Sound Advice- The Music Industry Podcast

In this episode, I’m joined by author and academic Dr Rosemary Lucy Hill to discuss her new co-authored work 'Unsilenced', a powerful new book exploring gender-based violence in the popular and live music industries. We talk about how abuse is enabled by structures within the industry, the stories of victims like Ke$ha, and what artists, promoters, and fans can do to create safer, more inclusive spaces in their local music scenes.
TW: this episode contains discussions of sexual violence and abuse
If you like the podcast please give it a rating and send it to your music friends, it really helps me keep the show going. thank you :)
Get your copy of Unsilenced here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/unsilenced-9798765101742/

THE AUTHORS
Rosemary Lucy Hill: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rosemary-hill-04644126a
https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=rosemary+lucy+hill&btnG=
Cath Strong: https://academics.rmit.edu.au/catherine-strong/publications
Biance Fileborn: https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/145825-bianca-fileborn

RESOURCES
Safer Spaces zine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iMZUoSuo_LxvPqxJ3Di1FA8snxE88oCU/view?usp=sharing
Good Night Out Campaign (for safer spaces training): https://www.goodnightoutcampaign.org/
Where Are The Girlbands: https://www.instagram.com/wherearethegirlbands/

In this episode, I sit down with Tom Williamson, founder of Ripe Records – a new independent label born out of a love for Liverpool’s vibrant music scene. We talk about the realities of launching a label from scratch, what it really takes to support emerging artists, how artists can get noticed by labels, and Tom’s vision for putting Liverpool back on the world music map.

If you enjoy the show please tell your musician friends and give us a 5-star rating wherever you're listening from :)

Check out Ripe Records: https://www.riperecords.uk/

This week Sketch Benjamin is back on the show to give you an expert guide on creating video content for TikTok and Instagram that looks great, feels good to create and gets people listening to and talking about your music. We talk about the affordable bits of gear that makes a huge difference to your video quality, how to make sure the algorithm serves your song to people who will love it and unlocking your creativity with video so that making TikTok videos doesn't have to feel like selling out.Check out Ben's work here: www.instagram.com/sketchbenjamin

If you enjoy the show please tell your music mates and give it a 5 star review, it really helps me out :)

In this week's episode (part 1 of 2) I spoke to local videographer Sketch Benjamin about the challenges of building a freelance career, adapting work to the algorithm and why copyright law is so confusing. A really enjoyable chat that goes on lots of interesting tangents.

If you enjoyed the show please give us 5 stars and tell your music friends :)

Check out Ben's work here: https://www.instagram.com/sketchbenjamin

Want to get your music featured in the press without hiring a PR team? In this episode, I’m joined by Rachel White – founder of Brick PR and House of DIY – to share 5 essential tips for doing your own PR. From finding your strengths to nailing your key messages and attracting press opportunities, Rachel breaks it all down in a way that’s accessible, affordable, and totally doable for independent artists.

Check out more of Rachel's PR resources here: https://houseofdiy.co.uk/resources-musicians

If you enjoy the show please tell your music friends about it, I bet there's someone else you know who would find this useful :)

This week I sat down with one of the lovliest people in Liverpool's music community, Dan Astles, who releases muswic under his last name. We spoke about finding your path as an artist, working with managers and booking agents, the struggle of giving up creative control and releasing his debut album on vinyl next month.

You can listen to Dan's gorgeous new single here: https://ditto.fm/remember-us-astles

And buy the vinyl for 'Soundtrack For The 21 Bus Home' here: https://astles.bandcamp.com/album/soundtrack-for-the-twenty-one-bus-home

If you could do me a massive favour and just rate this show wherever you're listening, it really helps me out, thank you :)

This week I'm joined by Mia Thornton, the creator of the fantastic new BBC Sounds podcast Instrumental: Black British Trailblazers, which explores the Black artists who have shaped British music in genres often seen as 'white.' In this conversation, we discuss Mia's journey in the northern creative industry, the impact of desirability politics on Black female pop stars, the process of creating Instrumental and loads more. I really enjoyed this conversation, so I hope you do too :)

Listen to Instrumental here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0kqbv5l

If you like the show please rate it 5 stars wherever you listen to help people discover future episodes, thanks :)

The music industry is facing a mental health crisis. Research has shown that people working in music are more prone to mental health problems than the general population, with musicians being up to three times more likely to suffer from depression. But why is this the case, and what can be done to change this?

This week I spoke to Grace Meadows, music therapist and head of Music Minds Matter, to find out why mental health is such a huge issue in the music industry, the impact freelance work and touring has on wellbeing, the tools and mechanisms musicians can use to cope, and what Music Minds Matter are doing to try to solve the roots of the issue.

Access mental health support here: https://www.musicmindsmatter.org.uk/

If you like this episode please give it a good rating, it really helps me out :)

After a brief hiatus of life getting in the way, we're back with a brand new episode. This week I wanted to discuss what has become a real buzzword in the music industry recently: superfans. I broke down why they've become such a lucrative market, how artists are shifting their strategies towards the top 1% of their fanbase and what you can do to build a die-hard fanbase without exploiting your most loyal supporters.

Putting on gigs isn’t just about booking bands—it’s about creating moments that stick with people. In this episode, I sat down with Tom Hardie of Bus Stop Promotions to uncover what makes a local show feel special, the fair way to pay artists and how to sell out your local venues. Whether you're an artist, promoter, or just love live music, this conversation reveals the highs, lows, and behind-the-scenes chaos of independent gig promoting in the heart of Liverpool's local scene.

Check out Bus Stop Promotions' upcoming shows: https://linktr.ee/busstoppromotions

If you liked this episode please give the podcast a rating to help others find the show :)