PRS for Music and BASCA bring expert advice to Leeds songwriters and composers

Former Delphic band member and Louis Tomlinson hit-maker Richard Boardman to share creative process in special one-off talk

PRS for Music is visiting Leeds to offer a free event for local music creators. Following a string of successful panels in Bristol, Norwich and Oxford, How To: Make Your Music Pay will return up north to Headrow House, Bramleys Yard, Monday 13 November. 

Across three panels, top music industry professionals will provide guidance and help local music creators gain knowledge and understanding about the music business. Attendees will learn about the importance of protecting their music rights, as well as the various ways that creating music can help to generate an income. 

Opening the evening with a special talk, PRS for Music is collaborating with the British Academy Of Songwriters, Composers & Authors (BASCA) for Composers in Conversation with acclaimed songwriter Richard Boardman. 

Formerly a founding member of Stockport band, Delphic, some of Richard’s biggest songwriting credits include Louis Tomlinson’s Back To You, Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne’s 2014 hit Real Love, and Love On Me by Galantis and Hook N Sling. Richard also founded Manchester songwriting collective The Six in 2014, who featured on Gorgon City track Take It All and most recently co-wrote Paloma Faith’s comeback single Crybaby. During Composers in Conversation, Richard will share his creative processes, tips on collaborating and how to write hit songs.

The second panel, How To: Make Your Music Pay, will focus on locking down your business, whether you’re a self-releasing artist, working in the live music industry, or managing a band. Panellists including Opeth and 65daysofstatic manager, Andy Farrow (Northern Music), songwriter and journalist, Helienne Lindvall (Auddly and BASCA), and PRS Foundation’s Joe Frankland, will discuss how to protect your music rights and reveal the various ways that making music can generate an income. A full list of speakers is available below.

The third and final panel of the evening will divulge everything attendees have ever wanted to know about sync and getting music used in film, on TV shows and in adverts. How To: Place Your Music in Films and TV will see both composers and music supervisors offer advice on how to prepare, pitch and place your songs for television in the UK and around the world and the important matter of making sure that you get paid. 

There is a fine art to consistently writing successful songs and BASCA are delighted that Richard Boardman has agreed to share his tips and experiences on how he and his team of writers goes about delivering hit after hit.

These panels are designed with composers and songwriters at every point in their careers in mind – whether you’ve just written your first song or your fiftieth. As a membership organisation, PRS for Music doesn’t just collect royalties on your behalf, we’re also here for creators to turn to for advice and education on the music business.

While the event is free, space is limited so please ensure you book a place online if you wish to attend. Both non-members and PRS for Music members are encouraged to attend.

Event details:

6:00pm - Doors Open

6:15pm – 7.15pm: BASCA Presents: Composers in Conversation with Richard Boardman
Richard Boardman was a founding member and lead songwriter of Stockport band, Delphic. He has since gone on to start a Manchester based songwriting collective known as The Six who have written hits for Rudimental, Paloma Faith, Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne and Louis Tomlinson. Hear him talk about his creative process, collaborating and how to write hit songs.

7.30pm – 8.30pm: Panel: How To Make Your Music Pay
Evolution or revolution, the music industry is changing. Maybe you’re a self-releasing artist or helping a mate book some live shows, managing your own band, or managing someone else’s, handling the socials or building a promo campaign, writing the songs, creating the beats, sitting in the studio, or running around on stage; whatever you’re doing, it’s crucial that you understand the way the industry works. Otherwise, how can you make it work for you? This panel will be discussing topics such as the importance of locking down your business, understanding and protecting your music rights and the various ways making music can make an income. 

Panellists:

• Claire Rose (PRS for Music)
• Andy Farrow (Northern Music)
• Helienne Lindvall (Auddly/BASCA)
• Joe Frankland (PRS for Music Foundation)
  

8.45pm – 9.45pm: Panel: How To Place Your Music in Films and TV
Have you ever wanted to write for a TV show or create music for advertising? The area of ‘sync’ music rights has become increasingly important in recent years for songwriters as both a valuable income stream and also for raising their profile, but it’s still a mystery for many artists as to how music is sourced and selected. This panel will be discussing everything you need to know to prepare, pitch and place your songs for television in the UK and around the world and the important matter of making sure that you get paid. 

Panellists:

•  Benson Taylor (Composer)  
• Rachel Wood (Woodwork Music)
• Will Smith (Music With Vision) 
• Benjamin McAvoy (WMP)

9:45pm – 11:00pm - Networking
The evening closes with a networking session.