57 North part of new SMIA Advisory Group
The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) has announced the appointment of its inaugural Advisory Group. The group includes 57 North Coordinator John Anderson.
Made up of music practitioners operating across different sub-sectors of Scotland’s music industry, a selection panel made up of Robert Kilpatrick and Blue Kirkhope from the SMIA Executive Team, Fiona Ellis (DF Concerts and Events) and James Bruce (City of Edinburgh Council) from the SMIA Company Board and external assessors Caroline Sewell (Musicians’ Union) and Jamie Houston (Creative Scotland) reviewed all applications and selected the 19 successful candidates who will form the inaugural group.
The newly-appointed Advisory Group of the not-for-profit organisation – which exists to represent and develop Scotland’s music industry – is made up of the following individuals:
- Arusa Qureshi (Editor, The List)
- Brendan Moon (Managing Director, Morsecode Management)
- Dave Hook (Artist, Stanley Odd / Solareye; Programme Leader BA Popular Music, Edinburgh Napier University)
- Denise Allan (Director, 677 Media Management)
- Gareth Whitehead (Lecturer in Music Business and Sound Production, New College Lanarkshire; Founder, Bulletdodge Records; Question Session: Project Manager)
- Halina Rifai (Team Leader, Scottish Women Inventing Music (SWIM); Director, Podcart; Founder, A Sonic Hug)
- Joe McAlinden (Owner/Producer/Writer/Mentor, Single Track; Coordinator and Mentor (Argyll), Music Plus)
- Jonathan Tait (Entertainment, Media & IP Solicitor, BTO Solicitors)
- John Anderson (57 Degrees North Coordinator, Station House Media Unit (SHMU))
- Nadine Walker (Editorial Director, TENEMENT TV)
- Olaf Furniss (Founder, Wide Events & Music Tourist)
- Richy Muirhead (Founder & Creative Director, Scottish Alternative Music Awards, Scottish Alternative Music Awards)
- Shelagh McKay Jones (Artist, Shelagh McKay Jones/The Fusioneers; Founder/Presenter, Songwriters Uncovered Series; Founder, Empowering Women in Songwriting; Founder: Gig Theatre Collective)
- Steven Milne (Artist, The Little Kicks; Cultural Programme Manager, Aberdeen Performing Arts)
- Stina Tweeddale (Artist, Honeyblood; Co-founder, ICEBLINK LUCK)
- Susan Montgomery (Music Publisher, 23rd Precinct Music; Project Manager, Resonate)
- Suzanne Miller (Nations Manager, Help Musicians; SWIM Board Member)
- Tamara Schlesinger (Artist, MALKA; Programme Coordinator BA Music Business, SAE Institute; Director, Tantrum Records)
- Yvonne McLellan (Director, Native Publishing; Fair Access TEL Coordinator, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)
Members of the newly appointed Advisory Group will meet twice a year and give the SMIA perspectives from their experience and the organisations and the sectors in which they are active. Supporting the work of the SMIA Executive team and Company Board, the new group met for the first time yesterday – facilitated by remote video conferencing software (pictured) – to discuss the impact of Coronavirus on Scotland’s music industry. As well as highlighting the key challenges across the industry and the sub-sectors that make it up, the group came together to discuss creative problem solving and opportunities for innovation for artists and music businesses.
Speaking of the new appointments, Dougal Perman, Executive Chair of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), said: “We’re excited about the launch of our advisory group. Now — amidst uncertainty, severe economic hardship and overwhelming public health concerns — they will be a sounding board for how our actions respond to the needs and wants of people working in music in Scotland. The members represent an interesting, diverse cross section of the music industry. This inaugural group forms a strong foundation upon which we can build a meaningful, mutually beneficial relationship with the industry. Our company board respects the advisory group members' experience and opinions. For the benefit of our members, and the wider music industry, searching for answers to coronavirus questions, we welcome their input and recommendations for SMIA policy.”
For more information on the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) or to join as a member, please visit smia.org.uk
