TOM SCOTT INTERVIEW
Posted by OUZO
YO! Hello from Copenhagen people… I have wanted to do something with Tom Scott, a friend over at Chemical records, and was talking to him before Christmas about bits and bobs. After chatting I realised that it was Chemicals 10th year as an online store (pretty good going if you ask me) and that now would be a good time to ask him some questions. Watch this space as Chemical and Get Some may have something up their sleeve for 2010! So here is the interview, hope you enjoy. Thanks very much Tom!
PEACE&OUZO!
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Tom Scott and I’m responsible for marketing at Chemical Records. I’m involved in too many things to list them all here, but mainly focus on music-related fashion marketing, PR and advertising. If you’ve ever seen a Chemical Records vinyl giveaway on Dubstep Forum, that’s me as well.
Where are you currently based?
I live and work in Bristol. Bedminster, South Of The River.
When did you first get involved with music and what were you doing?
Chemical is actually my first music industry employer. Before I came here I was running the show online at Drooghi, which was a great menswear retailer in Cardiff.
How has the music industry changed since you first got involved? In your opinion, has the online revolution has a positive effect on what you do and the music industry?
I think the biggest change has been the shift in importance for artists of live performances over record sales. It’s something that many DJs and producers have known for years now: record releases are important for establishing your name, DJ sets and live PAs bring in the regular income.
As for the online revolution, I think the general assumption that digital music sales are killing off vinyl couldn’t be further from the truth. Being an online vinyl retailer allows us to sell to scores of emerging markets and our vinyl sales are stronger than ever. That’s the real benefit of the internet on the music industry, it’s opens it up to many more talented people who never would have had a look in previously. If you’re making great music, geography shouldn’t be a limiting factor in getting it heard.
It wasn’t very long ago that the music industry pronounced vinyl dead. In the last couple of years digital music has begun to find its feet, how has this affected your business and has vinyl made a comeback?
Vinyl was and continues to be the foundation of our business. As I mentioned in my previous answer, the internet has allowed us to sell to a number of countries that most people would have dismissed offhand if they didn’t know any better. Hopefully, access to our music has been a contributing factor in the growth of their local scene.
Do you find there to be a prejudice against DJ’s who use MP3′s and is software like Ableton Live bridging the gap?
I think it’s a fairly typical response to new technology, especially when the existing way of doing things has been around for so long. Personally I think once people realise the versatility these digital interfaces give you they’ll be more open to them. I know guys in the US like Starkey work closely with manufacturers on testing and development and speaking to Starkey about it, he’s said it’s opened up so many more options to him in terms of the music he can play. What DJ wouldn’t want to broaden their range, increase the number of bookings they can get and the number of people they can play out to?
What can we expect from Chemical in 2010?
2010 is the 10th year of the Chemical website, so we’ve got one or two things lined up to mark the occasion. Without going into specifics and giving the game away, we’ve got a number of products and events coming that are going to make this a year to remember.
If your career in music was to end tomorrow, what would you do instead?
If wasn’t working in music or fashion, I’d like to think it was because I’d gone off in a MK1 Range Rover to build a vineyard in the Cornish Riviera.
Who should we be watching in 2010?
Kastle, Mensah and Cosmin TRG are the three I’m watching.
Kastle is a new project from B.Rich that’s remixing and producing on a Roger Troutman/Zapp level.
Mensah is H.E.N.C.H.’s prodigal son. I’ve been lucky enough to see him go B2B with Jakes at Run and you feel the future of this music’s in safe hands!
TRG needs no introduction – he’s one of those very lucky people that can turn their hand to any style of music and produce amazing things.
And finally, please complete the following sentence…
GET SOME… Sun!
http://www.chemical-records.co.uk
