Around The Sound’s Andrea Thompson today announced the launch of the Around The Sound Learning Exchange, with the first event for musicians to be held at Lyric’s Underground on Saturday 11 May.
“The Learning Exchange is a platform for in-person and online courses about all aspects of the music industry,” Thompson said. “Our first offering, ‘Turn Your Music Into Money’, is a distillation of what I’ve learned from hundreds of interviews with musicians over nearly 10 years. I’ve had sit downs with everyone from Paul Kelly to the latest unknowns from the back blocks of Perth, and there are some common things that successful musicians do that give them a greater chance of making a successful career out of music.
“The event at Lyric’s Underground is the first opportunity for me to communicate that learning to the next generation of musicians,” Thompson said. “I’ll be running through the key things that give musicians a better chance of making it commercially in the music industry and will engage participants in Q and A sessions and practical learning along the way.
“The music industry can often feel like it’s quite cynical about success,” Thompson continued. “How to ‘make it’ is a closely guarded secret and there are plenty of people who want to hook into musicians with schemes to instantly increase streaming, online engagement and all sorts of other snake oil stuff. In reality, there is no quick path to becoming an overnight sensation. Like any career, making it as a musician takes years of hard work and persistence. I want to show emerging musicians how to make their hard work pay off.”
After nearly 10 years of writing about music, Thompson has carved out a reputation for breathing life back into music journalism with stories that get beyond the bland and tell it like it is. What many people in the music industry don’t know is that Thompson also brings with her insights from successful careers in the public and private sectors.
“I’ve worked in education for much of my career, ending up running a division with 800 staff based all over Western Australia and an annual budget of $250 million. That role taught me value of planning and how to work effectively with a wide range of people in all walks of life. When I left the public service, I started a successful IT consultancy providing advice and solutions to organisations across Australia. In the end, I got bored and realised I needed to work in a profession that speaks to my heart. That same day, around 10 years ago, I switched my focus to working in the music business, applying my skill set to an industry where success is notoriously difficult to achieve.”
“It’s been a pretty interesting ride,” said Thompson. “I mean, I’ve obviously gone through some personal changes,” she said with a wry smile, “but I’ve also had to learn how to navigate an industry that’s bloody hard work for all involved. I love the music business, but it’s a tough place to be and survival is difficult sometimes.”
ABOUT THE EVENT
‘Turn Your Music Into Money’ focuses on how to create a sustainable career in the music industry.Presented by Around The Sound’s Andrea Thompson, this workshop gives musicians the opportunity to learn how to build commercial success.
The event is at Lyric’s Underground on Saturday 11 May and runs from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm, so musicians get still make it to their gigs that night.
“The music industry is like those tanks of little fish where you pay money for them to nibble off your flesh,” said Thompson. “People are always happy to charge you a few bucks to feed on your desire for success, but none that I’ve seen offer musicians a carefully thought-out plan.”
There are only 30 seats available for this workshop and there will be no door sales. Please secure your tickets now.
In this interactive workshop, Thompson addresses the foundational principles for success in the music industry:
- Having a plan.
- Being a professional.
- Handling the media.
- Growing your audience.
- Looking after yourself.
As a participant, you will be involved in Q and A with Thompson as well as practical activities that will give you the key elements of your own plan for success. The rest is up to you.
What you won’t get is a quick path to overnight success, millions of streams and instant audience growth.
“Most people and organisations trying to sell to the music market focus on quick success,” said Thompson, “but there is no such thing. Like any profession, becoming a successful musician takes planning, learning and sustained effort. There’s no substitute for hard work, but with my course at least you’ll be prepared for what’s ahead and ready to enjoy the journey as you make a living out of your talent.”
The event will be filmed for online distribution by award-winning local screenwriter and director, David Vincent Smith. Q and A sessions will be facilitated by local musician, Adrian Hoffman, best known for his work with The Triffids and The Church’s Steve Kilbey as well as for his longstanding successful solo career.
