MPG Adventures in Scotland

The Music Producers Guild was represented last week at the annual goNORTH conference and festival in Inverness. This unique event welcomes more than 100 leading industry players from the fields of music, screen, broadcast and gaming

to its daytime panels and workshops, and provides showcasing opportunities for artists and bands from all over Europe, this year including Sweden, Norway, Germany and France.

MPG executive directors, Mick Glossop and Andrew Hunt were there to promote the value of music production to artists, musicians, producers, recording engineers, record company executives, publishers and managers.
The highlight event on Wednesday, June 4th, was “Meet The Producers”, a lively discussion panel moderated by Mick Glossop and attended by 100+ delegates. Featuring contributions from producers; Tony Doogan, Simon Gogerly, Gilles Perring and Scottish recording artist, Roddy Hart. It received positive feedback, to the extent that some even declared it: “the best panel event at goNORTH this year”! (the panel reviewed here)

There is a strong, vibrant and incredibly enthusiastic music industry in Scotland, supported by several organisations, including the Scottish Music Industry Association, Creative Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, with which the MPG now has strong links. Due to its relatively small size, the sense of community in Scottish music is markedly apparent – something that you don’t often witness in London.

Next year, goNORTH is being re-branded as “XpoNorth”. We’ll publish further news of its re-invention on this website. In the meantime, MPG admin will continue to develop the links we have established in Scotland, and make every attempt to create further opportunities to promote the MPG, and the value of music production, north of the border.

With that in mind, Mick and Andrew took the train from Inverness to Glasgow on Friday 6th June to host an MPG Speakeasy event at McPhabb’s bar in Charing Cross. Organised with help from Caroline Cooper and Stewart Henderson of SMIA, the event provided yet another opportunity to re-connect with Scottish producers, including Paul Savage (MPG award winner), Tony Doogan and Giles Perring.

Well attended, the Speakeasy stimulated discussion on many production-related topics into the late evening. Leaving the bar at around 11 p.m., Andrew and Mick walked back into town to soak up the “atmosphere” of Sauchiehall Street on a late Friday evening (!), and a late dinner at the highly (and justifiably) recommended Loon Fung Chinese restaurant!

Many new friends were made, and we’re already looking forward to the next trip to Scotland, later in 2014.