Wavelength Presents:
HOW TO RELEASE AN ALBUM DURING A PANDEMIC
Online Panel Discussion
Featuring:
Harrison Bennett (DeadBeats Records)
DijahSB (independent artist)
Dina Young (Royal Mountain Records)
w/ moderator Jesse Ohtake (Manifesto, The Academy Presents)
Wednesday, Oct. 14
6PM EDT
All welcome – FREE with RSVP (100 attendees max so sign up soon!)
RSVP here on Zoom: http://bit.ly/pandemic-album-webinar
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown out all the traditional rules of music promotion, especially when it comes to releasing what can be an artist’s defining statement: an album. Going on tour to promote an album release isn’t possible for the foreseeable future, so how are independent artists and record labels helping attract listeners to their new releases? Some releases have been postponed, while others have gone full steam ahead. What promotional strategies are labels using to bump up an artist’s streaming numbers? And how are independent artists using online donation tools to get their albums out into the world?
About the Panelists:
DijahSB
Toronto-based rapper DijahSB makes navigating synth loops, booming bass claps, and smoothed out production look easy. The rapper effortlessly glides across these soundscapes with lyrics that are as earnest and personal as they are agile and quick-witted. Inspirational without being preachy, their music is a raw look into the mind of a Black non-binary artist rapping their way through hope, heartbreak, and breakthroughs. Their sound, a small light pushing through dark cracks as the self-aware inner workings of an artist in a constant state of growth.
Dina Young
Dina Young is the founder of Miller & Smith Management; an artist management, label services and consulting company based in Toronto, ON. Dina has worked in the music industry for the better part of a decade, including a five year stint as Director of Operations at Paper Bag Records in Toronto. Following her time there, she began managing artists and took on a consulting position with Royal Mountain Records. Currently her company manages a roster of five artists including JUNO award winners Dizzy, as well as Ellis, Cuff the Duke, Teen Daze and Cecile Believe (who worked on the Grammy nominated SOPHIE album). In 2018, she took on the position of general manager at Royal Mountain Records and continues to support that label’s growth both domestically and internationally. In her time working in the industry she has worked on over seventy five album campaigns from both developing and fully established projects.
Harrison Bennett
Originally South Florida and now residing in Toronto, Harrison Bennett is the label manager of Deadbeats and an artist manager at 2+2 Management. As the brainchild of Zeds Dead, the Deadbeats label recently released music from GRiZ, Subtronics Peekaboo, Eprom, 1788-L, Moody Good…. you get the point. In just over 4 years Deadbeats has become a destination label for bass music acts that are pushing boundaries and shaking speakers. More than just a label, Deadbeats has a weekly drive time radio show on Thursday evenings on SiriusXM on Diplo’s Revolution Radio, merchandise, publishing, and it is also a live events brand with 25+ events globally each year. These events include stage takeovers at majors festivals like Electric Zoo, Sunset Music Festival, Nocturnal Wonderland, as well as standalone curated events at venues like the Aragon Ballroom, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Masonic Temple, Ministry of Sound London, and more. On the artist management side, Harrison helps look after DNMO, Sippy, and Zeds Dead.
Jesse Ohtake – Moderator
Founding Member of Manifesto Community Projects at MANIFESTO Community Projects, Founder at The Academy Presents and President/Founder at TheCyberKrib Entertainment Group
About Wavelength Music
Wavelength Music is a curated concert series designed to champion creativity, co-operation and collaboration in the independent music and arts scenes. Established in 2000, we are a non-profit arts organization that puts artists and the community first. A cornerstone of the Toronto music scene, Wavelength Music has championed literally thousands of emerging artists during its decade-plus run.
Poster photo by Thomas Chan on Unsplash.
