Each week, Music Week profiles the brightest new talents in the business. Here, we talk to Anthony Giannaccini, senior PR executive at DawBell, about his time in the industry...
How did you break into the industry?
I started reaching out to PR companies while I was at university and actually ended up taking my second year out to intern full time at Division Promotions. There, it really started to click that PR was something I wanted to go for. It was after graduating that I took on a second full-time internship at The Noise Cartel and was afforded more freedom, assisting day to day on a mixture of print, online, TV & radio campaigns and joined the PR team for Sonisphere Festival. After a year, I was picked up by Wilful Publicity for my first proper publicist role.
What’s your proudest achievement so far??
Heading up print for the latest The Wombats album Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life. The press campaign aided in delivering a No. 3 album and a sold-out show at Alexandra Palace, alongside a big main stage slot at Reading & Leeds this summer, arguably leaving their profile larger than it’s ever been before. It feels like we’ve really helped change the dial and shift perceptions of the band.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Being able to shout about the best talent around! I’m fortunate to have worked under great bosses who live and breathe music, and have consistently displayed how vital it is to PR with passion. Day to day, the job varies so much – from gigs to photo shoots, to press trips – and that constant cycle of change keeps things exciting.
What’s the biggest challenge?
With so many great new artists, coupled with limited page space, it’s more important than ever to seek as many interesting and relevant angles for an artist as possible. Newspapers and magazines need to sell copies, and journalists need a good reason to put pen to paper, so it’s vital to make every pitch count. On a personal level, due to the 24/7 nature of the job, it’s also really important to find time for yourself and maintain that healthy work/life balance.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to break into the biz?
Be resilient! There’s no doubting that it’s a tough industry to break into, and there may well be knockbacks. Do some extensive research and reach out to companies in your field of interest. Interning and gaining experience is vital. Financially, it’s not always a viable option, but it does allow you that first foot on the ladder. Also network – lots! It can’t be said enough how important it is to tag along to gigs and company day/nights out. The more people met, the higher the chance of doors opening further down the line.??
Finally, what’s your greatest ambition in music??
To keep working with exciting talent across a wide spectrum of genres, and be known as someone whose work has been influential and had a positive impact on an artist’s career.
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