Students from Newcastle College's Music and Production courses were given a unique insight into the realities of the music industry this week, as a panel of leading professionals visited the Performance Academy.
Delivered in partnership with Generator, ‘Behind the Music: Career Stories from Across the Industry’ brought together artists, producers, managers, and industry specialists, who shared their experiences of working behind the scenes in one of the UK’s most dynamic creative sectors. Panellists included Kay Greyson (Artist), Adam Cutting (A&R/Operations, Interval Records), Lucy Scott (Senior Producer, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music), Adam MacDonald (Senior Programme Coordinator, Generator), and Mike Smith (Music Manager and former Newcastle College student).
Mike, who studied Music Production at Newcastle College, said it was special to return to the place where his career began.
“It’s been great to be back and see some familiar faces. I wish I had something like this when I was at college. There wasn’t a huge focus on roles outside the studio or off the stage, so hearing about other pathways is crucial.
“Even if just a couple of students find an area of the music industry they didn’t even know existed, then it’s worthwhile. It was great to see the room full of people asking interesting questions, and I’m sure there’ll be some brilliant music coming from this place.”
Lucy Scott, Senior Producer at The Glasshouse, also praised the College and the enthusiasm of its students.
“This has been a really interesting event around careers in music, and I’ve really enjoyed meeting young people who want to get into the industry. These events are so valuable in bringing people together to network and learn from each other.
“It’s brilliant that the College is doing this. When I finished my music degree, I was still unclear about the range of jobs out there, so events like this are vital in shining a light on the many different paths available.”
Following the panel discussion, students took part in informal drop-in sessions, where each specialist hosted a table to answer questions, offer guidance, and talk through the different routes available across the industry.
The event formed part of Newcastle College’s commitment to connecting students with real industry insight and experience, helping them gain a clearer understanding of where their skills and passions could take them within the world of music.