About Us
Established in 2004, Brighton Music Network is a network of people working in the music industry in Brighton & Hove.
It aims to:
- support the further development of the music industry infrastructure locally with the help and guidance of a coalition of independent music companies
- promote the Brighton music scene as an important part of the local economy
- raise the profile of Brighton as a base for brilliant music artists, facilities and professionals
BMN is both a business-to-business network and an official Music Support Agency in the South East of England. It works across the BN postcode area and is Brighton-based, working to enhance the city's music profile nationally and internationally, and to develop an infrastructure that encourages musical creativity by further fostering a cooperative business environment.
It looks to help existing businesses expand their markets, works with schools and colleges to develop young talent, and organises workshops and seminars at live music events.
Why? Because network members feel passionately about the industry here and its further potential: creative, educational, social, and economic.
How does BMN fit into regional and national networks and agencies?
BMN is part of a national music development network called UK Music Sector Forum: a network of music support agencies from across the UK.
The aims of the Music Sector Forum are:
- To provide a forum for the discussion of issues affecting music support workers across the UK
- Representation of the music sector on a regional and national level which reflects the requirements of each organisation.
Brighton Music Network's achievements to date include:
- Established monthly network meetings, attended by more than 300 individuals
- Helped develop major music industry conferences and events in Brighton - The Great Escape, Brighton Live, Fort Rox
- Instigated the Bright ‘n’ Early showcase event in association with UK Trade & Investments SE
- Ran a programme of industry seminars at these - on subjects like the DIY Revolution, exporting music and how to get a good manager
- Developed an initial web-based directory of the industry locally, featuring 500 entries
- Sends email newsletters to 200 businesses
- Recently recruited an experienced new Board of Directors to develop the network
- Secured a seat on the local licensing panel to represent the industry view during a time of major change
- Secured a seat on the South East Media Network council
- Gained the recognition of regional and local arts and economic agencies as an authoritative industry voice
- Has a place on the Creative Brighton board
- Instrumental in the setting up of the UK Music Sector Forum
- Helped commission research into the economic impact of the music industry in Brighton.
Our people
The Board oversees the development and implementation of the Brighton Music Network Business Plan by providing an overview, advocacy, and leadership. It is responsible for approving policy, for finances including management accounts, staff management, health and safety. It sets up action groups to get on with the work and report back.
At the moment these cover:
- Strategy and business planning
- website and directory/income generation
- events and socials
- The Great Escape / International work.
Chief Executive
| Lisa Holloway: Previously in Internet & Telecoms as Customer Services Manager and Sales Manager for Demon Internet, and Head of Learning & Development for THUS Plc. Fundraising Consultant for The Great Escape, Brighton Live and Lewes Guitar Festival, Education Consultant for Sussex Learning Network, Lisa is on creative industries management group Creative Brighton, the Licensing Strategy Group at Brighton & Hove City Council and the South East Media Network (SEMN) Council and writes a music column for local magazine Latest 7. |  |
The Board (in alphabetical order)
Chair
| Thurstan Crockett: Head of Sustainability & Environmental Policy at Brighton & Hove City Council. In his previous role as Economic Development Manager at the council, Thurstan set up Creative Brighton (Creative Industries Leadership Group). |  |
Mark Flannery: MD of Panic Room Productions, a music production company and Head of Songwriting at Brighton Institute of Modern Music, Mark also manages and develops bands and has produced music for and worked with Depeche Mode, Boy George, Def Leppard, Black Sabbath and U2 amongst many others.
Jayne Houghton: Managing Director of Excess Press - PR and event management consultancy. Jayne has worked with Happy Mondays, Wet Wet Wet, Des'ree, New Order, Kula Shaker, James, Kiss, Moby. Event PR management has included: Reading, Guildford, Glastonbury Festivals, Great Escape festival, Brighton Live festival, Fort Rox, Help a London Child "soccer six" charity football matches. Organised launch parties for U2, Moby, Blur... Her DJ agency, Excess Decks, hired out DJs such as Boy George. Jayne is based in Brighton and London.
Lisa Maisey: MD of Lout Promotions and Lout Events Ltd. Co-founded & organises Brighton Live & Fort Rox Festival. Has been promoting live shows and long-standing weekly club nights for the last 10 years in venues from 50 - 2000 capacity. Heavily involved in many Brighton-based music projects: Brighton Music Network, Brighton Rocks, The Great Escape. Lisa worked with Radio 1 to organise "One Live" in Brighton in 2003.
| Dean Marsh: Founder of Dean Marsh & Co
solicitors, a niche media and entertainment law firm with offices in
Brighton and London. Established in 1996 they are a leading music law
practice, having represented artists such a Gnarls Barkley, Sugar Babes
and Fat Boy Slim. They have a particular expertise in advising independent
record labels, including Brighton's leading label Skint. In 2005 Dean
established the Independent Label Scheme. ILS is a unique, industry
endorsed legal and business affairs consultancy offering specialist
and cost effective services to Indie labels and artists taking the
DIY approach. Dean is a regular contributor to Music Week and has sat
on numerous panels. He is also an occasional University lecturer on
legal and business aspects of the Music Industry. Dean has a management
company and runs his own independent label, Film Production Company
and Football Agency. He was co-founder of the Guilty Pleasures entertainment
brand.
Contact Dean Marsh. 01273 823 770. dean@deanmarsh.com |
 |
Allan McGowan: Has over thirty years experience in the music industry, having worked internationally as an Agent, Concert Promoter, Artist Manager and Showcase Producer. Currently he is Consultant to the International Live Music Conference (ILMC), sets up and chairs panels at major music industry events throughout the world, administrates publishing company Wintrup Songs and is a journalist for vip-booking.com and Associate Editor of IQ - the journal of the ILMC |
 |
Phil Nelson: After rejecting playing the bassoon and singing in dodgy new romantic bands as career options, Phil Nelson became a band manager in 1988 and has been trying to pay the bills ever since. From the Levellers, through Longpigs to Duke Special and Aqualung he has amassed a couple of platinum discs and a few gold ones but no superstar acts. He has been the vice chair of the MMF and founded the Brighton Music Network. Most recently he has started managing brighton’s own smallwhitelight who are going to do very well.
Board Observers
| Penny King: Acting Head of Combined Arts for the South East region of Arts Council England, the organisation that works to get more art to more people in more places by developing and promoting the arts across England, acting as an independent body at arm's length from government. Between 2006 and 2008, the Arts Council will invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and the National Lottery in supporting the arts. Before joining ACE South East, Penny was Producer for the Contemporary Music Network and Programme Manager for the Asian Music Circuit where she developed touring projects with artists such as Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin, Michael Brecker, Spring Heel Jack and Kimmo Pohjonen. |  |
Donna Close: Arts Development Manager in the Creative Industries Unit at Brighton & Hove City Council.
Administrator
Donna Fullman: |
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Brighton Music Network is represented at conferences throughout the world:
Lisa Holloway:
Inspirational careers in film, TV and music – chair, Women in Media conference, Wired Sussex, UK. 8th March, 2007
Funding for Music – chair, The Great Escape, Barfly, UK. 17th May, 2007
Do Skills Matter? – chair, Making it in the Creative Industries, Sussex Learning Network, UK. 20th June, 2007
Allan McGowan:
ILMC (UK), MIDEM (France), SXSW (US), Noorderslag/Eurosonic (Netherlands),
Popkomm (Germany), Music & Media (Finland), MEI (Italy), By: Larm (Norway),
EU Capture Programme (Netherlands), Dortmund Music Mall (Germany), GoNorth
(Scotland)
Dean Marsh:
Funding for Music, The Great Escape, Barfly, UK. 17th May 2007
Phil Nelson:
Managers are thieving, self-interested bastards: who needs them? – chair, Brighton Live, September 2006, UK
Funding for Music, The Great Escape, Barfly, UK. 17th May 2007
