The FM Podcast

When I started working as a publicist in the music industry, my job was a lot different that it is now. When I started, there were fewer outlets to pitch for coverage because music blogs were barely a thing AND there were local music writers at nearly every print newspaper across Canada. Which is crazy to think about now, but that's how it was.
 
And out of all of those journalists that I used to call up on the phone, there are not very many that are still working in the industry in the same capacity. Some are out of the business completely, some have started their own online publications, and a very limited few are still in the exact same place.  And one of those people is my guest on the show this week - Mike Devlin!  Mike is an arts reporter at the Times Colonist in Victoria, BC. That's where he was when I started in the biz, and that's where he remains to this day. Mike and I discuss the State of Music Journalism in 2021 - how much things have changed, and what the future looks like for music criticism.
 
 FRESH CONTENT LINKS
Mike recommends: Nick Cave's new album Carnage
Jen recommends: Renegades: Born in the USA podcast 

SOTW
Leeroy Stagger - Strange Attractor

You can find Mike at timescolonist.com
And learn more about Fritz Media at fritzmedia.ca

Here in Canada we are lucky to have a lot of different options for funding our arts projects. And the music industry in particular has an incredible national foundation called FACTOR which is a public/private partnership that supports the production of sound recordings by Canadian musicians and helps Canadian music companies make recordings available to a wider public. We also have funding available through our Music Industry Associations (MIAs) in each province and territory, and some provinces also have additional funding available through organizations that offer funding to all creative industries (like Creative BC + Ontario Creates). And there's many other options as well. Like I said, we're very lucky! This week on the show Jen talks to Erin Kinghorn.  Erin  runs eEK! Productions - a Toronto-based marketing, production management and grant administration company, AND she’s also a partner in Digital Promotions Group. Erin tells us all about how to navigate the music funding system here in Canada and has some good tips for musicians who haven't written a grant before.

FRESH CONTENT LINKS
Erin recommends: Elliot Brood's A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. project
Jen recommends:  Framing Britney Spears documentary

SOTW
Bill Jr. Jr. - Renaissance Man

You can find Erin at eekproductions.ca
And learn more about Fritz Media at fritzmedia.ca

Although things are moving in the right direction, the lack of diversity in the Canadian music  industry is still a problem, not just for the artists trying to gain access but for those that work within the industry as well. This week on the show we discuss diversity + education in the music industry. Jen talks to rapper, motivational speaker, and author, D.O. Gibson, about how he is creating change within our industry. We discuss his conference - The Northern Power Summit - and their upcoming event Black 365, his school outreach program Stay Driven, and, of course, his music!

FRESH CONTENT LINKS
D.O. Gibson recommends: Halifax rapper Quake Matthews
Jen recommends: Phoebe Bridgers' recent performance on SNL

SOTW
D.O. Gibson - Cmon Cuz

You can find D.O. Gibson at iamdogibson.com
And learn more about Fritz Media at fritzmedia.ca

When you choose to have a career in music, you often end up wearing a lot of different hats + learn about many different aspects of the business. And Alberta-based singer-songwriter Ryland Moranz is definitely an artist that knows all about this. Ryland releases his own music as a solo musician, is a part of Leeroy Stagger's band The Rebeltone Sound + he's even worked as a tour manager. Jen talks to Ryland about his experiences in wearing all of these hats, to see if he could share some of the lessons that he's learned in the process.

FRESH CONTENT LINKS
Ryland recommends: C.R. Avery's new film VICTORY ON EAST HASTINGS
Jen recommends: Arlo Parks' new album Collapsed in Sunbeams

SOTW
Ryland Moranz - Beautiful World

You can find Ryland Moranz at rylandmoranz.com
And learn more about Fritz Media at fritzmedia.ca

The COVID pandemic has had a huge effect on the music industry + without live shows, many  artists + businesses have had to pivot in order to stay afloat in the last year. And who better to talk to about pivoting than Vancouver indie musician Dan Mangan. Dan is not just an artist, he's also the co-owner of Side Door Access, a business that Dan describes as "Airbnb but for shows" + they obviously had to pivot big time last year + have become a lucrative + solid platform for musicians to do ticketed live stream shows. Jen talks to Dan about how his music career has been affected by the pandemic + how Side Door Access turned lemons into lemonade by skillfully pivoting their business.

FRESH CONTENT LINKS
Dan recommends: Vancouver musician Sam Tudor
Jen recommends: Numero Group playlists on Spotify

SOTW
Dan Mangan - Not What You Think It Is

You can find Dan Mangan at danmanganmusic.com
And check out Fritz Media at fritzmedia.ca

For the very first episode of The FM Podcast, Jen talks to digital marketer Danielle McNeill. Danielle is the lead digital strategist at Fritz Media + also runs her own digital marketing firm, The Social Circle. Great conversation about how to navigate social media as a musician in 2021!

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