Hot Seat: Making it in the music industry… with Taylor Testa, UMPG
TMN has revived Hot Seat to offer our young industry subscribers an insight into what it takes to make it in the music business.
Taylor Testa is the LA-based A&R behind Universal Music Publishing Group signings asShlohmo,Kacy Hill, Teddy Sinclair and Adele, Haim Sia co-writerTobias Jesso Jr.
Prior to her appearance at BigSound panelCo-Writes, Collaborations and Ghostwriting, Testa offers her advice for those seeking a career in A&R.
As an A&R exec at Universal Music Publishing, our main goal is to support and nurture talent. I don’t see this as a pressure point, as its our focus as a company and a role that is reallyrewarding. I work with many amazing writers, producers and artists and it’s my job to help them advance creatively, and to connect them to projects that inspire them. UMPG has incredible executives here in Australia, including Andrew Jenkins and Arwen Curson. We work to support each other on a global level, and bring exciting opportunities to our writers wherever they are.
Do you have a rule of thumb that you’ve adhered to since entering the music industry?
There are a number of responsibilities that come with my job, and it’s easy to get lost in the minutiae. But I got into this industry because I love music so much, and its important to me that that inspiration is always a part of my work.
Do you have any advice for those who want to enter your sector of the music industry?
Learn how to listen critically, and how to express what you’re feeling when you hear a song. Ask questions. Be willing to start at the bottom and work hard… a lot of people want to get into A&R.
Which industry issues do you hope are touched on during the course of the BigSound?
I’m excited to learn more about digital rights in different territories – the internet has brought on many amazing opportunities for creativity, but many challenges as well.
What do you see as the most crippling issue facing your local music industry at the moment?
We need to ensure that songwriters are supported, and the value of copyrights is protected and maintained. Without songwriters, there is no music. I would hate for the next great writer to not pick up a pen because of the lack of support in the industry for their craft.
If you could go back, what advice would you give your teenage self?
I was obsessed with Green Day as a teenager…but it probably didn’t need to be my AIM screen name.
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