This past weekend, aStepFWD hosted their first Music & Media Conference at the University of Westminster’s Regent Street Campus. Attendees at this highly anticipated event were welcome by Naomi Adjei, aStepFWD Outreach & Promotions Manager, with the introduction and event overview delivered by Founder and Operations Manager O’Neil Dennis.
Special greetings was brought by Chris Williams of CCLI who were the main event sponsor. Dennis then introduced event hosts Ryan J Bruce, Managing Director of the SANAA Music Group and Anu Omideyi, Barrister, Choir Director and presenter of the Christian Weekly News.
The conference focused on the progressive relationship between music, creative arts, business and media entities. There were representatives from leading music industry and media companies attended in support and shared their knowledge and experience with an audience of new and established artists, singers, songwriters and music & media industry professionals.
The first half of the Conference focused on music, following an overview on the history of the Music Industry given by Ryan J. He introduced a range of speakers from various record labels and music entities including Henry Marsden (Bespoke Records), Femi Lloyi (FEROMedia), Viv Neville (VJ Artist Management) and Uzo Anyia (Zoe Records). The speakers were very professional and gave invaluable tips to succeed in the industry. This was followed by a Q&A session which allowed the delegates to get their questions answered by the speakers.
Next up were presentations with Keith Dixon (Plankton Records), Roger Moore (GL Records), Chris Demetriou (Red Letter Music). These speakers spoke about their labels, what artists they have worked with. Their presentations were all informative and encouraging. They were followed by Matthew Ojar (PRS for Music) who spoke eloquently about how PRS for Music works and how important it is for artists to register their work so they can earn money. All speakers also took on the delegates questions during their Q&A session.
Just before the break, there was an Entrepreneurial Spotlight on UK Gospel’s husband and wife duo Olrick & Siobhan, better known as ‘The Cokers’. They shared the inspiration behind and the journey towards making their new drink GMIX which consists of ginger, lime and honey. An all-natural, organic drink created for vocal preservation. The drink can be purchased via www.gmix.co.uk
After a brief interval, the second half kicked off, focusing on media in the form of print, radio, online & digital along with film and television. Segment host Anu Omideyi shared her media journey and showed a short clip of the new lyric video for ‘No Fear’ a song from Compassion UK Ambassadors – The Reapers Choir and Noel Robinson.
Rupert Packard from Bath University was next up and shared some interesting facts & figures from his research, An Exploration of CCM in the UK & USA.
Chris Demetriou then returned to talk more specifically about his media involvement and experience. He was followed by Juliet Fletcher (Keep The Faith & GMIA) and Bernard Achampong (former BBC producer, & Ideas Genius founder) who later sat on the final Q&A panel to answer the audience’s media related questions. Juliet Fletcher also returned to the platform to announce the The Jump Release Music Video Awards which is set to take place on Saturday 1st October in London. Artists can submit music videos for an award by going to jumprelease.com
A clear highlight of the Music & Media Conference, was a live interview with Jonathan Brown, Managing Director and Vice President of Integrity Music Europe. Hosted by UKGospel.com and Premier Gospel Breakfast Show presenter, Yinka Awojobi, they discussed the history of Integrity Music and the current state and future of Christian music. They also discussed aspects of the careers of some of Integrity’s biggest signings, including UK praise and worship leader Noel Robinson. The interview was very insightful and extremely well received by the delegates who seemed impressed with the probing questions from Yinka and also Jonathan’s knowledgeable, honest and pragmatic responses. Jonathan final words encouraged visionaries and ‘pioneers to keep on pioneering’ and inspired all in attendance to be bold in ‘contaminating culture’ with our faith.
O’Neil Dennis then returned to close the conference. There were resounding shouts and affirmative cheers to his question of whether there should be more conferences from aStepFWD. He thanked co-organisers Audrey Gray of AG Consultancy and Ryan J Bruce and pointed out aStepFWD Director Diedre Johnson and the conference team led by Ting Tang, Operations Assistant and including other volunteers Jamie Gordon, George Cowie, Naomi Adjei and Graham Russell.
Attendees stayed up to 2 hours after the event was finished, conversing and networking with the Industry Experts, Media Personalities and Label Executives who seemed more than happy to offer their time, attention and additional knowledge. Delegates definitely went away with tips and pointers that will enable them to achieve a 360 approach in their music career.
There were many congratulatory messages and commendations for what was indeed a very successful first conference and with the definite need and desire expressed by both speakers and delegates there is no doubt that the next Music & Media Conference, now confirmed as an annual event with quarterly build-up activities, will be bigger and even better!
A massive well done to the aStepFWD team!
Lovedale Harrison
Contributing Writer
