Music careers

What is it you do?
I am Business Affairs Co-ordinator at International Music Publications Ltd (a sheet music publisher & Warner Music Group Company)

What does this involve? Describe a typical day…
Well, music publishing is all about songs, songwriters and the exploitation of copyrights rather than records or artists and my main duties are the third-party licensing of our print rights (effectively allowing people to
use our songs in a print format, ie. as sheet music or printing lyrics). My department receives anywhere between 20-40 licence requests per day and these can be from choirs, bands, magazines or other publishers who want to reproduce our rights in some way. Before I can let them use the songs, I usually have to seek permission from the songwriters or their representatives (managers, lawyers etc.) whom I contact with the relevant details before carrying out their instructions to approve or decline the request accordingly. If the request is approved, we usually need to charge a royalty fee in return for granting the permission.

Roughly outline your career path…
After graduating from Liverpool University in June 1998 (and following a year of temporary work in the local city council), I got 2 months work experience with the MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society - a UK organisation that collects recording royalties), whilst also enlisting with some media/music recruitment agencies in London. One agency (Handle Recruitment) got me the job at IMP and I started in September 1999 as Copyright & Licensing Assistant before assuming sole control of the department in October 2001 after the departure of the departmental manager.
 
What made you decide to make a career out of music and how old were you at the time?
Music was always my thing at school - I started learning the guitar at 11 and was a member of school choirs and several bands, but it was only at A-level age (17-18) that I knew it was all I wanted to do. Previously I had wanted to be a journalist...or footballer! I couldn't imagine myself working in an evironment that I didn't enjoy, so I was determined to make a go of it in the music industry somewhere.

What training or course has most enhanced your career?
I would say definitely the BA (Hons) degree course in Music & Popular Music at Liverpool University which I studied from 1995-98. As you can tell from the title, it mixed the usual classical music studies with popular music studies and enabled students to learn about the music which had, in the most part, most influenced their culture, upbringing and general way of life, such pop music they were in to.

How much has music influenced your life?
Very much so - music is often the first thing I talk about when I meet someone for the first time, comparing tastes, talking about favourite bands or gigs. I also enjoy working with music on in the background and I
always have MTV and the other cable music channels on at home. I also love to play guitar, piano and sing as often as I can.

Do you have a particularly musical background?
Yes - my dad was a drummer and he played in a band in the 1960s with two of my uncles (a guitarist and a harmonica-player respectively) and my mum, although she never progressed beyond the recorder as far as playing an nstrument goes, has always loved to listen to the radio or delve into their ever-expanding record collection fairly regularly. So there was always music playing in the house when I was growing up.

What was your experience of music at school?
It was always my favourite lesson, not only because it was probably the subject that I was best at but also because the teachers tried to make it fun. Some pupils didn't take music lessons seriously, so constantly mucked around or wound the teachers up beyond belief, but those of us who knew the importance of music in the curriculum were still able to learn, progress and - perhaps most importantly - enjoy the subject.

What sort of music do you listen to for pleasure?
I pretty much listen to and am passionate about most types of music across the board except reggae (I just don't get it!) but my favourite styles are alternative/heavy rock like the Foo Fighters, Limp Bizkit and The Darkness, classic rock like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin or hybrid dance like DJ Shadow, Daft Punk and 2 Many DJs.

Who or what has inspired you most?
I would say that music itself has inspired me, not one particular area, thing or individual. By that, I mean that I have been driven by the desire and will to be involved in music for as long as I can remember, from singing along to Paul McCartney's ‘Mull Of Kintyre’ at the age of 2, to starting my first band aged 14, to graduating university and entering "the real world" at the age of 23. And I continue to be inspired by music every day and in every way.

What is the best thing about what you do?
I love being an important cog in the music industry machine and being connected with some of the most respected songwriters of the 20th century, like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Noel Coward as well as modern writers and artists like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Radiohead, R.E.M. and Dido - all of whom we publish.

And the worst?
It is quite a desk-based job so I don't get that much opportunity to travel or get out of the office on business, which is a bit of a shame as that's something I'd be keen to get involved in. That said, there are always music industry social events which present a perfect opportunity to get to know colleagues at other companies or network amongst possible new business contacts.

What is your advice to young people who want to make a career in music?
Get the best education available to you and pay attention in music lessons! Harass people, use your initiative to get yourself noticed or heard (whether its performing, writing or simply looking for work behind the scenes), be passionate and keen, have some sort of focus about what you want to do. Read widely about the subject and the industry so you know about the latest technology, developments and trends. Be lucky and basically don't ever give up, no matter how many knock-backs you get, it will pay off eventually.

What is your dream job?
I would love to compose music for a visual medium; films, TV programmes, adverts - who knows, maybe there's still time for me to achieve this dream someday...

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