK release via Ra-Ra-Rok Records in the Autumn of 2019, and have fully embraced the return of previous bassman Elliot Nash, this time on lap-steel and baritone guitar.
Without shadow of a doubt Phobes is a group that comes back each time stronger than before and we look forward to what they have in store..
Onstage – 24 Kitchen Street – 19:45 – Friday 3rd May
Competitive Salary Salary based on experience plus bonuses
Sound City is located in the heart of the infamous Baltic District in Liverpool. One of the most exciting and diverse places in the UK to work right now.
Sound City began in 2008 as part of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture Award celebrations. It has since established itself as the UK’s leading independent UK metropolitan emerging music and business conference.
Over the past 12 years we have designed, delivered, marketed and hosted prestige events in cities over 3 continents that range from bespoke client curated events and product/service launches to full music and arts festivals and creative and digital industries conferences. We have worked across the consumer fields of music, fashion, art and design, lifestyle, education, health and well-being and all of the business to business interventions that each of these environments cut across.
Sound City are a trusted and reputable global brand. We have fully operational offices in key international territories including New York, Beijing, Shanghai, Berlin and of course our HQ in the legendary musical city of Liverpool, England. Together with our partners and global operations teams we are perfectly positioned to design and manage the events and campaigns we have successfully delivered for clients in major global territories. Our client list is world class.
The Role
We are looking for a Sponsorship Sales Manager with a proven track record to join this fast-growing business working within the music and entertainment sector (live music, conferences, records, publishing and management).
You will be selling across our portfolio of services and products that are both B2B and B2C related in both the UK and internationally.
We are looking for a commercially driven candidate with an entrepreneurial mindset who is looking to make the next step in their career into an autonomous role with large amounts of responsibility.
We are dynamic, innovative and young which gives you unrivalled opportunities for development, personal growth, travel and succession.
As a fast-growing company there is lots of scope to grow within the business and your voice will be heard from day 1.
Key Attributes
The successful candidate will have the following attributes
• Self starter with an unmistakable entrepreneurial attitude and driven by success
• Strong rapport building skills with clients and colleagues. Ability to work well within inter departmental teams
• Main proficiency should be in conference / events sponsorship sales - other backgrounds considered for exceptional candidates
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in sales (applicants with high performing history in delegate sales may apply)
• A strong work ethic, with an ability to work well under pressure
• The ability to go into the market and generate revenue from new clients and new sectors whilst managing existing key accounts
• Must understand the value of building strong long term relationships with clients to maximise the revenue earning capacity
• Basic tech skills required to gain proficiency with various cloud based tools that we utilise
• Should display resilience and adaptability whilst working under pressure
• Good problem solving skills
• Ability to manage workloads, prioritise effectively and draw on resources available to complete tasks at hand
• Skilled at influencing decision makers and networking at a senior level
• Ability to articulate ideas clearly, logically and persuasively
Key Responsibilities
• Excel in securing sponsorship revenues
• Develop, maintain and expand relationships with clients across the industry
• Manage the sale from lead generation to on-site delivery at the event
• Liaise closely with colleagues across the team
• Account management of leading sponsors
• Maintain and manage an up to date pipeline at all times
• Represent Sound City in line with the core values of the company
The Offer
• Opportunity to sell across the board including new and established events
• All expense paid to relevant events to generate business (UK and abroad)
• Uncapped commission and rapid progression for the right candidate
• Competitive salary with market leading bonus system
Deadline for applications is Wednesday 17th April
We are looking to interview candidates w/c 22nd April
Applications with well thought out cover letters will be prioritised. Please send to hello@soundcity.uk.com with the subject line ‘Sponsorship Sales Manager’
Here We go 👀… We are delighted to announce our final wave of acts!
Joining us in the Baltic our special guests The Night Café, Clean Cut Kid will also join us on the Sunday as we bring you the best from our city!
slowthai, Aystar, Ms Banks & more play the levis stage & the Bella Union stage is complete featuring the wonderful Ren Harvieu, Liela Moss, Pom Poko unofficial & Penelope Isles 😎
With a 100 more they join a line-up already featuring Loyle Carner, shame, Confidence Man for a huge bank holiday weekend ¾/5 May!
We’re just around the corner now dont miss it All ticket types now running low so get yours today - https://bit.ly/SoundCity2019x💥
CD Baby will be taking over Best Before @ Constellations on Saturday 4th of May for a day of artist showcases, happy hour drinks and DIY artist education sessions featuring many excellent industry speakers.
Our mission is simple: we help musicians make money from their music. Today there are more ways to do that than ever before.
As our name suggests, CD Baby started in 1998 as an online CD store — and we’ve grown to become:
Join us from 2pm when CD Baby will be hosting DIY artist educational sessions that will teach you successful release strategies, how to cut through the noise and get press as a DIY artist, and the ins and outs of playlists.
From 5.30pm there will be amazing live performances, showcasing the best of CD Baby and local talent.
Line-up
Black Futures – 9.30pm
Bethlehem Casuals – 8.30pm
Pearl Charles – 7.45pm
Deacon Brody – 7pm
The Ambition 6.15pm
Gazel 5.30pm
Horus Music is a fully independent digital distribution and label services company that was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen and the British Government with the Queens Award in International Trade due to their extensive work around the globe to the benefit of artist and labels they represent. They have in house marketing teams in both the UK and in Asia that can facilitate playlisting campaigns, digital PR, radio plugging and also an in house graphics department that can create custom artwork for their clients. Horus Music launched their sister company Anara Publishing in 2017. Anara Publishing provides a simple solution for independent songwriters around the world to have music publishing and sync licensing representation.
Sound City is proud to be partnership with Horus Music. As official curator, Horus Music represents unique & excited line up Elephant Trees, Vigilantes, Her burden at Hobo Kiosk both Saturday & Sunday!
Sound City is excited to be also in association with Horus Music on a conference panel launching on Friday 3rd May at the British Music Experience. In discussion of Touring the Asian Music Circuit. This panel will aim to provide tips & tricks, advice and share stories on how to enter and break a market where the languages are different, the cultures are different and the overall rule-set are all vastly different to the west.
Be One Percent is a movement of people who give 1% of their income to projects supporting the worlds poorest communities. Every penny of the money given by its memebers goes to projects.
Sound City will be giving 1% of ticket sales to our projects this May, buying insecticide nets to prevent malaria. Every £3 raised will buy a malaria net, which will prevent sickness or even save a life.
Be One Percent are hosting a Pub Quiz at The Hobo Cafe Jamaica Street on Sunday 5th May 7pm.
Join us with your mates to find out more, raise money, and have a laugh.
There are tickets for next years festival to be won!
Sound City works with its Cultural Education partner LJMU to give their students from many different study areas opportunities to gain work experience, perform and showcase their ideas from their chosen discipline.
Art_No- TwG and Lodge performing on Sunday 5th May in the Sound City Gazebo outside from 6pm
Art_No- TwG are a sound video and performance collective that concern themselves with mime, gesture and improvised noise. Over the last year, we have been putting on ‘happenings’ around Liverpool with the intention of providing a platform for local artists to lead collaborative events. We are also interested in the manipulation of sourced imagery and found footage, through which we aim to challenge the construct of live and pre recorded performances.
Lodge Soundscapes of noise harsh too soft with apocalypse folk elements to change the understanding of ritual and the self.
PULSS FILM Team
The talented PULSS Film Team will be back again covering all the exciting music and performances across the weekend!
Artwork
Cool Artwork will decorate the Sound City landscape by competition winners from LJMU Graphic, Illustration and Art courses. We will also have artwork by Fine Art student Ian Colligan that will create a Photo Opportunity wall for all Sound City attendees.
Entrepreneurship Challenge
Entrepreneurship Challenge gives students the opportunity to pitch and even showcase their business ideas at Sound City. Winners this year were from the Marketing BA course who came up with vegan glitter, cocktail toppers, DIY car kit and a metal straw.
The Lithuanian Culture Institute is a state budgetary institution founded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania. Its function is to promote Lithuanian culture abroad and to present Lithuania to the world through culture. Until 2014, it was known as the International Cultural Programme Centre.
Sound City is delighted to be working with Lithuanian Culture Institute to showcase the excellent talents from Europe and UK, with amazing line up BOKKA, CASEY LOWRY, PHOBOPHOBES and FARADAY. Featuring 2 Lithuanian bands -Timid Kooky and INGAJA at 24 Kitchen Street on 3rd May Friday, from 18:00 - 22.30!
Timid Kooky, an experimental-extreme-psychedelic-protopunk trio from Vilnius, Lithuania. Three lead vocals (simultaneously) singing various weird and crooked harmonies, dirty math’ish drum and guitar explosions together with energy, that could take you to Jupiter and back. In year 2017, when Timid Kooky started playing, band has won two main Lithuanian music contests for young bands – Garažas and NOVUS in which Timid Kooky was nominated as the best new Baltic act.
https://timidkooky.bandcamp.com/
INGAJA is Singer-songwriter, she has spent years accumulating her musical knowledge through participation in various musical endeavors and events in Lithuania and abroad. While her songs draws from such influences as Ben Howard, Lissie, RY X, etc., they all are colored by her own distinctive sound. INGAJA’s music deftly combines dark, deep and sad indie’s energy and acoustic rock’s melodies.
https://ingaja.bandcamp.com/
Sound City is delighted to be also working with Lithuanian Culture Institute on a conference panel launching on Friday 3rd May at the British Music Experience. In discussion of THE EUROPEAN FESTIVAL GATES ARE OPEN.
This panel looks beyond festival headliners and explores the depths of a festival line-up; how these smaller stages are curated and what can be done by artists to make themselves known by the festivals they seek to play. With leading experts from some of the biggest festivals in the UK and Europe, the discussion will be based around how different festivals approach to the booking process for the smaller, emerging artists.
Sound City’s Innovation Partner is back with another great line up of acts and performances giving their students even more career enhancing opportunities for when they graduate. Programme below -
The Label Recordings Showcase - Sunday Best Before Constellations from 6.45pm
Charity Shop Pop
Podge
Aimee Steven
Seatbelts
I.C.E Tents Programme - Sunday
12.45-13.30 Going Viral: The Art of the Selfie
13.30-14.15 We Are Not Amused? The Secret History of Victorian Jokes
14.15-15.00 Night with the Weirdos
15.00-15.45 We don’t need any more indie bands: do we neglect the role of alternative forms of music, arts and comedy in Liverpool’s cultural identity?
15.45-16.30 Carl Hunter: In Conversation
https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/ice/
Edge Hill University Dance Performance Sunday 5.30pm
Horizons music project will be taking over two venues at Liverpool Sound City with a handpicked selection of the future of Welsh sounds.
From festival showcases to unique concerts, radio sessions and bespoke social media promoting new music - Horizons follows the BBC Introducing path of providing a platform for A&R. Some of the most exciting Welsh artists showcasing at Liverpool this year include Alffa, Ani Glass, Bandicoot, Campfire Social, Ennio the Little Brother, Hannah Wilwood, The Pitchforks, and headliners Himalayas. A eclectic combination of electronica, hip hop, indie, rock, and folk!
Himalayas
Himalayas are a four-piece indie band from Cardiff making huge waves, clocking up more than 11 million streams on Spotify. Their impressive live show has taken them to the likes of SXSW, Reading + Leeds, Isle of Wight, Festival No.6, The Great Escape - and now LSC!
Pitchforks
The Pitchfork boys have been making music together from a young age, something which is evident in their exciting and powerful live shows. Their latest Date Down has just been playlisted by X Radio.
Campfire Social
North Wales alt indie pop band Campfire Social are the type of band you just can’t stop listening to. Their fantastic live show has taken them to the likes of Festival No. 6 and Zandari Festa in South Korea. Catch a blissful performance of some of their hits.
Ennio The Little Brother
One of the most genre defying artists on the Welsh music scene in 2019 - Ennio The Little Brother’s unique sound fuses dream pop with his homemade blend of hip-hop poetry. Each one of his live shows delivers a fresh and exciting experience - not one to be missed!
ALFFA
Self-dubbed “punk-blues” two piece Alffa are a force to be reckoned with –they have had a massive year with their single ‘Gwenwyn’ becoming the first Welsh language song to reach a million streams on Spotify (it is now on nearly 3 million). Alffa have a massive sound and well crafted tunes echoing the likes of The White Stripes, Jimi Hendrix, The Black Keys and Royal Blood.
For all our festival coverage follow @horizonscymru on fbk, twitter, and instagram
Showcasing Music from Wales at Liverpool Sound City
Find us at 24 Kitchen Street & Constellations Gardens
As the Saturday headliner at Funnel showcase at Brick Street, he has been called a shapeshifter, contrived, a chameleon, a Charlatan, the best living songwriter, an asshole and a genius. His last record, Modern Pressure received outstandingly high acclaim and praise from every notable publication out there and was acknowledged by most reputable “for-profit-prize-corporations” as well as a plethora of voguish “music-as-competitive-sport” year end lists. Despite being the bronze placeholder in most of these dogfights, he is most often noted as a person of astounding influence on all of his musically economic successors.
“No matter what he does, everything he puts out is better than anything else being put out by anyone else.”– Unnamed Subjugate.
Romano’s new effort Finally Free could stand alone as being pivotal if it were only its profound and breathtaking prose on paper. Writing now like an agnostic Whitman in his prime, Romano explores and uncovers new language and meaning for old sentiments grown tired, stating, “these poems are most certainly my finest and most principled efforts to date.” Finally Free sings like a radical revelation, exploring the concepts of music as a celestial being, flora as a consequential ancestor and singing, no matter its quality or sound, as the end most important output of our species. This record contains a vivid religious articulation despite its clear condemnation of a God as a singular ruling white male. New words have replaced old words for new meaning and the definitions have been left up to interpretation. It seems safe to say that Romano has broken the literary soil hard and ferociously to find the remaining repose in our current “danse macabre.
