BIMM offer work experience at Offie Mag and TuneCore panel talk

Brighton-based music and culture publication Off Licence Magazine teamed up with TuneCore last month for INDEPENDENT MATTERS, a free entry gig and panel talk on the importance of independent music.

With support from the New York-based independent music distributor TuneCore and BIMM, Offie Mag discussed the challenges facing independent artists and grassroots venues and the value underground music scenes have in the broader music industry.

Two of our students were assisting the Offie Mag staff on the night. Event Management student Emma Keenan was on hand to ensure the smooth running of the event as a production assistant, and Songwriting student Chloé Kraba provided her expertise as a videography assistant.

On the panel were Gregory Stanley, Offie Mag’s Editor-in-Chief, Sarah Wilson, TuneCore’s Head of UK and independent musicians Jaydonclover, Jianbo and Changing Currents, who all shared their perspectives and insights. A range of audience questions were welcomed too, allowing spectators to pick the panellists’ brains.

The Rialto Theatre played host to the event. This gothic grade II listed building has become a community hub in Brighton and is also fiercely independent, making it the perfect spot for a panel such as this one. The evening was capped by a performance from Birmingham native Jaydonclover, whose stunning voice captivated the audience.

Off Licence Magazine’s Senior Editor, Matt Leppier, added:

“We had such an amazing time putting on our first-ever panel talk. Working with independent musicians and venues is in our DNA, so it was great to give these talented artists a platform to use their voices. Big thank you to BIMM for introducing us to Chloé and Emma. They were fantastic and really helped to ensure the smooth running of the event as a whole, and we’d love to have them back again for future events.”

A bit more about Offie Mag:

Off Licence Magazine, or Offie Mag is a multimedia platform for music, photography and culture based in Brighton. Offie Mag started as a reaction to polished, beauty-focused, studio-shoot magazines and aims to humanise the creative and music industries through human-centred journalism and context-based photography, highlighting voices from minoritised groups. It authentically documents UK underground culture, reaching what is now a worldwide audience.

With a focus on hip-hop and rap music, Offie Mag has supported many underground artists at the cusp of their breakthroughs, giving the likes of Lava La Rue, Lord Apex, Biig Piig and Greentea Peng their first-ever magazine covers and hundreds of others their first-ever online coverage. Alongside music coverage, they shine a light on young and established photographers, writers, designers and collectives who share their same values.

The authentic content they strive to publish, and the unique tone they use across our media and merchandising has led to a dedicated community of supporters who avidly collect their publications and pack out venues at their events.

You can keep up-to-date with Offie Mag here and buy their latest issue here.