Our Highlights of 2020

2020 has been a difficult year. But, among all the hardship and uncertainty there has also been a great deal to be proud of. Businesses all over the world have shown great resilience as they’ve been thrown in and out of lockdown, and the music industry in particular has shown itself to be incredibly resourceful and even innovative in desperate times. Thanks in no small part to the rapid development and launch of our Guest House platform, and a pivot to online for many of our programmes, Sound City was able to keep calm, carry on and continue to support artists throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Here, our team takes a moment to look back on a year that we’re actually quite proud of. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and, hopefully, a Happier New Year.

Lois Warrington, Marketing Manager

• Biggest Highlight in 2020
  Putting together a LIVE talk on LGBTQ+ issues with the likes of PRS Foundation, Budde Music, Zena Davine, The Weird and The Wonderful and Amaroun. Aside from that, getting out the Sound City 2021 announcement!
• Most Looking Forward to in 2021…
  Getting off Zoom, partying with 6+ friends and hopefully taking dance floors across Liverpool and the globe by storm like old times.
• Track of the year…
  Good In Bed (Zach Witness & Gen Hoshino Remix) - Dua Lipa. Dua Lipa’s visual album is insane and the remixes that go with it are also incredible.

• Biggest highlight in 2020...
  The launch of Guesthouse and diverse performances I've enjoyed from unsigned university students to Mike Skinner and The Streets.
• Most looking forward to 2021....
  Going to gigs and festivals including Sound City 2021 and Bon Iver in Manchester.
• Track of the year
  AUATC - Bon Iver. I chose this song first as Bruce Springsteen plays a part in the music but also as the proceeds from the track go towards empowering women, liberating incarcerated people and to fighting climate change.

• Biggest highlight in 2020...
  Still being able to carry out online events and classes for our audiences. I think 2020 has highlighted the want that people have for live events. Specifically my personal highlight at Sound City was Keychange week, working with different organisations to emphasise the importance of gender balance within all areas of the music industry not just festival lineups and the amount of companies who pledged to a 50/50 balance was brilliant.
• Most looking forward to in 2021...
  LIVE MUSIC! I can't wait for a proper gig or festival, being in a big crowd for a big sing-a-long.
• Track of the year...
  Jorja Smith- Come Over 

• Biggest highlight in 2020...
  Guesthouse launching - we would never have thought back in January that by the end of this year we would have developed a digital platform that helps artists to make money from streamed performances
• Most looking forward to in 2021....
  Live events and festivals coming back!
• Track of the year...
  Jetta - Livin'. Jetta is an incredible artist from Liverpool, this song is so effervescent and beautiful

• Biggest highlight in 2020...
  My biggest highlight of 2020 was Liverpool winning the Champions League
• Most looking forward to in 2021....
  In 2021 I'm most looking forward to getting back to normal life again & being able to attend gigs and festivals again.
• Track of the year...
  Fontaines DC - A Lucid Dream. This is one of my favourite albums of 2020, one that I still play very frequently and its released during peak covid and was like a little bit of enjoyment and good news in the midst of all the shit.

• Biggest highlight in 2020….
  AWAL takeovers - great to work alongside a company such as AWAL and their diverse range of artists.
• Most looking forward to in 2021...
  Gigs, gigs and Glasto.
• Track of the year…
  Dua Lipa - break my heart

• Biggest highlight in 2020...
  Stay at home festival. This was where our team was pushed out of the comfort zone and learned to run a non-stop stream, using a newly built platform. Sean, Angie and Max have been amazing. We have had 1000+ viewers who watched the show, and artists from 10+ countries.
• Most looking forward to 2021...
  The launch of guesthouse and the exciting new programmes we will present to the world.
• Track of the year…
  Ms. Doremi by Eggplantegg. This is a feel-good, jazzy rock song about the love for music by a taiwanese indie band who showcased on Guesthouse. It is vibrant, sophisticated and with great energy. Good music is needed more than ever in 2020!
  
  

• Biggest highlight in 2020
  Launch of Guest House
  Achieving 5 chart albums (Top 10 and Top 30) with Modern Sky
  More than any other U.K. independent label during this pandemic
• Most looking forward to in 2021....
  Guest House becoming part of the global music community
  Going to real gigs again with no social distance
  Bringing Sound City back to the streets of Liverpool, Beijing and Seoul
• Track of the year...
  The Lottery Winners - An open letter to creatives ..... It is a beautiful and poignant piece of art that perfectly sums up 2020

• Biggest highlight in 2020...
  Can play guitar like a good beginner now!
• Most looking forward to in 2021....
  Hopefully gain abs and also travelling to Korea, Japan and Europe
• Track of the year...
  The Lathums - Fight On because it’s catchy and from our label haha

• Biggest highlight in 2020…
  Launch and on-going growth of Guest House
  Modern Sky Chart Success
  Jamie Webster's album release campaign & the sync with Liverpool lifting the Premier League
• Most looking forward to in 2021….
  The return of live music
  Sound City 2021
  The Lathums
• Track of the year...
  The Lathums - Fight On. It’s been a big year for the band, this is my own personal favourite from everything they’ve released. 2021 is going to be massive.

• Biggest highlight in 2020...
  Was there any??? Getting funding for RIP IT UP to help Black, Asian and Diverse youngsters wanting to get into the industry. Juvey getting his track on the Liverpool FC new documentary. Guesthouse actually becoming a reality with many partners getting to showcase their acts and supporting these artists
• Most looking forward to in 2021....
  Having the Launch acts finally get to perform live ( anywhere :) ) but mainly Sound City and hopefully seeing their careers move forward
• Track of the year...
  Anything Arlo Parks - I love the song Hurt and Sangria. Why because there very catchy and the lyrics are quite modern and relatable

• Biggest Highlights in 2020...
• One of the first festivals in the world to do an online festival. First socially distanced gigs with Jamie Webster & The Lathums
• Most looking forward to in 2021....
  Gigs & concerts back
  The Sound City Liverpool festival
• Track of the year...
  Jamie Webster - This Place. Anthemic.

• Biggest Highlights in 2020...
  Creating and launching Guest House. Giving artists new means to generate income and keeping audiences entertained over the course of 60 shows in an unprecedented year. Particular event highlights include The Lathums, Jamie Webster, The Streets, The Blinders and the Sound City Stay At Home Festival.
• Most looking forward to in 2021…
  Getting back to Anfield and watchi