skip to main content

Free Expert Industry Advice Session to be Run by the Featured Artists Coalition

The webinars will be part of the Music Explosion Spring Special 2021 presented by Midi Music, and will take place online on the evening of Wednesday 24 March.

Published: 22 March 2021 | 4:29 PM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:32 PM
Photograph of fireworks exploding brightly against the dark night sky.
Music Explosion is an evening that will inspire your practise and inform your next steps. Photo credit: Shutterstock

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) Takeover of the Music Explosion Spring Special 2021 presented by Midi Music, will be taking place from 6:00 pm to 8:45 pm on Wednesday 24 March and is free to attend for all ages 16 and above.

The FAC takeover will feature expert industry chat and advice together with Q&As. FAC is the UK trade body representing the specific rights and interests of music artists. They are a not-for-profit organisation, serving a diverse, global membership of creators at all stages of their careers. Uniquely, they are formed by artists, for artists.

Whether you are a new or developing artist, a band, producer, or creatively inspired, Music Explosion is an evening that will inspire your practise and inform your next steps.

Tickets are free but must be booked by 12:00 pm on Tuesday 23 March, and you can do so on their Eventbrite.

The first speaker will be Charlie Deakin Davies, a songwriter, producer and artist

6:00 pm - 6:45 pm

Charlie Deakin Davies is a pop/indie record songwriter/producer and artist. They have just got their first UK 1# working on the album ‘Music Played by humans’ by Gary Barlow.

Charlie is the winner of the PSN award for Breakthrough Studio Engineer as well as (for the second year in a row) NMG’s Producer of the Year Award. At 25, Charlie is a studio owner with many engineering and production accomplishments that include 11 albums (6 as sole producer) of which 4 are award-winning. Charlie has also produced 25+ EPs and has produced or written 100+ commercially released tracks.

They started out with their own studio at the age of 17 ( classic shed at the bottom of the garden vibes) and have been playing/writing in bands since the age of 11.

The second speaker is Roxanne de Bastion, an FAC Board Director and Community Lead

7:00 pm - 7:45 pm

From going on your first UK online tour, to setting up a Patreon page and delivering pay-per-view livestreams, learn about how you can use this moment to connect with existing fans and reach new audiences without traditional live touring.

Roxanne de Bastion left Berlin for London straight from high school and, with no financial support or contacts in the city, got by balancing hospitality and admin work with the 90-odd solo gigs she played per year across the UK.

Having built a loyal fanbase, her crowd-funded debut album, Heirlooms & Hearsay, arrived in 2017, leading to support slots with Lambchop, the Wainwright Sisters, and triumphant shows at Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, a packed album launch show at London’s Roundhouse (Sackler Space) and support from the PRSF Women Make Music fund.

In 2018, Roxanne played a sold-out show at The Lexington to celebrate the launch of her book, a tour diary called Tales from the Rails.

Her remarkably self-sufficient approach was recognised by the FAC, who invited her to join its Board of Directors, advising and representing artists alongside Imogen Heap, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien and Blur’s Dave Rowntree.

Roxanne also created FM2U, a music conference specifically from and for musicians, which aims to empower & educate as well as create a strong community of artist entrepreneurs.

The final speaker will be Benny Bizzie, an Ambassador for FAC and Attitude is Everything

8:00 pm - 8:45 pm

Benny BizzieBenny is a FAC and Attitude is Everything ambassador amplifying the voice of deaf and disabled artists, and aiming to advocate for fairer access and inclusivity.

Music literally runs through the blood of British-Nigerian singer and songwriter Benny Bizzie. A fusion of R&B, Soul, and Afro-beats with 5 EP’s self-released, over 500,000 views on YouTube and two nominations at the Urban Music Awards.

He started his career as a grime artist in North London aiming to support his family the only way he knew how. He started writing, self-funding and releasing his music independently through UK platforms such as Channel U, Flava TV, Kiss FM, BBC 1Xtra and collaborating with artists JME and Skepta.

Till today music remains the one constant in his life. He found ways to use music as therapy for expressing emotions of early childhood experiences and finding solace.

Following a break from music in 2014 due to ill health, Benny Bizzie started releasing a series of singles, remixes, music videos independently and growing his audience. E- Motion is the latest EP release with over 500K YouTube views and latest singles Pressure and Blood In The Water keeping his fanbase well-entertained during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Book your free place on Midi Music Company’s Eventbrite page.

Can't make it to the webinar, but want to support the Midi Music Company’s work with young creatives? Please donate on their website or text 25DONATE to 70085. Thank you.

Get MU membership today

From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. This includes accident cover, health schemes, travel insurance and car insurance add-ons through the Musicians’ Union.

Explore our member services

  • Get public liability insurance for musicians
  • Access expert legal support
  • Be represented in your profession
  • Access expert career advice, resources, and training events
  • Connect, network, and get to know the community of musicians

Learn about all membership benefits

Get MU membership today

Continue reading

Exterior of the Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff, where the Welsh National Opera is based.

MU Responds to Welsh National Opera Cuts

Musicians' Union members in the orchestra of Welsh National Opera (WNO) are facing a reduction in working weeks, equating to a 15% pay cut as a result of a funding shortfall for the company.

Published: 28 March 2024

Read more about MU Responds to Welsh National Opera Cuts
Young Black musician looking thoughtful while looking at a laptop in a recording studio.

Celebrating BAPAM at 40

The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) turns 40 this year, and all musicians should be aware of how this pioneering charity could help them to prevent and overcome practice-related physical and mental health problems.

Published: 27 March 2024

Read more about Celebrating BAPAM at 40