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Mentoring for Self-releasing Musicians and Composers

“This was really generously informative, well-researched and backed up by loads of experience – if you’re interested in releasing your own music, I strongly recommend it!”

Stuart MacRae (composer)

The webinar will last 90 minutes and is designed to give a broad overview of what steps you need to take to self-release your music. I will talk about:

  • A general introduction to releasing music, digital distribution and streaming
  • Setting a realistic budget (income and expenditure)
  • Preparing for and running recording sessions
  • How to get your music on the major streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer etc.)
  • Various rights and registrations that you need to know about to ultimately get paid
  • Using the artist analytics dashboards

“Learn from the expert”

Ruta Vitkauskaite (composer)

Choose your date below and I will send you a Zoom link in advance of the session.

Over the years I have spent quite a lot of time researching how to record, self-release and market my music. I’ve built up an average of around 2,000 listeners a month and through self-releasing have had total creative control over the release. I haven’t had to deal with a label or sign away any future earnings and in return I keep all of the financial gain. Though I do admit it is a lot of work and is a risk in itself.

If you are thinking of releasing your own music, you might currently feel like me at the start – that it is a total impenetrable minefield, and it can be! But I want to share my knowledge and experiences to help you release your music into the world. If you are interested in attending a webinar or having a one on one mentoring session to learn how, then book now.

“Thanks to @mwhiteside for his webinar on self-releasing your music. Clear and helpful presentation on the steps to take re planning, licensing, marketing and releasing.”

Katherine Wren (viola – RSNO)

Online Mentoring – £75

If you are already someone who has done a lot of research into self-releasing but wants a bit more information, you just want some one to one assistance from someone who has been through the process or you’ve been to my webinar and want to get into more detail. Get in touch for a mentoring session.

This will be much more bespoke and dependant on what you need and want to know. If you have been to a webinar then you will get £25 discount on your first session. These mentoring sessions will also be online and will last up to 90 mins. Get in touch to discuss details and to work out a time.

Comments from previous attendees:

“This was really generously informative, well-researched and backed up by loads of experience – if you’re interested in releasing your own music, I strongly recommend it!” – Stuart MacRae (composer)

“Thanks to @mwhiteside for his webinar on self-releasing your music. Clear and helpful presentation on the steps to take re planning, licensing, marketing and releasing.” Katherine Wren (performer)

About Me

Matthew Whiteside was named in the List Hot 100 2019 and the Scotsman’s One to Watch (classical) for 2020, is a composer, collaborator, sound designer and concert producer based in Glasgow. Winner of the Light Moves Innovative Use of Sound Award for his work Entangled with Marisa Zanotti. His music has been described as “Effective and Unsettling” by BBC Music Magazine and “post-minimalist bold sparseness” by the Herald. He has released two albums of chamber music, Dichroic Light and Entangled, along with multiple singles.

He regularly gives talks on his work as a composer and producer as a guest lecturer for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Music Finland and Aberdeen University, among others, has run mentoring sessions at Classical Next on self-releasing music and was CoDI Mentor 2019/20 for Ty Cerdd.

Make sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and my mailing list to get notified about the album and make sure you are following me on your streamer of choice Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer.


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