Northern Music Company - PL Management 

by Jelenes 

V.:I started working for Paradise Lost seven years ago part- time, and began full time about five years ago.

Could you please tell us what is your job precisely ?

V.:Hard to define!! I don't work directly for PL, I work for a management company called Northern Music who manage PL amongst others.

Have you worked with other bands ? If yes, do you still work with them ?

V.:Yes, I currently work with - Paradise Lost (Obviously!), One Minute Silence, Skindred, Earthtone9 and Foley.

Has your job changed throughout the years ?

V.:Yes quite a lot, obviously I have a great deal more responsibility now but I guess technically it is still the same. I started at the bottom when I'd just finished my degree, answering phones, making cups of tea etc.. Now I'm more of an assistant manager to the bands we manage and I oversee all the day-to-day business affairs.

Do you think you're still doing the same job, or has it evolved due to PL popularity ?

V.:The job I do would be the same regardless of which band I work with or how popular they are, it just might be on a bigger or smaller scale! In some ways I'd argue that there is more work with a smaller band....once an act is established it's much more straight forward, and they can afford lawyers and accountants to handle much of the paper work which is nice!

The PL fans expect you to give them news, infos, etc... about the band via the fanclub and the website, but do you expect something from the fans ? And if yes, what ?

 V.:We never 'expect' anything directly from fans, we just hope that they keep enjoying the bands music and keep buying the albums so we can make more! Although, one thing I tend to find with PL fans is that they are always keen to help out wherever possible.

Do you think they can really help you and the band ?

V.:With the Street Teams idea for example fans can help out massively for which we are very grateful, and of course word of mouth is very important if you tell your friends how much you like PL they might start listening to them as well. :)

To do what you are doing one must be a huge fan, and we know how PL music has changed. Have you ever been disappointed by some of their albums ?

V.: I personally have never been disappointed either as a fan or as a colleague, I think if I were to stop understanding and enjoying what they write then it would be pointless doing this job.

Do you go on tour with the band ?

V.:I don't actually go 'on tour' with the band but I do travel to many gigs both in the UK and abroad.

What is your best memory with PL ?

V.:I have so many funny memories but my favourite would probably be when they were recording the video for 'Say Just Words' from the One Second album. The whole day was hilarious!! I can't go into too many details but there was rather a lot of alcohol involved, and not everything went according to plan ;)

What is your worst memory with PL ?

V.: Don't really have one as such.........well not yet anyway!

For you, what is the most pleasant side of your job ?

V.:The best part of my job is watching the bands play, after we've put loads of time and effort in behind the scenes it's great to watch the perform and makes it all worth while.

And what is the most unpleasant ?

V.:The most unpleasant part I guess is the fact that my job is a thankless task, bands and fans never realise or thank you for what you do......but if something goes wrong we're the first to get the finger pointed in our direction which sucks as often it's something out of our control!

Vicky Northern Music Company, Cheapside Chambers, 43 Cheapside, Bradford. BD1 4HP

Thanks a million Vicky !! from mates and from gryphonmetal  staff :)))

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