Off the Record launch music industry PDF Guides

Ahead of their virtual conference taking place this Friday and Saturday, Off the Record launch five invaluable music industry PDF guides in association with The Skinny

Feature by Tallah Brash | 03 Dec 2020
  • Zoe Graham at Off the Record

A subsidiary of Scotland’s renowned annual music convention Wide Days, Off the Record launched in 2013, offering networking and learning opportunities for those aged 16-25 hoping to one day work in the music industry, or for those already involved wanting to take the next step.

In previous years, Off the Record – supported by the Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative – has operated as an in-person conference with panel discussions, breakout sessions and workshops. This year, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the event has been forced to move online for its first ever virtual conference, and it’s honestly never looked better, with more opportunities and helpful resources available to delegates than ever before.

Taking place online on Friday 4 December and Saturday 5 December, each day from 11am-6pm, panels will include Getting Media Coverage, Music Photography, A Guide to Going Freelance, Live Streaming, BBC Introducing and more, and as part of their Music Feedback Social, one lucky recipient will be given the opportunity to record a session as part of The Scotsman Sessions series. More information about the programme can be found here.


[PDF Guides designed by Kathryn Dryburgh

In addition to these already quite majestic offerings, the OTR team have created a whole host of resources this year. They've collated useful articles offering advice on how to apply for funding; industry jargon busters where you'll find a glossary of terms and what they mean; an Off the Record podcast and, in association with The Skinny, five super helpful PDF guides commissioned by Off the Record and written by music industry insiders, which you can download via the below hyperlinks, or by clicking the above image which will take you to the Off the Record resources page.

Imparting tips and wisdom on How to Start Your Own Music Company, Releasing Music Digitally, How to Market and Promote Yourself as an Artist, How to Organise Your Own Livestream Gig and A Guide to Press and Media, the latter written by yours truly. These are quite simply invaluable tools for anyone hoping to get ahead in all aspects of the music industry. To any musicians reading this who want to get in touch to tell us about your music, take note!

Off the Record is for those aged 16-25 hoping to get into the music industry and, importantly, is created by a passionate group of people in the same age group, with the majority of this year's speakers being under 30.

Speakers set to appear at this year's virtual conference are: Alex Matthew (Vintage Society), Alex Porter-Smith (High Tide), Amandah Wilkinson (Bossy Love), Arusa Qureshi (Freelancer), Becca McLeish (Cousin PR), Charlotte McKelvie (SWG3), David Culbert (Help Musicians Scotland), Deborah Smith (Anara Publishing), Diljeet Bhachu (Musician/Educator), Eamonn Watt (Virtually Conducted Productions), Isha Shah (Photographer), Jamie Houston (Creative Scotland), Jannica Honey (Photographer), Kathryn Dryburgh (Queen of Noise), Katie Goh (Freelance Writer), Maciej Kawka (cultur), Phoebe Inglis-Holmes and Shereen Cutkelvin (BBC Introducing in Scotland), Rachael Hood (The Skinny), Robert Blair (Mill Magazine), Rosie Bans (Musician), Sof Staune (VAJ.Power), Toni Malyn (EMU Bands), Zoe Graham (Musician), Dr Philippa Wheble (British Association for Performing Arts Medicine), David Henderson (MELD), Ross Leighton (Fatherson), Chris Stillie (The Dojo Aberdeen), Callum Johnson (Association for Independent Music), Kayleigh McLaughlan (23rd Precinct Music / Resonate), Elizabeth Sills (PRS Foundation), Shauni Caballero (The Go 2 Agency), Rose Manson (Clyde Built Radio), Jamie Lawson (MCPS), Iona Fyfe (Musician).


Off the Record 2020 takes place this Friday 4 December (11am-6pm) and Saturday 5 December (11am-6pm); Tickets are £5 and will grant you access to all online content during the event – book your ticket at: otrscot.com/tickets