Jon Salmon - Digital Producer and Mental Health Ambassador

This episode was recorded at the Getahead Festival in August 2021. Getahead is a mental health festival that brings people, organisations, brands and charities together from within the health and wellbeing space. In collaboration, they raise awareness of the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing. 

I caught up with Jon in the Green room at Getahead to talk about all things mental health, his life, his recovery and what he is doing now to support those struggling with their mental health. We talk about his work at his Agency as a Digital Producer and what characteristics you need to work at an agency like his.

Expect to hear trains going over head, people walking in and all sorts of organic sounds. I love this free flowing chat and I hope you enjoy it too!

Sally J Freeman

Love Live Music UK Instagram - @LoveLiveMusicUK

Jon's Bio: Jon Salmon is an award-winning video executive producer, a digital pioneer and co-founder of branded entertainment agency Byte Entertainment.

Jon lost his father to suicide as a teenager. After starting his first job Jon was sectioned and admitted to hospital with stress and depression. Luckily, Jon was able to get the right help and returned to work a year later.

However, Jon decided not to tell anyone about his illness for nearly 20 years due to the stigma and affect it would have on his career and friendships.

It was sadly after the suicide of a close friend due to postnatal depression in 2016 that Jon decided he had to speak out.

Jon couldn’t have picked a more public platform to speak out when he spoke alongside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Jon has since gone on to co-produce What’s Going On In Your Head exploring the secret inner workings of the mind through performance art and discussion, become a trustee for Let’s Talk About Loss a charity for young people who have been bereaved and the founding member and director of the Speakers Collective challenging stigma and facilitating important conversations.

Jon lives in London, a proud Dad and speaks openly about mental health in the hope it will help others and save lives.

If you need help today:

1. The Hub of Hope - https://hubofhope.co.uk - there is always someone to talk to.

2. Shout 85258 If you feel more comfortable texting try Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope

https://giveusashout.org/about-us/about-shout/ 

3. Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org - Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We're here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Jon's Mental Health Projects:

http://speakerscollective.org (Director)

https://whatsgoingoninyourhead.org/ (Co-founder)

https://letstalkaboutloss.org/ (Trustee)

https://www.talkitoutmusic.com/ (Time To Change project)

Jon's Social Media - reach out to him here:

https://twitter.com/jonsalmon

https://www.instagram.com/j0nsalmon

https://www.jon-salmon.com/

Jon's Company:

Byte Entertainment

https://www.byteentertainment.com/

A huge thank you to Engineer and Producer Abi Reddey for mastering this while in Thailand - thanks for your unerring support. 

Rhian Jones - Journalist and Lucy Heyman authors "Sound Advice: The Ultimate Guide to a Healthy and Successful Career in the Music Industry".

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 6 of the Secrets of Success "On Tour" Podcast. This week I am in Wales with Lucy Heyman and Rhian Jones in Germany via zoom. 

We discuss Rhian's and Lucy's new book "Sound Advice: The Ultimate Guide to a Healthy and Successful Career in the Music Industry".

Lucy and Rhian share their personal insights about living a healthy life and creating sustainable success in your music career. There are some precious pearls of wisdom in this episode from extraordinary women who refuse to live with the old patterns of operating.  Rhian and Lucy explore the whole conversation of good mental health and well being and help move the conversation forward by looking at preventative action to empower all of us that work in music. Their Book will become an absolute Bible for the whole industry and it is an honour to have both as guests this week.

In this episode we discuss many subjects including creating good habits and routines, sleep, connecting with nature, managing chronic health conditions, how to align your life with your values and how to create sustainable success. I loved my trip to Wales visiting Lucy and Rhian, I am so proud of this podcast and all that we discussed. Expect encouragement, life giving insights and a deep understanding of the current status of the music industry from two music absolute industry legends.

Thank you Lucy and Rhian - it was a real joy to be with you.

Rhian Jones is a respected journalist who specialises in writing about the music business. Titles she regularly contributes to include The Guardian, Music Business Worldwide, and Hits Daily Double. Born into a family of musicians, Rhian studied music at college before training as a journalist after realising performing was not her forte. She started her professional career at trade title Music Week, rising through the ranks to news editor, before embarking on a full-time freelance career in 2015. Other titles where you’ll find her byline include The Independent, Vice, The Sunday Telegraph, and Billboard. This is her first book and proudest work to date.

You can find Rhian here:

Twitter: @JonesJourno

Instagram: @JonesJourno

Website: www.RhianJones.co.uk

Lucy Heyman is a vocal and performance coach and one of the UK’s leading specialists in the health and wellbeing support of commercial recording artists. She studied music at Bristol University and holds an MSc in Performance Science from the Royal College of Music, where she now conducts research for a PhD. Lucy is the founder of industry health and wellbeing consultancy, Elevate, and host and creator of the health-focused Elevate Music Podcast, with guests including Imogen Heap, Miles Kane, Nina Nesbitt, and more. She is a member of the BRIT Award Voting Academy and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

You can find Lucy Here:

Twitter: @LucindaHeyman

Instagram: @LucyHeymanMusic

Lucy's Website: Lucyheyman.com

Sound Advice Book  - Book Website

For anyone in the UK, you can order the paperback, hardback and ebook (for Apple devices only) versions via the Sound Advice Shopify shop.

Discount Codes: Thank you to Rhian and Lucy who have given us a massive 25% off the book for all Secrets of Success Podcast listeners - Use Code: SUCCESS

Huge thanks to Abi Reddey for Production of this Podcast and managing to edit lots of stems together very successfully.

Please feel free to reach out to me Sally J Freeman on Instagram or email me [email protected]. 

Check out my website and subscribe to my newsletter: www.lovelivemusic.co.uk

You can find this Podcast on Amazon, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora and many other platforms.

Remi Harris MBE – London - Business Advisor and Author

Welcome to season 2 of the Secrets of Success Podcast, this week we are looking at finance with Remi Harris. We will hear about how to finance your career and make money from your music. 

Remi is a Trainer and Business Advisor to the Creative Industries specialising in finance. Her book “Easy money” is the definitive UK guide to funding music projects.

Remi was the General Manager of AIM – the Association of Independent Music.   While she was there, she created a mentoring programme and raised £750,000 to help set up AIM, the business. She studied for an MBA and created a mentoring programme, she delivered hundreds of training events and conferences and ran the day-to-day operations - a very busy and successful time for Remi.

Remi has also been the Director of Operations at lobbying organisation UK Music. This organisation works across the music industry, is involved in governance and strategy at board level, and lobbies government on behalf of the music industry. She also created the first music industry equality and diversity plan.

On this episode, Remi shares her success stories, how she received an MBE from Prince William at Buckingham Palace (while heavily pregnant) and her journey setting up her consultancy and the non-profit organisation young guns - https://www.ygn.co. YGN is a professional network produced by and for young people in the music industry.  It’s made up of entrepreneurs, executives and ambitious young people working in music with a ‘positive hustle’ mindset.

Remi talks about why we find it so difficult to ask for money, access funding, managing debt and thinking of the future. She asks the question "How will we have enough money to live? How we can plan for the future and thinking about pensions!

We talk about the emotional aspects of money, the role of community, sourcing money, crowd funding and how your friends and family are the main source of finance when supporting the majority of small businesses. We talk about tax, “Money Mindset”, VAT, taking control, making your finances digital and other life changing financial issues.

"When artists become successful they become business leaders, YOU are the boss and you have to learn how to be the BOSS! Your staff support you and YOU have to learn to manage and drive this team – this can be challenging and is why we need to talk about money" reflects Remi.

This is a hugely important conversation and Remi brings education, strategy, wisdom and insight into this space. Thank you Remi for your time and hospitality.

You can find Remi on her website: https://remiharrisconsulting.com

Linked in

Instagram

Twitter

Buy Remi's Book - Easy Money

Join Young Guns Network: https://www.ygn.co

Many thanks to Abi Reddey for Production of this Podcast and managing lots of outside noises from lawn mowers, pigeons and howling winds!

Please feel free to reach out to me Sally J Freeman on Instagram or email me [email protected]. 

It is my absolute pleasure to have guest Jo Hadler - Creative Consultant and BIMM Careers Manager from Bristol on the Podcast this week.

I have known Jo for the past four years where I have lectured at BIMM Bristol on Live Music, Press and Digital strategies, Managing Burnout and had the privilege to Mentor many of the BIMM students.  I love the BIMM students and it has been so satisfying to see many achieve success in the Music Industry. 

Jo is the Founder of new start-up Creative Careers consultancy - @creativecareersconsultancy and the Careers and Employability Manager at BIMM Bristol - @bimm_bristol. 

Jo has worked in the Music and Events Industry for over 17 years and has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the creative industries.  She is a lecturer at BIMM Bristol, teaching Music Business and Events Management.

Her skill set includes an MSc in Occupational Psychology, an Adult Mental Health First Aid Certificate, a PGCert in Teaching and Learning and a BA (Hons) Degree in Professional Musicianship. Jo has skills!

She recently Founded a Creative Careers Consultancy to help creatives identify core career challenges and setbacks.  As a result, her Clients are able to overcome challenges with confidence.  Jo specialises in career counseling and coaching, to assist in providing clients with tools needed to move forward and access success pathways. Please reach out to her - see links below.

In her role as Career and Employability Manager, she gives career support, advice and guidance. She supports students with their first steps into the creative industries – final year students particular benefit from this service as they establish themselves in the music industry.

Jo is also a singer in the award winning Choir Noir - a professional choir made up of hand-picked vocalists from around the UK.

Jo chose this book for the Love Live Music UK Book Club: 

What Colour Is Your Parachute? 2021: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success (What Color Is Your Parachute?) 

Jo said this book include lots of amazing advice and guidance for those in the music industry - worth a read! 

Thank you Jo for your insights and reflections.

You can find Jo here:

Jo's Business: Creative Careers Consultancy 

BIMM Bristol – reach out to BIMM about their courses - here

Jo Hadler Linked In

Thank you to Abi Reddey for ace production skills and making all the on tour sounds bearable - you are a sound magician! 

Please feel free to reach out to Sally from Love Live Music: [email protected]

Follow Sally on Instagram: @LoveLiveMusicUK

Website: Love Live Music UK

Lock down song - We have lost dancing - by FRED again and the Blessed Madonna...

Season 2 Episode 3 - Nikki McNeill, Founder of Global Publicity - Brighton

With over 24 years experience in the music industry Nikki McNeill is the founder of Global Publicity which specialises in worldwide PR and communications for music, festivals and events.

Nikki is passionate about the global music scene and only works with clients she truly believes in, giving her an authentic voice that rises above the rest.

Having earned a reputation for hard work, honesty and professionalism, Nikki is dedicated to achieving the best results with campaigns that cross borders with clients including Amsterdam Dance Event, EXIT Festival, Lowlands and Secret Solstice. Nikki has also launched her own podcast series 'Meet Me Backstage' which shines a light on the people working behind the scenes in the music industry.

This week, Nikki shares her journey as a publicist, revealing what a publicist does in the Music Industry, what skills they need, their day to day life and what it's like to work for big festivals.

Over lock down, Nikki has become the Queen of ClubHouse - a new social platform that is audio only. On Clubhouse, Nikki runs a music industry insights club every Tuesday looking at all the current news, trends and insights.

Nikki shares about her contribution over lock down to the Night Time Industries Association their unique role promoting the flourishing night time industry in the UK and the current challenges that have arisen because of lockdown.

Nikki encourages the next generation to have passion for the industry, to be solution focused, be prepared to take risks and innovate quicker ways of working. 

Nikki's choice of book for the Love Live Music Book Club: Seth Godin's Tribes

Thank you Nikki for being a guest on the Love Live Music Podcast.

Contact Nikki:

You can reach out to Nikki on her website: Global Publicity

Clubhouse: @rednikki

Instagram: @rednikkimcn

Podcast- Meet Me Backstage

Nikki's Linked In 

Brighton SheSaid.So led by Nikki

May 27th 2021

Season 2: Ellie Talebian - Mental Health Specialist, Brighton

Welcome to the Secrets of Success on Tour this week from Brighton with Ellie Talebian. This week we are with Mental Health thought leader Ellie. Celebrating mental health week, it is a total pleasure to have Ellie as our guest. Ellie will share her experiences from the past year and her top tips for coming out of lockdown.

We were going to record outside but the weather was challenging, so my car became the studio. Listen out for sea-gulls, torrential rain, brighton buses and stories of struggle, perseverance and success!

We sound very giddy and excited, we were, after months of not seeing anyone, it was great to catch up and chat about life, all things success and lessons learnt.

Ellie’s Bio: Ellie has been described as the “Annie Mac” of Brighton. She has a portfolio of jobs including radio broadcaster for Gaydio, Mental health Consultant, Producer at Eclectic Toolbox and Communications Manger for My Time Young Carers.

She describes herself as a  “Jack of all trades, Master of Love”

Reflecting on this portfolio type of work she reflects “If I want to eat all the cake I am going to!” The best entrepreneurs have multi skills.

Ellie's Advice: Keep learning your whole life.

‘If you lie down with Dogs, you wake up with fleas!” ask questions about who you work with. What is their reputation? Follow your gut, if you run with bad people, their reputation can rub off on you.  We need to get better at listening to our inner voice, we need to chose jobs and opportunities wisely.

Ellie’s Survival Guide: Lots of people feeling a bit anxious about coming out of lock down, what should we do? Keep doing all the things that keep you well.

Be selective in what you do – you don’t have to do anything.

Listen to yourself.

Practice GLAD with each other/friends/staff/teams.

G: What has made you Grateful?

L: What have you Learned?

A: What have you Accomplished?

D: What have you been delighted by?

Ellie’s Quotes: Bridget Jones – “I like you just as you are” – that’s the goal – find friends that accept you as you are.

“I am far from perfect but I am dedicated to trying my best….”

Ellie’s team choice: What are you looking like in team members joining your team? Have a genuine passion for work, be smiley, love what that you do.

Go above and beyond in your work.

Ellie’s Book Choice:

“Essentialism – the disciplined pursuit of less” by Greg McKeown.

A great book about saying no.

“Dare to lead…Bold Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts."

by Brene Brown

Where to find Ellie Talebian:

Instagram @EllieTalebian

Twitter @EllieTalbian

Instagram: Communications Manger for My Time Young Carers: @mytimeyoungcarers

Hypnotherapist and Mental Health Specialist: @wearehummingbird

Broadcasting: Gaydio Brighton

Music: Jack Jackson - Come on and be Happy - Sally's Grandpa

Mastering: Many thanks to Abi Redd for production and mastering - Instagram

Please contact [email protected] for interviews and speaking engagements.

Please review and rate on iTunes - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ many thanks! 

Sally J Freeman

May 17th 2021

Welcome to Season 2 of the Love Live Music Secrets of Success.

This Season I am "On tour" in the UK.  Wanting to get out of my lock down office at home, it has been a delight to drive and meet my guests in person around the UK. My stellar line-up of guests will share candid stories of the music industry, what they do day to day, how they amplify Artists and how they have built a successful career in the music industry.

Expect to hear insights, revelations, success stories and the moments where it all goes wrong and how it is possible to pick yourself up and develop resilience in your career. 

My first guest of Season 2 is Harriet JW.

I met Harriet this year on the social media newby platform Clubhouse. I found myself speaking in rooms with Harriet and sharing many of the same perspectives. Harriet is a music coach and connects female musicians with development opportunities through content, live shows and brand partnerships. She is famous for her "Secret sessions" on Youtube and is know as the GOAT!
  (Greatest of All Time).

She is the Founder the artist network and podcast "Girls to the Front" a platform to connect and educate artists that identify as women. She is also the founder and host of music platform "Secret Sessions". What started as a YouTube channel has grown into a one of the UK's most well respected live shows and music brands.

Harriet has worked with hundreds of influential artists and creators including Ed Sheeran, Passenger, Bastille, Kacey Musgraves, Mahalia and Freya Ridings.

It is a great joy to welcome Harriet on to the Secrets of Success Podcast. Listen out for Hudson the Dog, Builders and loud dishwashers.

Harriets Book Choice: The Slight Edge: Secret to a Successful Life  

and Eat that Frog - get more of the important things done today

You can find Harriet here:

Instagram: @harrietjw

Website: www.girlstothefront.co

Clubhouse: @HarrietJW

Opening titles: Jack Jackson - Come on and be Happy - (my grandpa!)

May 12th 2021

Welcome to the first Secrets of Success Podcast of 2021.

Happy New Year to you all. I’ve missed you!

I am on lockdown in London, it’s grey, it's rainy and as I write this, it is Blue Monday – the third Monday in January, supposedly one of the most depressing days of the year. However, I hope to bring you inspiration, hope, encouragement and advice through this Podcast. So have a listen and enjoy!

I am delighted to welcome Grahame Farmer from Data Transmission this week -  Data Transmission.

I ask Grahame what are his strategies and secrets to success in the music industry?  What gives him purpose each day and how does he get out of bed at 4.45am in the morning?!

I first met Grahame when he asked me to be on his Podcast. I was in Amsterdam getting ready to teach at the ADE University about Promotion and Publicity, you can listen to it here.

We talk to Grahame about how he has grown his career, rave culture and how he coaches DJ’s for success.

He shares how to ace your social media, strategies to grow your fan base and his new BOOST Course which focuses on artist growth, releasing music, social media and beyond. His goal is to educate and empower artists looking to progress within the music industry.

Grahame also shares about how he got to interview Superstar DJ David Guetta and his new 2021 challenge to run the length of the UK from John O’groats to Lands End (virtually).

Thanks Grahame for your time, thanks to all of you who have got encourage with kind encouragements and I hope you enjoy this week's Podcast.

Sally J Freeman

Instagram @Love Live MusicUK

Show links:

Grahame Farmer personal Instagram: @grahamefarmer

If you would like to join the new Boost Artist course, please contact Grahame through his Instagram account - @datatransmission

Data Transmission Podcast with Sally Freeman: here

Amsterdam Dance Event - click here

Jamal Edwards: SBTV : here

BBC Introducing Dance playlist: here

Grahame’s top picks:

Josh Samuel – Instagram @joshsamuelmusic

Lisa Jane – Instagram @lisajanedj – live Disco sets each week.

David Guetta interview at ADE with Grahame:

P.S. Wonder Woman is a DC Comic cartoon (obvs) not Marvel! My mistake! WW Trailer

#secretsofsuccess

#lovelivemusic

#January2021

On the Podcast this week it is a delight to welcome the Founder of SheSaid.So Andreea Magdalina. SheSaid.So is a community of women and gender minorities from all sectors of the music industry: from record labels, artist management companies, booking agencies, through to technology platforms, creative agencies, composers, artists and more.

With headquarters in London and LA, shesaid.so has 15+ global chapters around the world including NYC, France, Italy, and Mumbai.

Andreea shares about managing her life through the Pandemic, creating healthy habits, self belief and what the future holds for her as she relocates to Mexico for the winter months as a digital nomad.

Andreea looks at questions about attaining true balance in her life and what that looks like for her, how to appreciate the unknown and re-defining success.

A very honest and open conversation that expresses many of our fears and questions that we have right now. Thank you Andreea for your time that you gave from sunny Los Angeles before jetting off to Mexico.

I hope you enjoy this and feel free to comment, share and like.

Resources:

Books: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.

Top Tips for life from Andreea:

Read/view positive, uplifting videos, books, literature.

Journalling each day.

Use a gratitude app to journal all the good things each day.

Find a physical activity to do each day. 

Eat well - especially delicious Mexican food! 

Mental Health Special with Joanne Croxford.

My Guest this week is Joanne Croxford of Music Support. Joanne shares some of her success strategies for maintaining good mental health including eating well, good sleep hygiene, exercising daily, finding support in friends and how to find support if you are struggling with addiction. Joanne cites Integrity as one of her main characteristics for success.

Joanne has been in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction herself for one decade, 12 step recovery and now how she works in frontline mental health services to share her recovery with others.  

She also works with Girls Rock London, a charity that is a part of the Girls Rock Camp Alliance, whose mission is to inspire women, girls, trans and non-binary people though music.

Joanne has worked with some of my favourite artists including Robbie Wiliams, Sia, Passenger, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Caribou.

​She has recently set up a music Agency call “Symbiotic Music Management” which specialises in serving clients who lead clean and sober lives.

Joanne's Mantra: "You are not alone, talk to someone"

LINKS:

​If any of this conversation has concerned you or you are looking for support please reach out to the following groups:

Music Support: https://www.musicsupport.org/what-we-do

Check out the Thrive app for good mental health. FREE Access Code: HELPMUSICIANS20

Help Musicians: helpmusicians.org.uk

Girls Rock London: girlsrocklondon.com

Joanne’s new music management company: Symbiotic Music Management https://www.symbiotic-music.com

Book: Seven Habits of Highly Successful People by Stephen Covey

Contact Joanne on Twitter: https://twitter.com/joanne_does_it