James Corbitt is fresh out of ACM after studying the two year accelerated Music Business Degree course and graduating in 2016.
We caught up with James to have a chat about finishing ACM and what he’s been up to so far!
So, tell us a bit about your background, previous music industry experience and why you want to work in this industry.
Everyone’s passionate about music in some way or another, including me. I always fantasised about working in music but I never seriously considered it until I found myself at the end of my A-levels applying for bog-standard uni courses that didn’t excite me; I think I even considered neuroscience which would have been a train wreck. So a few months later I found myself at ACM studying Music Business and Innovation, and from there I put in more effort into my education than I had ever done before. Everything fell into place from there.
And what have you been involved with since leaving ACM?
After taking part in ACM’s Discovery and Development, I started working with and helping a few ACM bands alongside the degree. I connected with loads of great industry professionals including Darrin Woodford who runs the project. After preparing for and presenting at a few industry showcases, I had developed my skills massively, used what the degree had been teaching me, and grew my practical knowledge of the industry by a ton. Towards the end of my degree Darrin put me in touch with my current boss at Autonomy Music Group where I’m a Product Manager; working on strategies for music releases and campaigns, organising all the events and activities around a campaign, marketing and social media, as well as directing the creation of media and assets. Each day is never the same and I’m finding myself learning something new every week.
What are your aspirations for the future?
My main target is to make the ‘Music Week’s 30 under 30‘ list which is awarded to industry professionals under the age of 30 that are making waves in music. I’ve got 9 years left to make some bigger waves so I’m feeling fairly confident.
How did your course prepare you for life in the music business world?
The Music Business degree gave me all the information needed to go out and function in the music industry in a practical way. Early in the course I revived the brand of my brothers’ entertainment company that organised hundreds of indie club nights and gigs around Berkshire in the early 2000’s, Catchy Monkey Music. I used this brand for anything that I worked on throughout my course and through my involvement in Discovery and Development.
In my second year me and my housemate Patch Boshell (Music Production Degree, 2016), along with Skip Greig (Music Production Degree, 2016) started a live music sessions channel from our living room called ‘In a House Sessions’. After a while of recording and releasing sessions the submissions started to come in and we began charging a small fee for sessions, this became my first paid work in music. The sessions were short lived but loads of fun to make and taught me a lot about video production and logistics.
In the last two terms of ACM, I also worked as an intern at Never Fade Records, Gabrielle Aplin’s record label and management company. This was a perfect one day a week experience where I could go and test out my skills and knowledge in a well established music company whilst working with some awesome people and artists.
Do you have any advice for those looking to get in to industry?
My main advice would be to never get yourself in a position where you’re reliant on things or people to do well. My tutors and Industry Link at ACM were hugely helpful and as long as I was asking the right questions they taught me a lot to help me develop my skills and get a 1st in the degree.
Generic Inspirational Quote: Throw yourself in the deep end and you’ll usually end up alright in the end, but even if you don’t, no ones going to knock you for trying.
What motivated you to come and study at ACM?
As soon as I had it set in my mind that I would pursue a career in Music, I got advice from my Brother who had been to ACM around 9 years ago when the business school had first opened. I liked the fact it was a two year condensed degree that awards a full BA(Hons), allowing me to get a head start on a career at a younger age than most other industries.
What was the best part about studying at ACM?
Never getting bored of what I was learning about, apart from maybe Copyright Law at times (no offence to my tutor).
If you’d like to become a student at ACM and start your career in the music industry like James, please call our Admissions Team on 01483 500 841 or visit www.acm.ac.uk/open-days/ to book a place on an ACM Open Day today.
