Jude McArdle (Association of Independent Music)

Jude is Membership Manager at AIM, the not-for-profit trade body exclusively representing the UK’s independent music sector, which makes up a quarter of the recorded music market. Now in its 20th year, AIM’s members range from the largest, most respected record labels and associated music businesses in the world to self-releasing artists and the next generation of entrepreneurs in music. AIM promotes and supports this exciting and diverse sector globally and provides a range of services, commercial opportunities and practical help to members, enabling them to innovate, grow and break into new markets. 

Before joining AIM she worked at PPL, the licensing body making sure rights holders and performers are paid fairly when their sound recordings are played on the radio, TV or in public. Jude had a blast bookings bands in venues across London at small indie promoter Club Fandango after graduating from uni. 

Nathan Barley Phillips (TuneCore)

Appointed by Believe Music as the UK Manager for TuneCore distribution, A&R specialist Nathan Barley Phillips is responsible for all relationships with self-releasing artists, managers and industry partners working with TuneCore in the UK. 

Prior to this role, Nathan formed Basick Records in 2005 and set about the task of developing a forward-thinking record label for heavy music. Releasing early material from emerging UK bands such as Enter Shikari and Monuments, the Basick label soon became synonymous with the cutting edge of heavy genres, going on to release music from Misery Signals, Bury Tomorrow, SikTh, Skyharbor, Devil Sold His Soul and Napoleon among many others. Now a fully-fledged international record label nominated three times in a row for a Metal Hammer Golden God ‘Best Indie Label’ Award, Basick continues to be one of the forerunners in its field. 

Nathan also recently served 4 years on the board of directors at the Association Of Independent Music (AIM); a trade body organisation based in the UK that represents over 800 music companies, from some of the largest and most respected independent record labels in the world, to small start-ups and individual artists releasing their own music for the very first time. 

Tony Ereira (Come Play With Me / Hatch Records)

Come Play With Me is a social enterprise established in 2015 to help people in the Leeds City Region that are looking to create sustainable careers within music. Tony is also one of the founding directors of Hatch Records, a Leeds-based record label that has seen releases from Deadwall, Then Thickens, Nine Black Alps and The Wedding Present. 

Tony has successfully been awarded funding from various funders inc. The Arts Council Grants For The Arts, Unltd. and Leeds Inspired for Come Play With Me - and from PRS Momentum Fund for Hatch Records.