Mr. Harold Stephan shares the latest Songwriters Hall of Fame Master Session we had at Stuy this past Saturday morning. This will be published on the SHOF website, at the GALA in July, and in an email blast. It was a great success!
See a full size photo collage here.
A diverse panel of music industry experts including Wes Richardson (Specialist, A&R/Marketing at °1824/UMG), Michelle Locke (Manager, College Relations and Strategic Partnerships at °1824/UMG), Patrick Wimberly (songwriter at UMPG), and Tom Lee (VP, A&R at Arcade Songs) dropped in to a SHOF Master Session on March 9th. The session was coordinated by Dylan Prince (Assistant, A&R Publishing at UMPG). This session was part of the All-City Modern Music Project, a program enabling students to write, record, and perform original and cover songs in popular musical genres, currently taking place on Saturday mornings at Stuyvesant High School. The Session was hosted by producer, songwriter and Stuyvesant HS Music Educator / 2024 Grammy Music Educator Award quarterfinalist,Harold Stephan.
The session began with a presentation from Michelle Locke and Wes Richardson from °1824/UMG. Locke emphasized the power of grassroots marketing and authentic fan engagement for emerging artists. She highlighted the need for a strong, personal connection with fans, established through live interactions such as university gigs and meet-and-greets, alongside a significant digital presence. Locke also spoke about her team's customized marketing support, stressing the importance of unique promotional strategies tailored to each artist's needs and interests to create deeper fan relationships.Wes Richardson at °1824/UMG discussed the modern A&R approach, focusing on the balance between artistic quality and market potential, using data analysis. He outlined the dynamics of scouting talent and collaborating with distribution labels for artist-friendly deals, emphasizing creative freedom. Richardson's advice to artists underlined the importance of embracing a wide range of musical genres and adapting to the industry's evolution.
After a song workshop, there was a second presentation about music publishing led by Tom Lee, VP of A&R at Arcade Songs. Lee offered advice on the significance of collaboration and networking for songwriters and producers. He advocated for continuous practice and exploring diverse techniques to refine their craft. Lee also emphasized strategic song placements and the necessity of understanding the industry for successful song distribution, encouraging a proactive approach to learning and experimentation. Dylan Prince from UMPG added to this segment by discussing the evolving role of music publishing. He stressed the importance of viewing songwriting as a collaborative effort, leveraging global opportunities, and understanding the business aspects of the industry to navigate its complexities effectively. Song camps were discussed as a way to leverage the power of focused collaboration among songwriters, with camps designed both to target established artists as well as movies, TV shows and video game soundtracks.
The two song workshop segments were led by American record producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and mixing engineer Patrick Wimberly (UMPG), best known as being one-half of the synth-pop duo Chairlift.Wimberly provided feedback on student songwriting, emphasizing the value of unique storytelling and emotional connection in music. The feedback provided by Patrick Wimberly and other panelists to student songwriters underscored a crucial message: the essence of music lies not just in technical proficiency but in the ability to convey emotions and stories that resonate with listeners. Wimberly's advice to explore unique chord progressions or lyrical themes highlighted the importance of innovation and emotional depth in songwriting. The panelists also discussed the changing landscape of the music industry, the role of songwriters in the era of digital avatars and global music trends, and the significance of collaboration and networking for career advancement.
In conclusion, the panelists shared their experiences and strategies for nurturing talent, highlighting the importance of understanding each artist's unique vision and the power of grassroots marketing and genuine fan engagement.
The SHOF Master Sessions at Stuyvesant program has hosted events for NYC public school students highlighting both the business and creative sides of the music industry since 2018, with past sessions featuring John Hampson, Paul Umbach, Alex Da Kid, Michael Uzowuru, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Nija Charles, TBHits, Sam Ashworth, Denzel Baptiste & David Biral p/k/a Take A Daytrip, Khari “Needlz” Cain, Steven Van Zandt, Steve Greenberg, Mark Hudson, Samantha Cox, Leyla Blue, Maude Latour, Laundry Day, Pom Pom, Mike Campbell, Billy Mann, Gregg Wattenberg and Rich Christina.
