ONE of the leading figures in the music industry has led a seminar in Liverpool for the next generation of music managers.
The Music Managers’ Forum (MMF) yesterday held an “Induction Course” at Merseyside ACME’s Liverpool headquarters yesterday – the first time the forum has held one of the events outside London.
It was led by the MMF’s chief executive Jon Webster, a former managing director of Virgin Records . He was instrumental in devising the Now! That's What I Call Music brand and the Mercury Music Prize.
Some 25 band managers attended the event to discuss issues from royalties to the rise of downloading.
The event was brought to Liverpool by support agencies Merseyside ACME – now part of Liverpool Vision – and Vision + Media.
ACME director Kevin McManus, himself a former manager, said: “I’ve been talking to John about having an event in Liverpool for a while, and this is their first such event outside London. The level of interest in this event in Merseyside was really strong.
“Most people at the meeting were early-stage managers who haven’t been managing for too long.
“But, as they say, you’re never too old to learn, so we also had people who’ve been doing this for a while.
“The music industry has changed so much. When I was a manager, you tried to get a band signed to a record label, then sign a publishing deal, then toured to help sell more records. That’s not how it works now.
“Record companies, for example, are now offering 360 deals, including not just recording but publishing and merchandising. They’re not making enough money from records, so they’re offering the whole package.
“There are new markets, including downloads and sync deals where you license songs for television or games.”
In the morning, Mr Webster and Eric Nielson, of Wingnut Music, talked to delegates and answered their questions. In the afternoon, they were joined by Julie Guinan, from Liverpool’s Harvey Guinan accountants, Carol Isherwood, of Manchester law firm Ward Hadaway, and James Dodd of specialist music insurer Doodson.
