Music Industry Insights with Justin Barker, Achel Dhillon, James Walsh, and Sami Anjuz

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Introduction

I'm Justin Barker, the founder and director of a company called Slice Music. Joining me are:

• Achel Dhillon - Director of Killing Moon
• James Walsh - Business Development Manager for Ditto Music
• Sami Anjuz - Digital Marketing Campaigns and Digital Strategy for Labels and Artists

I've worked in the music industry for nearly 10 years, mostly at Universal Music. Our companies embody a blend of services in the music sector.

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Our Services

We offer:

• Record Label
• Artist Management
• Live Promotion
• An Informative Blog

As an independent digital consultant for several years, I've collaborated with artists like Annie Lennox and numerous major and independent labels.

We are a digital distributor and record label service provider. Labels, distributors, and publishers absolutely still have a place in this economy. However, the deals have evolved.

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The Changing Landscape

In today's economy:

• You will always need someone to publish your work.
• While a physical market exists, getting physical records out remains critical.

The landscape has shifted, particularly in the digital domain. Many started going direct to digital services.

Our role includes:

• Getting Music into Stores: Once it's there, we also ensure the editorial teams at those stores are aware of the music as relevant.

A record label, in the legal sense, puts out records and generates revenue for both themselves and the artists they sign.

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The Digital Age

In the digital age, this often translates to MP3s and streams becoming essential to our business. Our focus is less fixed on physical products, though we do participate with formats like vinyl and CDs.

Streaming Boom

The last three years have seen a significant boom in streaming activity:

• Major Platforms: YouTube, Spotify, etc.
• Demographics: For anyone under 25, streaming is now the principal form of music interaction.

Streaming:

• Rewards longevity
• Transforms how revenue is generated

The traditional model of upfront album sales is pass?. Now, with a good album, the potential to earn significantly over several years has risen.

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Getting Your Music Heard

In today's music landscape, it's vital to have your music available across multiple platforms, especially when starting your career.

Key Platforms

• Spotify
• iTunes
• YouTube
• Live Performances

As your career progresses:

• Awareness of your trajectory as an artist (plays on the radio, press pieces, etc.) becomes valuable.
• This insight allows us to pitch your work for features like:
  • Apple Music Playlists
  • iTunes Front of Store
  • Spotify Playlists

These opportunities are increasingly relevant for getting your music heard alongside major label artists and strong independent creators.

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Remember, having your music available in as many places as possible is key to reaching a wider audience.