Booking Agencies: 101 with Naomi Palmer, Managing Director of Earth Agency

Suzanne Bull MBE joins Zaid in the latest episode of Almost Famous. She is the founder of Attitude Is Everything, the charitable organisation that connects disabled people with the music industry to move as one and to improve accessibility to live events for performers and audiences.In this episode, she talks about how she said she “fell” into the music industry being surrounded by creatives at Goldsmiths and through her first volunteering role in Deptford. From there she talks about how Attitude Is Everything came into existence and how it has continued to grow its reputability to the point where venues are approaching them to work with, and the public assumes AIE is working events that they are not- she notes the difficulties that this has created. We’re grateful to her for sharing her unique COVID story and telling us about how lockdown forced her to acknowledge the necessity of music in her life.In the episode, you will learn about the barriers that disabled performers face that you might not already know about. Suzanne touches upon the controversies surrounding Wireless and tells us about what she wants promoters and managers to realise when booking disabled artists. We’re so thankful to Suzanne for coming on the show and speaking so honestly to us.Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re really excited to welcome onto this week’s show Naomi Palmer - the Managing Director of Earth Agency, the booking agency who’s roster includes the likes of Children Of Zeus, Chaos in the CBD, Erika De Casier and Kassa Overall. She was there at the birth of Brownswood Recordings with Gilles Peterson and has gone on to be an important player in the development of the beautiful Worldwide Festival in Sète.This is an important podcast for artists and people who are looking to take a step into the booking agency world. Zaid asked the questions you have always wanted to ask and Naomi was there to break down exactly what we wanted to know: what do they do that artists can’t do themselves? What do they look for in artists? How do you choose a booking agency? How do festivals pick the line-up? She was also on hand to help newer artists with knowing your worth when having the awkward conversation of negotiating your gig fees.In the episode, she talks about her own unique journey of entering the music industry, proving there’s no clear cut way of doing it. She discusses the importance of working as a team, how she discovered Portico Quartet and what she really thinks of the inimitable Gilles Peterson.Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Zaid was joined by the one and only, Lewis Jamieson - co-founder and communications manager of the environmental movement Music Declares Emergency, which has attracted interest from big names like Billie Eilish, Radiohead, The 1975, and many many more. He has been working in the music industry for over 30 years, across A&R, artist management, and PR, and has worked the press for some of the biggest UK names such as Oasis, Elbow, and Madness. Zaid and Lewis chat about not only how he entered the industry, and the imprint he has left on the music industry but what it was that inspired him to take environmental action and form Music Declares Emergency. They talk about the unifying force of music, how it has been a vessel to carry the messages of MDE in order to trigger systemic change in the music industry, as well as Festival Republic being one of the latest organisations to work with movement which will inspire more to get involved.In this episode, you will find out what “No Music On A Dead Planet” really means, and how the music industry can be working to combat climate change. Plus tune in to hear what happened when the incredible Billie Eilish got involved!Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carl Loben has been a chronicler of dance music since the 90s and for many of us has hugely shaped our taste in music. We were so excited to talk to the editor-in-chief of DJ Mag, and he didn’t let us down.Zaid and Carl talk about what the editor-in-chief of a best-selling, globally successful magazine actually does and some misconceptions of what music journalism is about. They talk about the intertwining of dance music and drugs, what this means for “Generation Sobriety” and how the music industry is closing the gender gap in line-ups. He is full of sage advice- he has tips for aspiring music journalists and, in this episode, you will find out the best way to land an article in DJ Mag.Listen in to hear Carl talk about the interview with Noel Gallagher that didn’t go to plan and his words of sincere encouragement to the music scene. Although he claims he still gets nervous before interviews, we’re pretty happy with this one… so thank you Carl!Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re honoured to welcome to the stage, Leroy F. Moore Jr. He is a poet, hip-hop artist, academic and co-founder of the Emmy-Award winning Krip-Hop Nation: the global association of disabled artists with the clear mission to connect, make great art and recognise the overlooked history of disability in music.Leroy takes us back to when Hip-Hop was diverse and inclusive in the 70s, when you would see people breakdancing with crutches, and why this changed. Growing up in these times with a disability was hard but he talks about how this made him the person he is today.We learn about how society is failing disabled artists - he is done with ridiculously good artists not being taken seriously by others with the “charity bullsh*t” mindset, and so are we. Leroy discusses the need to go deeper, and change the intrinsic structures that are keeping disabled artists from entering the mainstream arena. Krip-Hop Nation is actively dismantling them by continuously creating exceptional music and changing perceptions. One thing is for sure - our attention is squarely set on them and what they’re doing next.Tune in to hear what an artist from the disabled community REALLY thinks about Lizzo’s controversial lyrics and Leroy’s hot takes on the music industry today - we think you’re going to like this one.Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode promises to inspire as we welcome onto the show Ralph Derksen, the founder of Re-Record, the revolutionary company that makes vinyl out of plastic waste from the ocean.Tune in to hear about the very real impact that streaming our favourite songs has on the environment that needs to be spoken about more. You will learn about traditional vinyl pressing, its pitfalls, and how Re-Record, is changing the record (see what we did there). He forces you to confront the uncomfortable truth with the industry that we know and love and reminds us that we need to be making changes in the way we consume music.Ralph talks about the sense of ownership you get from building your own business from the ground up and his predictions for the future of the music industry, and how the big old world of Web3 will fit into all of it.https://rerecordvinyl.com/https://costofmusic.com/https://www.instagram.com/rerecordvinyl/Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s “Almost Famous” music industry podcast episode we catch up with the amazing Keeley Hudd also known as sadsugar - the Bristol DJ, music educator, and co-founder of Longthrow radio.In this episode, they talk about their nonlinear journey into the music world; it may or may not have started with a fruit platter, but they have developed their musical practice to tackle issues with intersectionality and accessibility in the club scene and changing perceptions of what being a talented DJ looks like, by being campy in a world of males in tiny roll-up hats.They talk about their experiences with the grind; having to look like you’re doing stuff, promoters that are not good at their job, promoters that are good at their job, and Handbag House. Zaid agrees that it’s time the music industry threw down its handbag of outdated assumptions and had a dance to combat gender inequality.https://www.instagram.com/_sadsugar_/https://www.longthrow.live/ https://noodsradio.com/residents/sadsugarThe Famous Company is expanding its roster. If you are an artist, manager, or label looking to take your project to the next level, get in touch at thefamouscompany.comAlmost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ‘Almost Famous’ podcast returns for episode 24 with a fascinating interview with music producer, radio and touring DJ, and online music educator Andrew Ferguson (aka Nomine, aka Outrage).A renowned name in the world of 140 and drum and bass, he sat down with us to talk about 25 years in the industry, his music education platform Education and Bass, getting signed to Goldie's label Metalheadz, sobriety and much more…He told incredible stories from his career so far about how he got into music – and how he’s maintained a successful career in the industry ever since. He also gave his best advice for upcoming producers looking to get into the underground music scene.https://www.instagram.com/nomine_sound/https://www.educationandbass.online/https://open.spotify.com/artist/7uQ1qwQMMz3quYPqFsDgGS?si=jEizRvo2QKCYIeVdOtQFAwThe Famous Company is expanding its roster. If you are an artist, manager, or label looking to take your project to the next level, get in touch at thefamouscompany.comAlmost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Metaverse? Blockchain? NFTs?? Why is this even relevant?? We invited AJ, songwriter & producer, founder of Help Me With Web3, and CCO of Launch My NFT, to illuminate the world of Web3 to us.His message is clear: Web3 is not something creatives should be intimidated by, this is an exciting opportunity that will revolutionise the music industry for the better. He explains why blockchain will be empowering for the individual artist both financially and emotionally. Tune in to get ahead of the game and find out what the future of the music industry is predicted to look like in the not-so-distant future.Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Women’s History Month, and as promised we’re releasing a collection of episodes about ‘Women Who Inspire Us’ in music, events and the creative industries - featuring a host of enterprising, motivated and inspiring professional women.Our second guest in this series is Milly Chowles. She’s a DJ, broadcaster, and radio and podcast producer who has made programmes for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 4, BBC 6 Music and more. She’s the creator of Back 2 Life, the podcast exploring addiction, mental illness and recovery with the help of music and creative spaces. An all round inspiration, Milly is a true example of the power that music, art and creativity has in healing difficult patches in people’s lives.In this episode, she talks about how her own experiences with rehab shaped her successful music career, challenging the stigma around women and mental health in the industry and her experiences so far as a woman in music. It’s an honest and fascinating interview - and we’re very grateful to Milly for coming on.To find out more about Milly’s work, her story and the Back 2 Life podcast, check out the links below.Milly Chowles’ projectsBack 2 Life podcastFor more information about our range of creative, promotional and mentoring services, or to sign up for a free consultation about your music career, visit The Famous Company.Almost Famous is produced by Digital Bulls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.