A&R WORLDWIDE SPOTLIGHT – 7HZ UK & EUROPE

Each week, A&R Worldwide will go back to its original A&R Network roots and profile an international executive and/or companies that are creating innovative business models in a rapidly–changing marketplace. This week, we feature 7Hz, which is a new UK label set–up by one of Germany’s leading booking agents/promoter FKP Scorpio founded by Folkert Koopmans and British music industry veteran Barry Campbell.

NAME: Barry Campbell
TITLE: Managing Director
ADDRESS: 4 Margaret Street, London, W1W 8RF, England (UK)
EMAIL: barry@7Hzrecordings.com
URL: www.7Hzrecordings.com

Give us a summary of your career in the music business.

Barry Campbell

I met Folkert Koopmans from FKP Scorpio in the mid 80’s when he was the main booker for various Hamburg clubs. I had founded what would now be regarded as a “boutique” agency called ABS whose roster at the time included Stone Roses, Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers and Curve. I enjoyed being an agent, particularly the international booking side, but became increasingly frustrated at having to cancel and re–arrange long tours because the label changed the release dates or didn’t come through with the tour support.

I was also managing a couple of acts and when one of my songwriter clients scored a big No.1 hit it gave me the impetus to move into full time management. I stayed in touch with Folkert who by this time had developed a national touring business in Germany and was just about to launch the festival side – we worked together on severalone–off projects. The late ‘90s was the time of “super clubs” in the UK and together with a DJ partner I set up a weekly club night called “House Of Fun” at the London Forum. I thought it would last seven weeks, it ran for seven years.

How did 7Hz came into existence?

Folkert and I had always wanted to find a vehicle to collaborate on, the FKP Scorpio and associated festival websites were getting literally millions of hits but the sites were simply giving out information, news and selling tickets. We thought that website traffic allied to digital distribution was the basis to start a label, so 7Hz Recordings and Music came into being in the middle of 2006.

Whilst the record industry as we know it may be on its last legs, the music industry, particularly the live music industry is in rude health. I don’t think it’s unrealistic to state that it’s currently easier to get a record deal than to get a booking agent. Live music is therefore one of the only genuine filters out there and the public know it. We believe our niche marketing of great live bands and performers to an interested and motivated live audience can ignite sales and launch successful careers.

How does 7Hz differ from other independent UK labels and those throughout Europe?

7Hz currently operates out of offices in London and Hamburg. Our UK/Eire distribution is via Vital and GAS distribution via Rough Trade, this covers upwards of 70% of the European market. Our European digital distributor is VPD (Vital:PIAS). We guarantee to release in both the UK and Germany doubling any acts chances in the European marketplace. We have currently licensed albums from US band The Films and New Zealand band Goldenhorse both of which are scheduled for early 2007 releases.

We were able to place The Films on the very successful Kooks and Visions magazine tours in Germany pre–Christmas, we are looking forward to getting both bands back for extensive summer tours including all the major European festivals in 2007.

Do you foresee yourself working with more US–based labels?

We would like to work in partnership with more US labels to help launch their new rock/alternative acts in Europe. We know that the majors corporate structures often makes it difficult to allow for licensees outside their own affiliates but when the affiliate is either not keen, or can’t offer the launch strategy we can, it has to be in the act’s best interests to allow a motivated indie label like ourselves to get the ball rolling. We’re happy to be the running back getting the first down.

What are the long–term goals of 7Hz?

20 years ago when I was an agent everyone on the live side of the industry was at the beck and call of the label. The album was released when it suited the label’s internal politics and scheduling. The manager, agent, promoters, merchandiser, crew and band all fell in line no matter how many changes. It seems that in two decades the tables have turned and now labels have to fit their release schedule to coincide with the band’s touring plans and the festival calendar.

I have no idea how it will evolve over the next two decades but I know the old regime is going. New bands will still need record labels – the change is that they shouldn’t have to mortgage their future for the initial start–up capital and guidance. Perhaps a smaller piece of a bigger pie is the way forward for all parties, perhaps labels will evolve into production companies offering a wider range of services to artists on shorter term contracts.

For me, the biggest buzz in this industry is the synergy between a great live act and their audience and to feel you’ve been a part of that in some small way, that’s the spirit of what we are trying to achieve at 7Hz.