Following last month’s interview with outgoing AIR (Australian Independent Record Labels Association) General Manager Stu Watters, we’re pleased to share an interview with his successor, Nick O’Byrne [pictured below right]. Nick also acts as a coordinator for the arts fund organisation JB Seed, who’re putting together a series of panels for the One Movement For Music conference. Andrew McMillen interrupted Nick’s planning for a conversation with the AIR/JB Seed moonlighter himself.

Andrew: Nick, as coordinator for the JB Seed, what have you got planned for The Independent Times panels at One Movement For Music?

Nick: The six panels are all focused on independent musicians and labels throughout Asia and Australia. The Asian markets traditionally haven’t been looked at very much. We’re only kind of cottoning on now, but there is a massive music market that is a lot easier for us to get to than Europe or the U.S.

The tentative names of the panels include:

• “Media - Extra, Extra, Read All About It”;
• “Digg it, Tweet it, Blog it, MySpace it, and Facebook it”; which talks about all that digital media stuff;
• “The Changing Environment and Digital Landscape”;
• “Branding and Music”;
• “Live and Festivals: How to Build Interest in Your Act and Secure Booking Festivals Throughout the Region”; and
• “Leaving On A Jet Plane” which explores the life of Australians who have left our shores, and made good in their chosen markets.

Again, none of these have been confirmed yet, so I can’t go really into it, but we’re aiming to bring together a bunch of Australians who are doing a really good job and making an impact in the industry - not necessarily just artists, but bookers, managers, publicists, and label managers.

How do you go about selecting the panelists and speakers?

We’ve been discussing it with the people at Sunset Events, and I suppose it’s about asking the right people. For example, since I’m not particularly knowledgeable about busting open digital myths, I know that Nick Crocker [of Native Digital] does. He’s pretty much confirmed for that panel.

I suppose it’s just asking the right people, getting recommendations, and seeing which contacts people have. Some people, once you’ve actually booked them, suggest others. It’s quite amazing; if you talk to people like Michael Chugg, it’s like they’ve got an encyclopedic knowledge of the world’s music industry. You just ask people like that and they’ve always got a suggestion.

The One Movement conference’s tag line is “Artists, Industry, Fan United”; I suppose a lot of that unity occurs more at an independent level than at a major label level.

I think so, for sure. With independents, there’s definitely a lot more flexibility within smaller businesses, which is essentially what independent labels are.

I suppose the small business does allow you a lot more flexibility and that’s why that whole unity thing is within their capabilities; whereas, perhaps if you were running Universal Music Australia, you’ve got more people looking over your shoulders, shareholders, and all that sort of stuff. It’s not to say that they don’t have their place; it’s easy to bash major labels but I don’t think they actually deserve it. They’re still working hard and they’ve still got a massive place in the industry. They just don’t have the flexibility of the indies.

What makes a great music conference?

I would say that the delegates are the best thing, not necessarily the speakers. I mean, quality speakers will bring the delegates, but it’s the interaction between the delegates which is the most important thing; those interactions are generally the biggest things that I take out of a conference.

What about a great music festival?

I suppose almost the same except I would say excellent people, or good people to hang with, a good vibe and at the same time you do need a great lineup. You need a lineup that you haven’t seen before. It can be bands you’ve seen before, but not in combinations. You need interesting combinations. If I could lay out a formula, it’d be something like: a favorite band, two current favorites, plus three you’ve always wanted to see, but have never gotten around to doing so. Plus some good local bands. Most important, though, is that there’s a good vibe in the crowd; you only need one or two of your favorite acts there and then other bands you can discover.

With One Movement, I’m interested to see Tigarah because she looks kind of quirky.  The festival has to be Aussie-centric, of course, but of the first line-up, the only ones I haven’t seen are Philadelphia Grand Jury [pictured left] and Bertie Blackman. I’m really keen to see Bertie Blackman because I’ve been listening to her album heaps this year.

What do you think makes a great music festival blog?

That’s a good question. I’ve never really looked at a festival blog. I think you need interviews from the artists. I think all blogs should have cool photos. I’m a blogger too. As much as you like to write and it’s quite satisfying for the blogger, it’s got to be fairly digestible for an audience. I think you’ve got to have music, video, photos, and the written word in bite-sized pieces. And if it’s kind of relevant and amusing, that’d be a great music festival blog!