Music Business: A Glossary

Hi all,

hope you are having a grand day!

We are often asked "What does this term mean? What does that mean?" That's why we have started this glossary. If something isn't listed yet, send a tweet to @rockhippiem or message us on our Facebook page :) We are aiming to add two more terms every week, so do check back!

360 Deal: Multiple rights deal. A major-label-deal structure. The label does not only earn income from the sale of the artists’ recorded music but also gets a cut from all other income streams the artist has (most of which have previously been off limits), including, but not limited to, merch sales and touring income.

Blanket License: A license issued by a performing rights society which authorizes the public performance of all the songs in the society’s catalog. 

Booking Agent: A team member who liaises with venues and promoters to book gigs for the artist.

Digital Distribution: Distribution of music online. 

First use: The right of a copyright owner to determine who will be the first artist to record a particular song.

Indie: Independent, not signed to a record label.

Mentoring: Advice, feedback and expertise from a professional to someone just starting out in the business.

Session Musician: A musician who contributes to a recording or a live performance but is not a full-time member of the band.

TM: Tour Manager.

Unsolicited: Not asked for, not requested.

Last updated: 14th January 2018

Music Festivals taking applications (2018)

Hi all,

here are a few festival that are currently taking applications!
Check back for updates :)

Kendal Calling, 26th - 29th July 2018
https://www.kendalcalling.co.uk/information/apply-to-play 

Cambridge Folk Festival, 2nd - 5th August 2018
https://www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/folk-festival/information/apply-play

Standon Calling, 26th - 29th July
https://standon-calling.com/get-involved/band-submissions/

Live at Leeds, 5th May 2018
https://www.musicglue.com/live-at-leeds-2018/apply-to-play

Folk on the Dock Festival, 27th - 29th August 2018
http://folkonthedock.com/apply-to-play

Chester Live, 21st - 24th June 2018
https://www.musicglue.com/chester-live-2018/

Mold Live, 24th - 27th August 2018
https://www.musicglue.com/mold-live/

Metropolis Rising
https://www.musicglue.com/metropolis/apply-to-play

Longholme Festival, 27th May 2018
NOT TAKING APPLICATIONS YET


Moseley Folk Festival, 31st August - 2nd September
SUBMISSION ARE NOW CLOSED



And here are a few tips to enhance your chances:
- Check out local festivals
- Do your research about the festival  (e. g. metal bands should not apply for folk festivals)
- Follow the application rules
- Make sure your website and social media sites are active
- Put a press kit together

Last Updated: 16th January 2018

[Press release] Mint Street Music Festival 2017

PRESS RELEASE

Mint Street Music Festival 2017 is taking place on Saturday 15^th of July, 11am to 7:30pm. This FREE event combines seriously good live music with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, in a lovely park just 3 minutes from Borough Tube.

There’s a lot to love about this festival, which got a 100% satisfaction rating from the audience last year*.  Reviewers enjoyed “Music and multi-culture” “relaxed and welcoming atmosphere”, “Hanging out and enjoying different music” “Live music, dancing, atmosphere, food – everything”.

This year the line-up includes Nkomba, Norrell & the Dub Factory, Jaelee Small, From The Cave, The Hatonauts, Kalima Project and the World Wide Welshman & Beyond, plus choirs and dance displays from the internationally acclaimed Los Romberos Latin American dance group, Pioneer Dance and the Silverfit Cheerleaders. Children can join in with acts including Boppin’ Bunnies and Diddi Dance.

Mint Street Music Festival will also be supporting One Less Bottle this year. #OneLess is a rapidly growing movement of pioneering and progressive individuals, communities, businesses, NGOs and policymakers, collaboratively striving to reduce the amount of single-use plastic water bottles entering the ocean from the city of London.
Visitors who bring a refillable bottle, receive free water refills. 

Volunteer opportunities include stewarding, videoing, catering and more. For more information about volunteering or sponsorship, email mintstreetmusicfestival@gmail.com.

For updates and community arts workshops in the run-up, see the festival’s website and social media:

http://mintstreetmusicfestival.info

https://facebook.com/mintstreetmusicfestival

https://twitter.com/MintStMusicFest

https://www.instagram.com/mintstreetmusicfestival/

*Of 78 randomly surveyed audience members, 57 strongly agreed and 21 agreed that “I have enjoyed my time at the festival”.

Ends

Notes to editors:

1.    The festival takes place in Mint Street Park, off Southwark Bridge Road/Marshalsea Road, Southwark, London SE1 0EY.  It’s 3 minutes walk from Borough Station on the Northern Line and is on the following bus routes: 35, 40, 133, 343, C10 and 344.

2.    The festival will be taking place for the fourth time in 2017.

3.    Festival funding for 2017 has so far been raised from Southwark Council Neighbourhood Fund, United St Saviour’s Charity and Hadston Ltd.

4.    For more information or images email mintstreetmusicfestival@gmail.com.

Festival season 2017

Happy Monday Everyone!

We just thought we mention a few festivals that are taking application for the Festival Season 2017. This post will be updated over the next couple of months, so make sure you check back!

1. Liverpool Sound City - 27th - 28th May 2017

http://www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk/2017

2. Mint Street Music Festival in London - 15th July 2017

https://www.facebook.com/MintStreetMusicFestivalTeam/photos/a.1513124928985954.1073741826.1513124865652627/1628773554087757/?type=3&theater

3. The Great Escape - 18th - 20th May 2017
Artist registration will close 17th February 2017.

http://2016.greatescapefestival.com/apply-to-play/ 

 

[Press Release] Mint Street Music Festival, 16th July 2016 – Free, friendly, fabulous, and four minutes from Borough tube

A spectacular line-up has been announced for Mint Street Music Festival 2016, taking place on Saturday 16^th of July, 12 noon to 7:30pm.

Mint Street Park, 5 minutes from Borough Tube, will host this free family-friendly event that celebrates the musical talents of the diverse local area and the surrounding city.
Notable for its mix of musical genres and friendly, relaxed atmosphere, the festival’s reputation is growing fast – not surprising when 86% of those surveyed in the 2015 audience said they would recommend it to friends and neighbours.

The line-up so far includes

• Johnny Freyre and Kalima Project, nine-piece band playing an intricate combination of traditional and contemporary Latin American melodies;
• Tokyo Taboo, described by Record of the Day as “a big glorious adrenaline rush of amped-up pop” with a visually spectacular show;
• Alero, offering a gorgeous blend of laid-back rock and soul;
• Silent Party, melodic indie combining sonic intensity with classic pop sensibility;
• Nkomba, energetic Malawian folk music infused with a London twist;
• Mothers of Memphis, a power-trio playing foot-stomping rockabilly and deranged country;
• Eleni C, a stunning pop vocalist and our charismatic host for the Mint Stage.

And for younger festival goers

• Boppin’ Bunnies – playful interaction with a range of live instruments
• Diddi Dance – a funky dance session with ribbon sticks and pompoms
• Re-Creation Arts badge making and Heart in Art face painting.

There will also be a dance performance from the award-winning Gotitas de Sabor, choirs, music workshops, craft activities, a solo musicians stage and a range of tempting food stalls.

The festival is funded by grants and donations and relies on volunteers. So far this year, Southwark Council and United St Saviour’s Charity have awarded funding. Volunteer opportunities available include stewarding, videoing, catering and more. For more information about volunteering or sponsorship, email mintstreetmusicfestival@gmail.com.

More headliners and local acts are still to be announced. Keep an eye on the festival’s website and social media:
http://mintstreetmusicfestival.info
https://facebook.com/mintstreetmusicfestival
https://twitter.com/MintStMusicFest
https://www.instagram.com/mintstreetmusicfestival/

Questions to ask promoters

You have been rehearsing for weeks and feel ready to show the world what you've achieved. You email dozens of promoters/venues and finally receive a reply. You've been offered a slot! But ask some important questions before you accept it. 

Every promoter runs events differently. Therefore it is important to ask a few things, so you know what to expect. 
When you are happy with the arrangements, accep the slots. If you don't agree and still accept it, it will cause unnecessary stress for you, your band and the promoter/venue. 



PAYMENT - This is an important thing to know. Will you be paid a fee, a percentage of the door takings or will your travel expenses be covered? 
It doesn't hurt to ask if there will be a rider. When you are on tour or are playing in a different city, it is good to know if you will get some food/drinks which you can consider in you budget.

LOAD-IN/SOUNDCHECK/BACKLINE - Is the promoter/venue providing a backline and/or a drum kit? If not, does one of the booked bands have to provide a drum kit? If yes, which band? Make sure that you clarify this well in advance and not the night before the gig. 
Find out if you will have a full soundcheck or just a line check. Ask for your soundcheck time. 

AUDIENCE - Some promoters will expect you to bring a certain amount of fans. If you are an out of town band it is likely that you won't bring a lot of people. Make sure you are honest about this. If it doesn't work for you, just decline the gig offer. 

PROMOTION - Ask what kind of promotion the promoter/venue have in place (newsletters, flyers, social media, etc.). 
You have to promote the gig as well. It is not nice to play to an empty room. 
Gig promotion should happen on the promoter/venue side and the band side. Talk about it to make sure everyone has the same understanding and knows what to do and what is expected. 

GUEST LIST/CHEAP LIST - Some promoters will give you a few complimentary tickets or cheap tickets. Discuss before the gig day if your friend can see the show for free or a lot cheaper.

MERCHANDISE - Find out if you can sell some merch on the night. Is there a merch table available? Do you need to share it with other bands? Is the venue keeping a percentage of the sales? 
Merchandise is an income stream that is very often underestimated by bands. Use the excitement after your performance to sell some of you merch.