Success Beyond The Score

Episodes 2 and 3 of the third season of Success Beyond The Score address very different matters, although both are critical for the gigging musician: fanbase and sound.

There is an audience for every form of music, that is for sure. The real question is how to find them, reach them, and most importantly, how to show to promoters, labels and clients that you have the skills to pull a crowd. Listen what Millicent has to say about this topic on episode 2:

At first glance, episode 3 seems to be about something obvious. Music is sound, therefore low quality sound is detrimental to it. However, many tend to delegate this vital part of their performance to others, trusting that whoever said they'd be in charge of the equipment knows what they are doing and understand what the artist likes.

It's not so easy! Have a listen to Millicent's take:

Both episodes are available as audio only, and there are also transcriptions.

• Episode 2
• Episode 3

If you are a woman in music who would ...

Patricia has been an active member of Time For My Music, our online community that helps emerging female musicians achieve their music dreams, since the beginning. Through the years, we have seen her grow, challenge herself and achieve wonderful things. Let Patricia herself tell you about it:

 

 

 

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This clip comes from our live concert in Birmingham some time ago. You can watch the whole show on YouTube.

Now, if you are:

• A female singer, musician, rapper or DJ, who would like to take your music hobby further by performing outside your four walls, and get paid, but don’t know how to make it happen
• Perhaps a woman who is already performing, but who struggles to some extent with things like sound tech, ways to improve stage craft, how to get bookings, etc.
• A woman who wants to return to music after a break, or give it one more push before quitting, and is now looking for t
...

Time For My Music is our online private membership group for emerging female musicians. This denomination includes singers, instrumentalists, singer-songwriters, rappers, DJs and spoken word artistes. Starting today, and for two weeks, it is open for new members. If you have been reading our updates from the group, and wondering how you can take part, this is your chance!

Specifically, Time For My Music is the right fit for you if:

• Music is your hobby, but you would like to perform and eventually get paid.
• You're returning to music after a break, and want support to get back in and boost your confidence. 

• You have gigged occasionally, but it doesn't seem to be working. However, you'd like to give your music one last push to see if you can realise your music dreams.

You can read more about the project in the about page.

Still unsure? No problem, signing up allows you to access the community group for 14 days before you have to pay even a penny. Come and have a look!

Click...

In the first post of this series, we talked about health and safety. Now that we know the necessary precautions we have to take, we can talk about the main devices we are dealing with: amplifiers and mixers.

1. What is an amplifier?

Amplifiers are not unique to music. In fact, they can be found in most, if not all, electronic equipment. Their basic function is to increase the magnitude of a signal, which is itself defined as a current that varies through time. Microphones, electric instruments and digital devices feed signals to audio amplifiers and mixers, which then amplify (i.e. increase loudness)them to make them come out of speakers with the volume and characteristics that we want. 

The main difference between an amplifier and a mixer is the number of signals that each of them can handle. The amplifier is designed for only one, while the mixer can process multiple signals at the same time. Due to this, amplifiers tend to have a built-in speaker, while mixers don't.

2. Ba...

Here is the first of seven posts in our series about amplifying devices, what they do, and how to use them. They are summaries of workshops that took place in the Time For My Music community group. You can learn more about the context in our intro post.

We are starting at the most basic, yet most important aspect of this and any type of work: safety!

1. Take care of your body.

By definition, the performing arts are physically demanding. Music too! You have to look after your health: diet, sleep quality, and fitness level all play a part.

Specifically in regard to amplifying devices, their weight can represent a risk. When deciding on what to buy for your PA system, think about how you are going to transport and set your new device up. Learn the proper form to lift heavy objects; you can do it at the gym or even through online tutorials, like this one.

If you find yourself in a situation where the weight of the equipment is too much for you, don't force yourself. There's no shame i...

Here are two more "themed" episodes of the podcast Success Beyond the Score.

Episode 16 is all about the business side of music. It is an essential part of the journey to becoming a professional musician that intimidates many emerging artists, but it doesn't have to be that way! Listen to the guests talk about record labels, contracts, finances, networking, training and education, from their vast experience, and without keeping any secrets.

Episode 17 moves from the professional to the personal. Each guests tells us about their career highs and lows. What have they realised truly matters after decades of experience? What have they learned from difficult times?

As usual, the audio-only version can be found wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening!

It has been almost four years since generative AI technology was made available to the public. During this time, the severely negative impact it has on the job market and the environment has been proven again and again. However, governments across the world have failed to react appropriately. To this day, human creators whose work has been used to train large language models (LLMs) have no way to corroborate so, and therefore, cannot enforce their ownership rights.

Until 29 October 2026, there is a petition to the UK Parliament seeking to fix this issue. It asks for the introduction of a statutory duty requiring AI developers to disclose their training sources and information. As with all petitions submitted through this channel, if this one gets 10,000 signatures before the deadline, the government will respond to it. If the number surpasses 100,000, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Creators need clear rules and regulations that ensure their work is used with consent,...

As in every profession, the work of a musician involves legal and social responsibilities. If you want to build a career as a gigging musician, it is essential that you learn and follow the rules that keep the industry running safely. Don't worry, it isn't hard!

In this fragment of Millicent's free webinar, "Legal Know-Hows For Gigging Musicians", she explains two elements that will help you work safely: public liability insurance, and portable appliance testing.

We hope that this information comes in handy for your current projects. And, speaking of projects, we are working in a new, big resource that will teach you how to get your schedule filled with gigs. As part of the development of this product, we are conducting a survey about how you learn best. It takes two minutes to fill, and your input will allow us to cater to your needs in the most efficient way.

Click here to start the survey

It will be open until Sunday 21st June. Please share!

Interviewing the next guest in this recap of Success Beyond The Score podcast, season 2, presented a challenge in regard to timezone differences: due to lockdown and travel restrictions related to the containment of COVID-19 at the time, the British composer and songwriter Dan Whitehouse was stranded in Japan. Regardless, Millicent managed to have an excellent talk with him.

Dan has released five solo albums. He is a songwriting tutor and mentor qualified in the Sounds of Intent methodology, and he has extensive experience working directly with musicians or through facilitators such as Midlands Arts Centre or Company of Song, to create community through music.

In the first part of the interview, we learn how everything started, how it was going at the time of recording, his experiences of studying music, and everything about being signed to a label.

The second part explores the impact of COVID-19 on Dan’s life and career, after lockdown made a visit to Japan become an almost two ...

England, Wales and Scotland: we have had time these past few months to hear candidates out and consider our options. Now, it is the time to decide who we want to represent us in our cities and regions. Whilst it is easy to be negative and pessimistic about the state of politics, democracy is still an invaluable opportunity to make our voices be heard. Don't let it pass!

In regard to the proposals surrounding the arts and entertainment industry, the Musicians Union wrote manifestos for both the Senedd Elections and the Scottish Parliamentary Elections. These manifestos addressed all candidates, and those who committed to consider them could be a good option for you to support, if you are still on the line.

Remember that you have time to vote between 7am and 10pm, and that you must bring a form of photographic identification in order to be allowed to vote. These include passports issued by the UK, EEA states or members of the Commonwealth, driving licenses, bus passes, biometric immigr...