Face The Music day two was never going to be just another day at a music conference. As people woke to the news of the horrific acts of violence in Paris overnight, it was impossible for anything like business as usual to occur. As accustomed as we are to hearing of terrorist acts, this time it really hit home. This time people were killed at a concert, coming together to enjoy music that collectively they all love. Of course, it’s no more tragic than those that died or were terrorised anywhere else in Paris on Friday night, nor any more devastating than the victims in Beirut the day before or any other act of terror on any other day. It just hit home more because it involved music fans like you or me. The Eagles of Death Metal is a band we all know and many of us have seen here. Their merch guy, Nick Alexander was killed doing what he loved to do for a band he adored. Just around the corner in Paris on the same night, Australian artists Jarryd James and Boo Seeka were in lockdown in the venue where they had been playing. At Face The Music, people knew people who had been or may have been effected by the night of terror. Reading the vibe of the day, Face the Music organisers, opened the doors of their event free to anyone who wanted to come down and just be with like-minded music fans, in a sign of solidarity.
A music conference had been organised and it was important for it to proceed and celebrate what’s right about the world in the face of so much wrong. As day one began with music, so too did the Saturday with DD Dumbo playing his wonderful brand of experimental loop pop to a sombre audience. It was apt that the keynote speaker for day two was JD Samson, speaking on her experiences of being different and trying to create awareness and change in the way people think. “Visibility was the best gift that I could give to my community for our future equality… Being a token can sometimes feel very solitary and I wanted to make my experience more recognised,” she told an enthralled audience.
Then there was the ‘My Brilliant Career’ session, moderated by Peter Chellew and featuring Phoebe Baker (Alpine), Rosemary Walton (Triple M), Melanie Lewis (Artist manager), Andrew Orvis (Queenscliff Music Festival) and Byron Georgouras (Collarts). In this session the panel told of their journeys to the positions they hold and offered advice on how members of the audience might find a career within the music industry.
There were plenty of learning opportunities for those interested in the business side of music from grant writing tips, to how to compete in a digital music world and the importance of being creative in your live music ventures.
The ‘Breaking Down A Big Indie-Release’ session did just that, using The Reubens’ single Hoops as an example. The panel included; record company MD Chris Maund, label manager Marihuzka Cornelius, artist manager Joel Connolly and agent Lauren Murray, who provided a fascinating insight into the release by a major Australian act.
Streaming: Going With The Flow or Stemming the Tide? was another intriguing session featuring Andrew Harris (APRA, AMCOS), Dan Nevin (AIR), Sarah Hamilton (Ditto Music, and Harvey Saward (Remote Control). Moderated by Ian James (Mushroom Music Publishing), the panel discussed the current music streaming services, where it’s all going and how money might be made from it.
Congratulations to Peter Chellew and his team for another well organised, thought-provoking music convention. Let’s hope that next year’s event takes place in a less troubled world.
http://www.facethemusic.org.au/
