Andrew has been at the helm of party outfit and label, Huntleys + Palmers for the past 10 years, championing emerging talent in electronic music. He's also one of the founders of Clyde Built Radio.
What was the business problem/opportunity you were trying to solve through your label and radio station?
The impetus to start the label was to establish a platform to promote music by friends and emerging artists from other parts of the world whose music excited me, but didn't seem to be getting much attention elsewhere.
Similarly with the radio station, I had been appearing on different community stations when touring around the world and, in spite of Glasgow's community spirit and strong local scene, it became obvious that it needed an equal platform to champion and celebrate this.
In both instances, I had felt dissatisfied and frustrated with the existing media platforms focussing on the same certain sounds and individual artists at the expense of many other talented individuals who might not be so good at self-promotion.
I also wanted to champion more diversity, but felt defeated in an increasingly competitive music landscape (events/releases), and felt that building a radio platform would be a more effective way of making a long-term difference. Instead of trying to work within the given framework, it was better to develop another.
What advice would you have for other organisations/new talent looking to do similar and set up themselves?
I will always, always, always recommend doing your own thing. It might sound like a boring cliché at this point, but if you believe in something enough, the chances are others will also connect with whatever you are enthused about too.
I'm a big believer in the 'learning by doing approach'. Over time I've realised that no-one really knows what they are doing, they're figuring it out as they go along too. It sounds simple to the point of being insulting, but I'm a living example that you can enter music with zero experience, investment or qualifications and with determination and enthusiasm, build a world of your own within music. None of it would have happened unless I tried.
Over the years, the ways people listen to and interact with music has changed constantly and the more adaptable you are able to be, the better. Be prepared to fail. Don't feel disappointed when things don't turn out the way you'd hoped. Very often down the line, the project that didn't work out as hoped opens up the doors for something better. The longer you keep at it, the more this happens.
Has working with younger talent changed the way your businesses work?
My own endurance is completely fuelled by the excitement of discovering new artists, new faces, new labels, new voices - the more of them the better. They are the future and as an industry we must wholeheartedly embrace that, along with the fresh perspective and changes they will bring. There is no space for the old 'it was better in my day' attitude.
Running the radio station is the biggest collaboration I've been committed to, with seven members younger than myself. I've learned a tremendous amount. It's incredibly motivating and exciting to work alongside younger like-minded individuals, and once we reach a group decision - based on the input from differing backgrounds and experiences - it feels much stronger overall.
I can't recommend it enough and look forward to more of the same in the future.