Music PEI to help musicians tap into business skills

Music PEI has launched a program designed to help Island musicians grow the business side of their careerandultimately make more money.

There is so much paper work and other duties that go with it that it is really hard to stay on top of it all.- Rob Oakie.

The new business growth program teaches them how to tap into multiple revenue streams, improve marketing and business management skills and create more business opportunities, according to Music PEIexecutive director Rob Oakie.

"We really wanted to try to assist artists inmaximizing the revenue opportunities out there. And a lot of artists don't do that either because they don't know about the various opportunities or don't have the time," he said.

"A lot of them are self managed and if you're a performing artist, just trying to stay on the road and tour and do your job there is tough enough. But then there is so much paper work and other duties that go with it that it is really hard to stay on top of it all."

Social media help

The total cost of the program is about $12,000. Innovation P.E.I. and ACOAarepaying for about 40 per cent with the artists involved paying 20 per cent.

Music PEI hashired MacPhee Artist Services to deliver the new program. Oakie noted that owner John MacPhee has had over a decade of experience as an internationally touring artist as a member of Paper Lions.

The program is designed to increase the artist's revenues immediately they'll have their complete catalogue of music registered with five major performance rights organizations for royalties.

The selected artists will also be registeredasa business entityand will have anonline merchandise store. They will also get help with social media.

It will all wrap up with four, six-hour coursescovering topics such asmusicbusiness administration and tour accounting.

Only two people will be accepted at a time. The first deadline for submissions is August 15.

Participants will be selected by a jury of music industry professionals.

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