Gigomi with Dave Holley

David Holley

Are you serious about turning your talent for making music into a career? I’m Dave Holley, I’ve worked in the music industry for 30+ years. I have a network of friends (and friends of friends) who have built successful careers as artists or helped develop the careers of many of the biggest UK names on the world music scene. There is not much that they don’t know between them. When added together, this network has hundreds, if not thousands, of years of experience. If you are serious about breaking into the music industry & then building a long term career you couldn’t hope for a better team of advisors. I started gigomi to share the knowledge, insights & advice of this network with you. Each week I talk with an artist or a music industry executive about their experience of: ​ How the music industry really works, and:​ What you must do to give yourself the best chance of breaking into itTo make a good living And Build a good lifeWhile creating the fantastic music you were put on earth to create​ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 02/15/2022

    #14 Keith Harris OBE

    Today's guest is Keith Harris, OBE. Keith began his career as a song plugger, getting records played on the radio at Translantic Records and EMI, where he became General Manager of Motown in the UK. It was doing that job that he met Stevie Wonder who asked Keith to be part of his management team - which he continues to be to this day. Alongside his management career, Keith lectured on the music business as a Senior Fellow at the University Of Westminsterand has led many industry organisations and initiatives including the Music Managers Forum. Keith's career has been punctuated by many remarkable achievements and it's all the more impressive because of the prejudice that he has suffered throughout his life. Born to West African parents in the North of England, he experienced racism on a regular and repeated basis, not least during his early days in the music industry. His response was "Don't be bitter, be better" and he became, as Billboard described him, "a tireless campaigner for equal opportunities". More than anything, Keith is one of the most respected and widely liked people in the music industry. He has some fantastic advice for people starting out in it which he shares in this interview. Keith was awarded the OBE in 2015 and in 2021 was elected Rector of Dundee University. Keith talks about managing Stevie Wonder, overcoming racial prejudice, teaching the business of music & why this is the most exciting time to be entering the music industry since the 1960's. He wrote an open letter to the music industry on racism which you can find here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #14 Keith Harris OBE

About

Are you serious about turning your talent for making music into a career? I’m Dave Holley, I’ve worked in the music industry for 30+ years. I have a network of friends (and friends of friends) who have built successful careers as artists or helped develop the careers of many of the biggest UK names on the world music scene. There is not much that they don’t know between them. When added together, this network has hundreds, if not thousands, of years of experience. If you are serious about breaking into the music industry & then building a long term career you couldn’t hope for a better team of advisors. I started gigomi to share the knowledge, insights & advice of this network with you. Each week I talk with an artist or a music industry executive about their experience of: ​ How the music industry really works, and:​ What you must do to give yourself the best chance of breaking into itTo make a good living And Build a good lifeWhile creating the fantastic music you were put on earth to create​ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.