Be prepared for late nights, high pressure, meeting odd characters, making relationships happen, and tight deadlines. Never forget that you’re working in one of the best industries - always wake up remembering that
What industry do you work in?
I work in the music industry.
What’s your job title and what does that involve?
I’m the worldwide manager for ‘The Dandies’. This involves making, and advising the band on, career decisions. It’s my job to get the band to achieve their goals within the industry, and develop them with the right team to advance their career.
At Yergh Entertainment I also have a publishing department where we represent, songwriters, producers, and bands from various genres. We are co-published and administrated by pigFactory worldwide and together we specialise in the international placement of music in film, TV, advertising, video games, recording artists projects, compilations, the collection of music royalties worldwide and much more. Some credits include Top Gear and M&S.
I also hold an A&R position at Upper 11 Records where I’m responsible for discovering new recording artists and bringing them to the record company. I oversee the recording process, which includes helping the artist to find the right record producer, scheduling time in a recording studio and advising the artist on all aspects of making a high quality recording. For artists who don’t write their own music, I contact music publishing companies to get new songs and material from songwriters and producers.
How did you get to where you are now?
I’ve been working in the music industry for the past 5 years. I started as a musician aged 8 and after secondary school did a BTEC in popular music at Harrow Lodge Music & Arts College. I then worked as a freelance A&R scout for various labels before landing an internship at Alan Mcgee’s Poptones Recording Corporation & Creation Management where I worked with acts like Dirty Pretty Things, Mogwai, The Charlatans, and many others.
I then moved to an A&R position at Upper 11 Group in 2007, whose current roster of producers and artists includes: Ida Maria (Mercury Records), whose achievements include a top 40 album and a top 15 single; Ken Lewis whose achievements include 6 Grammy’s, 48 Gold and Platinum albums and singles, and 28 #1 albums and singles; Rev Theory (Interscope) whose achievements include a top #75 album, and four top #30 singles; Eli Paperboy Reed (Virgin Records); Kaliba (upper 11 / fontana); and Smalltown Sleeper (upper 11 / fontana).
I set up Yergh Entertainment in 2006, initially as an events company and artist consultancy company, helping to develop bands all over the world. In 2008 I signed my first band 'The Dandies' to a worldwide management deal. Following this I branched out into music publishing and at the start of 2009 signed a co-publishing deal with pigFactory, who now administrate and co-publish our exclusive music catalogue.
Does your company offer work experience/internships to students? How do you select work experience students/interns? What do you expect from students when they are working with you?
We offer internships during busy periods. I expect interns to love music and have some music industry understanding. I’ll be contacting The Creative Way when these positions become available and, subject to interview, you could be on our team and working your way up!
What sort of study/course subjects would you consider a good preparation for someone thinking of working in your industry?
There are lots of courses out there to help people break into the industry, whether you want to be a music manager, session guitarist, performer or producer. You have to find the right course that matches the path you want to go down and work very hard to make those relationships happen.
When you are recruiting staff, what are the most important things you look for in applicants?
Great knowledge of music and open to all genres, fun, outgoing, hardworking, punctual, creative, ability to find new music strategies, plus anything extra they can bring to the table.
What advice would you give for those thinking about working in your industry?
Be prepared for late nights, high pressure, meeting odd characters, making relationships happen, and tight deadlines. Never forget that you’re working in one of the best industries - always wake up remembering that, before walking to the office with your cappuccino!
What’s the best thing about working in your industry? And the worst?
The best is having fun, meeting new people, and having an outgoing lifestyle. The worst is all the pressure and deadlines you have to meet that can result in working 18-20 hours a day.
What do you know now about working life that you wished you’d known at the start?
Buy a comfy bed! You’ll need it after a hard days work!
If you would like advice on creative careers and courses, contact a Creative Way Careers Adviser - either Matt Ball on m.ball@uel.ac.uk / 07889 001764 or Sarah Comerford on s.comerford@uel.ac.uk / 07515 051509