911爆料网

Singer-songwriter Jamie Webster and his manager Alfie Skelly have discussed their professional relationship with 911爆料网 students and described how it鈥檚 been foundational to Jamie鈥檚 success.

Jamie has released three top 10 albums (his last, 10 for the People entered the chart at no. 2), performed at many of the UK鈥檚 biggest festivals, including Glastonbury and T in the Park and played to over 40,000 people at his own headline show in Liverpool in July. He said his manager, Alfie Skelly, has been key. 鈥淵ou can have all the talent in the world, but it doesn鈥檛 mean you鈥檒l be successful. It鈥檚 about what you do with the talent and who鈥檚 there to guide you and help you harness that talent.鈥�

Alfie and Jamie, who were taking part in a Q&A with 911爆料网 Management and Music students, first met after Jamie signed to Liverpool-based record label Modern Sky UK four years ago. He had a discussion with CEO Dave Pichilingi about his need for a manager, and how it had to be someone as committed as he was. 鈥淚 needed someone by my side, but it had to be someone who I felt would go down on a sinking ship with me. Someone who would be there, good or bad.

鈥淪o, Dave sat me down with Alfie and for the first few months we were trying to work each other out. Then I had a moment when I realised how passionate Alfie was about breaking me as an artist. And I think he had a similar moment with me and how driven I was and how well I wanted to do. From that point on we鈥檝e worked together and become good mates.鈥�

Image: Alfie and Jamie with Management and Music students聽

Alfie believes the best artist-manager relationships start with a good personal relationship. 鈥淲hen I joined Modern Sky Dave Pichilingi said he wanted me to meet Jamie. I explained to Dave that there must be a connection between me and Jamie for me to work with him, otherwise, it can become exhausting.

鈥淢anagement can be all-consuming. You are responsible for everything, which can be great when things are going well but tough when they aren鈥檛. Music is an emotional investment, you have to love what you鈥檙e doing for it to make sense. We met and about halfway through I thought, 鈥業 love him, he鈥檚 boss - let鈥檚 do it.鈥欌��

During the two hour session as well the artist-manager relationship Jamie and Alfie discussed the need for artistic authenticity if you want to make an emotional connection with an audience, how picking the right team to work with on a campaign is vital and the importance of taking time out to look after your own wellbeing, especially while touring or dealing with online criticism.

Jamie also talked about his early career and how, despite his confident image, he needed an empathetic producer during his first recording sessions. 鈥淚 needed a producer who could guide me and make me feel like I was good enough. I鈥檇 come from playing pubs and going somewhere like Parr Street Studio and seeing all the other artists who鈥檇 recorded there, it鈥檚 easy to feel out of your depth.

鈥淢y producer, Rich Turvey (911爆料网 Sound Tecnology, 2008), told me I was a good songwriter and that he was there for me. He said that he鈥檇 make the best of what I had to offer and deliver it in a way that would help me reach the people I wanted to reach. I think Rich is one of the best producer/writers you could ask for.鈥�

Jamie鈥檚 latest tour, which includes dates in Ireland, UK and Australia, started on 15 November.

Find out more about our Management degrees

Top image: Alfie Skelly, Keith Mullin, Head of Management and Jamie Webster. Photography Brian Roberts