Hi, this is Melanie …. want to know a bit more about me? 

I suppose it was inevitable that I would grow up loving music as I can’t remember a time when music wasn’t playing at home. 

My dad was an amateur musician (though sadly I didn’t inherit any of his skills, my musical ability manifests itself by being able to appreciate other people’s musical gifts and spot great new talent)

I have one brother who is several years older than me, so because of the big age gap he was a big influence on me throughout my life (although we don’t always share the same taste in music!). In fact he bought me my first album – when I was two years old! I remember him taking me to major concerts before I reached my teens, so maybe I should blame him for my obsession with music!  He went on to become Head Of Music and a Producer for a Radio Station, winning national awards for programmes he wrote and produced.

I too worked in Radio, both on and off air, presenting features within various programmes, co-presenting, producing and co-ordinating phone-in features and competitions.

I also looked after guests when they came into the studio and on outside broadcasts. This gave me a true insight into the various personalities and the public and media reactions to them, and also the work of the A & R people, and the real “behind the scenes” life of the music industry.

Following that I worked in celebrity management, in an agency which specialised in personal appearances and casting. Again this gave me the opportunity of liaising with people in the media and “show-business at all levels.

After stints working in travel and running my own exhibition organisation company, I knew there was something else I should really be doing. I should be sharing what I have learned in the music and media industry combined with my marketing and customer service experience with musicians who often have so much talent and time dedicated to their art, they can lack the motivation in other areas.

I began helping musician friends with promotion and things developed from there, with artist’s  approaching me to manage them. After being made redundant Fate gave me a nudge and I decided to consider setting up in business offering promotion and marketing services to artists. 

I “discovered” some exceptional artists who were looking for a Manager, and so I set up my management company to look after them – Aspire Music Management. 

Within weeks of signing artists up we have had some excellent results for them, for example at the time of writing, I manage the Top 3 artists in a worldwide internet radio Top 40, which is voted for by the listeners!  Another band I manage have been invited to perform at a prestigious festival later in the year. All my artists are receiving extensive interest from radio for airplay and interviews

The buzz I get from these response makes me want to help more artists, on a larger scale, and Andrew and I believe this innovative project is the way forward and can generate an incredible showcase for bands and solo artists worldwide, and from any genre, and give them information, advice and contacts they would benefit so much from.

Andrew and I have been friends for many years and have worked together in the past and therefore know that we make a great team, so now we are recruiting the rest of the “players”

And Now Andrew's Brief

My name is Andrew Walker and I would like to thank you for dropping by and seeing what I am about.

Briefly, I am a musician like yourself, or a fan of music. I have been involved within the industry on many levels, from practicing in my bedroom in the early days and annoying the hell out of my neighbours, to playing in dingy clubs to open air festivals and playing in Europe.

My journey has been a well trodden one and you may read this and think this your story, but honest it is mine. 

In my quest for success the early markets were alive with independent record labels releasing there own music and I followed suit, forming my own label to release my first EP as they were called. If anyone wants one I still have some left in my loft. There is only so many you can sell to your family. All the excitement of doing something Independant was a thrill. Joining The Musicians Union, learning the art of getting Royalties for airplay and learning the hidden side of the industry that "us" musicians call "those Sharks" i.e someone making money out of you, is true, but was fun learning to be a "Shark"

In the bands I played in over the years, we released singles and were on compilation albums, but all said and done we had no money. This has been the burden of being a musician. I played as a session musician for awhile but this was frustrating, but at the same time enjoyable, as I played in some great studio's around London. I have got to admit jamming nights in the West End brought you in contact with high profile musicians (Rock Stars to Joe Public) and many a night drinking to who did what on the last tour.

Although I can think of nothing more satisfying than hearing your track being played on the radio, especially Radio 1. We were fortunate to have breakfast with the late John Peel and he took a shine to our single and played to death for us…….Happy Days.

During this period I moved to ....London.... for 2 years and live and breathed my dream. Doing those lovely jobs to support the posters, the gigs and the alcohol of course. We played at all the usual places for an up and coming band and met many a rock star along the way. We had the champagne lifestyle with the lemonade income. The only time we made any sort of money was playing in Europe, but that is hard work after several weeks. 

So as you can see I have had a varied career, if that is the right term to use. But I have still to be happy and content. Friends tell me how great it must be to have done what I have done, but there is still a missing part to all this. Yes I have been on the Radio, cable TV, open air festivals and music press and alike, but still it can’t end this chapter of my life just yet

I always said I would write a book about my exploits, but that is still on hold as the best part of the story is unfolding now. Besides I could write a book on a 7 week tour in Europe that would have you in stitches, but that will have to come later. Ask me about that over a latte one day.

You could say I have been the stealth musician, in the respect of living on the circuit in London and playing in Europe and rubbing shoulders with the Stars and I had fun, great fun…..without the bling!

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