Welsh Music Foundation

Being in a band is the real reason most people become involved in the, quote/​unquote, music industry, but it’s not all doing lines with groupies and blitzing sold-​out gigs (or, more likely, touring in a clapped-​out Ford Transit and eating at service stations). If you’re struggling to unravel the tricksier industry side of things, the first port of call in Wales is the WMF, who’ve just celebrated their 10^th birthday. Friendly, informative advice and support on everything from legal issues to training, the staff boast years of experience in the music industry. Their knowledge base comes in especially handy for anybody involved in disputes, wanting to get paid for publishing rights or looking to learn the best routes into music-​based jobs.

You wanna make it in the music industry? Well, okay then, but I suggest you get in with these people first. It’s nasty out there. Trust me, as a national music journo, I know these things.
If you listen to Forest Gump, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates…’ If you listen to WMF ‘the music industry, like life, is not quite as simple as it seems.‘
Why not? Well there’s all this stuff to deal with for starters: rehearsal rooms, studios, managers, lawyers, producers, agents, promoters, pluggers, distributors… is your head starting to spin? Don’t worry little drummer girl, ‘cos this is what these people are really good at. This is also why WMF is the first port of call for individuals, Small Businesses and Start-​Ups who need information on the music industry in Wales. If they’ve got any brains left between them.
Whether you are on the hunt for a manager or a record label The Welsh Music Directory has 1,700 listings in 65 categories. WMF also help you get clued up on the music industry by providing Seminars & Events, Training and Education Programmes and Marketing & International Trade Opportunities, many of which are Free or at least cheap.

The very busy Welsh Music Foundation was set up to help the music industry in Wales to thrive.
It helps people to navigate the complexities of the music industry and aims to provide the foundation for artists and music start-​up businesses in Wales to maximise their potential.
The organisation acts as a first port of call for anyone who needs information about the music industry in Wales, whether you’re an individual, a researcher at a TV company, a music start-​up business, or any other company needing such information.
First off, their extensive Welsh Music Directory has 1,700 listings in 65 categories — including band managers, record labels, media contacts, artists, and so on. Secondly, the Foundation is a hub of information about musical events — including seminars, training, education programmes, and marketing opportunities. And thirdly, the WMF works to encourage collaborations — for example, it can help TV companies find suitable artists for programme or film music, and it encourages partnerships between existing music organisations and entrepreneurs. They also do lots of other work besides this, but this gives you an idea of their role!
If all of this sounds interesting, you can also check out Sound Nation (originally called ‘Honk’) at
, the organisation’s former music business magazine. Sadly, they no longer produce copies, but you can still check out the archives.