Course leader of MA Music Management, Dr Simon Poole, introduces himself and gives us an insight into the course.
Tell us about your journey in the music business so far: what are you passionate about exploring?
My first taste of the music business was getting a job in a record shop as a teenager. I was hooked straight away and found all of the processes of ordering, new releases and chart reporting fascinating. I’d started playing music around the same time and so putting on gigs, networking, recording and merchandise all followed quickly on from there. I started a label when I was at university – starting with tapes, but moving on to vinyl shortly afterwards. The cultures of collecting and fandom became more and more fascinating to me and when vinyl sales were at their lowest point I decided to study record collectors for my doctorate. At that time it was thought that vinyl production would be over by the 2010s and no one knew if people would still collect records. How times have changed! By the time I completed, Record Store Day was established and vinyl has bounced back to its strongest position in thirty years.
Along this journey I’ve written for magazines and academic journals, hosted a radio show, set up an events company, toured across the world, recorded radio sessions and released records – all while designing and managing music business and management courses.
Where did the idea of offering an MA in Music Management at LCC come from?
The Sound and Music programme has been producing incredible work from students and staff alike for some time – live shows, recordings, exhibitions and production work. It seemed like a logical step to complete the microcosm of the music industry by formally expanding the music management that was taught across the department into a full Master’s course. With all of the other arts programmes at LCC and more broadly UAL it is like being at the heart of the creative industries.
What kinds of projects and collaborations can students expect to engage with on the course?
All music management is collaborative, and a lot of the coursework will be project based – allowing each student to find their niche in the industry, focusing on artist management, marketing management, promotion, live, publishing, synchronisation, merchandising or video.
There are lots of artists working in the Sound and Music programme who are seeking managers for their projects and careers, creating networks with other musicians across the university and, of course, London!
Similarly, some students could already be working with artists and would like to expand their practice to involve their fellow LCC students – whether that be emerging photographers, designers, writers, performers or film makers. We will then guide students in their collaborations with labels, venues and publishers by honing management strategies, networking and negotiation skills.
How might MA Music Management students be able to gain experience of working with industry?
The first day on the course is the first day in industry. Being based in the Sound and Music programme means that you’ll be working alongside exciting, emerging producers, writers and artists all the time. There is time set aside to allow for placement activities at a local level or at any of the myriad music companies in London – whether majors or indies, arts-focused or more commercially minded, the opportunities are varied and numerous. We’ll be bringing in colleagues and alumni to talk about how to best maximise your journey from university to industry.
What kinds of related things can students expect to work with on the course?
The course is philosophical as well as practical. We ask a lot of why questions. Why is the industry the way it is? How does it need to change to be sustainable, equitable and fair and what can we do about it? More broadly we’ll explore the cultures of fandom so we can best work with them to offer the maximum engagement for artists. Alongside this, there’ll be the practicalities of management and exploration of intellectual property, finance, law and contracts.
What kinds of careers might MA Music Management prepare students for?
A lot of the course is based around the engagement with the artist. This means you’ll understand things from an artist’s perspective – so with a strong management understanding you can work in any aspect of the industry, from touring to publishing, from studios to merchandising, from labels to brand partnership management, with a great understanding of all of the interconnected elements of the sector in the UK, Europe and across the world.
What top tips would you give for prospective students who are interested in exploring the world of Music Management?
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