PRS for Music to break down barriers with diversity panel for Bristol’s music creators

Free-to-attend evening sees experts from across the music industry personal experiences and advice on how to overcome challenges

PRS for Music is visiting Bristol next month to offer a free event for local music creators to learn more about the music industry. Following a string of successful panels in Oxford, Liverpool and Hull earlier this year, the Education & Outreach team will host How To: Understand The Music Business at leading arts and culture hub Trinity Centre, on Trinity Road, on Thursday 7 September. 

As a membership society, PRS for Music represents 125,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in the UK and beyond, championing their rights and ensuring that they are paid whenever their music is performed or played in public.

Across two panels, industry professionals with hands-on experience will provide guidance, share their personal experiences and help music creators gain knowledge and understanding about the music business. Attendees will learn how the industry works, what challenges they may face, and what the next steps in their careers could be, whether songwriters, producers, managers, or running a DIY label.

There will also be an opportunity to network afterwards, giving attendees the change to build new relationships, meet potential collaborators, and ask panellists further questions.

How To: Understand The Music Business panellists include performer and songwriter Javeon as well as representatives from Musicians’ Union, PRS for Music and the Music Publishers Association. Together, they will be discuss how the business operates – and most importantly, how to make it work for you.

The second panel, Achieving Equality: Breaking Down The Barriers of Stereotypes will see panellists including hit producer and composer Tony Briscoe (Re-Rewind, Shoulda Woulda Coulda) and Laura Lewis-Paul, founder of all-female record label and music education platform Saffron Records, share their own experiences on the challenges facing equality in music and explore ways that we might move forward to overcome them. Local hit songwriter Tanya Lacey (Will.i.am, Rhianna, Tinchy Stryder, Emeli Sandé), who hosts club events with female collective Supergurl and teaches songwriting and performing with Bristol Plays Music, will also join them on this in-depth panel.

We are excited to bring our How To events to the South West for what should be an exciting and educational evening. These panels are designed for attendees at all points in their careers – whether they just written their first song or published their fiftieth. As a membership organisation, PRS for Music doesn’t just collect royalties. We’re also here for creators to turn to for advice and education on the music business.

While the event is free, space is limited so please ensure you book a ticket online if you wish to attend. Both non-members and PRS for Music members are encouraged to attend.

Event details:

6:45pm – 7:45pm – How To: Understand The Music Business

Are you a songwriter, producer, solo artist or in a band? Or maybe you’re a music publisher, DIY label or manager? Whatever you’re doing, it’s crucial that you understand the way the music industry works. Join PRS for Music and a panel of experienced professionals to find out how the business operates and how to make it work better for you.

Panellists:

• Daniel Jones (PRS for Music & Moderator)
• Paul Gray (Musicians Union)
• Kirsty Booth (Music Publishers Association)
• Javeon (Songwriter/Artist)

8pm – 9:15pm – Achieving Equality: Breaking Down the Barriers of Stereotypes

Success in the music world is hard enough; race, gender, sexuality or disability shouldn’t be an additional barrier but, for many, those things still are. And even though the music industry is slowly adapting and changing, there is much more that needs to be done.
Join PRS for Music and a panel of industry professionals who will share their own experiences on the challenges faced and explore ways that we might move forward to overcome them.

Panellists:

• Laura Lewis-Paul (Saffron Records)
• Tanya Lacey (Singer/Songwriter)
• Tony Briscoe (Producer/Songwriter/Mentor)
• Maxie Gedge (PRS Foundation/Gravy Records/Musician)
• Claire Rose (PRS for Music)
• Andy Ellis (Moderator)

9:15pm – 10:15pm – Networking

The evening closes with a networking session and the opportunity to meet the panellists and various music industry organisations.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For media enquiries and further information, please contact:
Coral Williamson, Communications Executive, PRS for Music 
020 3741 4777 / Coral.Williamson@prsformusic.com