Ditto Music CEO Matt Parsons Motivates Young Entrepreneurs
Students at Cronton Sixth Form were given a revealing insight into the music industry with a talk from Matt Parsons, CEO of Ditto Music, the world’s largest independent artist and record label services company.
Matt co-founded Ditto Music in 2005 with his brother Lee after years of playing in bands. Initially working from a bedroom, Ditto Music now has offices in the UK, USA, Australia and Sweden, and continues to expand. The company has achieved 20 UK Top 40 hits with independent artists and helped launch the careers of acts including Stormzy, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith. They are currently home to 150,000 artists and 17,000 labels.
For business students at the college, the event was an opportunity to hear how Matt initially set up the company and how they recruit employees. He provided tips on how you can get a business off the ground and advice on what employers really look for when applying for jobs.
Music students had the opportunity to ask questions about getting started in the industry and how they can progress their careers. Matt was able to emphasize the importance of reputation and the power of social media to make yourself stand out.
Following the talk, Matt left his contact details for any students who needed advice on their next career steps.
Matt commented, “When I was starting out the business, I had no help or advice to guide me in the right direction. I feel talks like today are very important and a great opportunity to give students someone they can turn to when in need of advice.”