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Monday, August 16, 2010

INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: Emma Wiking (Remedy Music)

We have moved! Our blog is now at www.paper-deer.com


It seems that a large portion of Paper-Deer's beloved readers are either musicians or working in the music industry, so we've decided to run a series of interviews with some of the special people who make the Melbourne music scene the thriving cultural hub it is. Paper-Deer plans on storming backstage and getting the real story from behind-the-scenes industry folk like band managers, sound engineers, venue bookers, publicists and label reps.

Starting off our series of industry interviews is Emma Wiking, a woman whose resume must read like novel. The company that really made Wiking stand out in the industry was Rubber Records, where her business card must've been quite large to fit her entire title "Head of National Promotions, Marketing and International Label Management" on it. At Rubber Records, she looked after ace Australian acts like 1200 Techniques, The Exploders, Offcutts, Lisa Gerrard and JET. After her eight-year stint at the illustrious Melbourne indie label, she flipped over to Basin Records in 2004, lending her years of industry experience to the development of the boutique label. Wiking somehow also finds the time to run Remedy Music, which specialises in music promotion, digital distribution and synchronisation, as well as managing excellent bands like The Melodics. Honestly, this woman must never sleep.

The Melodics, the band that somehow turned Emma Wiking into a band manager

Job title:
Label Manager, Radio Plugger, Publicist, Band Manager.

Job description: Sign, license and work with emerging artists on an independent basis, helping them all to develop release plans that work towards their ultimate goals and be discovered by music lovers.

Bands you promote or manage: The Melodics, The Little Stevies, Angelas Dish, Georgia Fields, Alba Varden, Starting Sunday, [Me]…

How did you end up being a band manager?
I hadn’t planned on being a band manager, but after working with The Melodics on a promotional basis I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Not only do they write great music and put on a world class live show, they weren’t sitting around waiting for someone else to make it happen for them. When I first discovered them they were already selling out venues up the east coast on tours they booked for themselves. They impressed me because they were smart about how they promoted & marketed themselves and were clearly already on their way when I came on board. I think a lot of bands think that when they get a manager or are singed to a label, that that’s when things are going to happen for them, but in fact it works the other way around.

What's your secret to success?
Hard work and persistence has had something to do with it, and a passion for doing what I love, not necessary what pays the most.

What do you love most about being in the music industry?
There are no rules!

Being a band manager always seems like such a glamorous job. Can you let us in on any of the less-than-lovely moments you’ve had in the past?
To be honest, I think I’m a pretty lucky manager. I have a hard working band that share a lot of the responsibilities, so far it’s pretty much been all good! Sorry, no gruesome tour managing stories here!

Any advice to budding band managers out there?
When delegating roles in the band, be sure that everyone takes on some responsibility. Four or five people working towards a goal is a lot more powerful than one.

How do you discover new bands and music?
Mostly through word of mouth and our recording studio, Basin Studio.

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