EMI North: How new label in Leeds could support Yorkshire's music industry

Home to artists including Elton John, Florence + The Machine, Metallica and Paul McCartney, EMI Records describes itself as “one of the most defining labels in popular music”.

As for the new label, staff at Leeds-based independent label Clue Records and non-profit music development organisation Come Play With Me (CPWM) who have both partnered with EMI North, are optimistic it will support work to champion a “rich seam” of musical talent in the region, providing opportunities within the industry for those based outside of the capital.

"A lot of the time it feels like you have to go to London to get opportunities but it feels like this is the start of something now,” says Scott Lewis, founder and director of Clue. “We have an opportunity to build a real music industry employing people up here.”

"It’s like music’s Channel 4 moment,” adds Tony Eriera, CPWM’s founder and director. “Most of the music industry is in London...There’s a misrepresentation that just because music is released digitally, it’s levelled the playing field and anyone from anywhere can get on in the industry but that’s not really true.”

CPWM specialises in supporting people from marginalised communities to further their careers in music and creative industries, working with the likes of musicians, sound engineers, promoters, photographers, writers and event programmers, as well as running a record label releasing new music from across Yorkshire.

As a black, self-taught, working class artist, and the primary carer of a disabled partner and two-year-old child, 33-year-old Hang Linton hopes CPWM’s partnership with EMI North will bring them a step closer to establishing a long-term career in music through which they can support their dependents.

“CPWM are doing a really good job in helping people like me who perhaps wouldn’t have access to the music industry to find opportunities and support to grow inside an industry that is sometimes ruthless. This partnership, them pairing up with a big label, allows them to keep doing their work at a higher level with more reach, impacting more people, which is really exciting.”

CPWM label manager Eva Davies agrees. “We can connect local and emerging artists and aspiring music professionals with bigger industry players which we’ve never been able to do before...It’s also making the wider industry more aware of the fact that the UK music industry isn’t just in London.

“With EMI being the first major (to launch in Leeds), I think there’ll be a lot of attention on them from other majors to see how it goes and whether it’s worthwhile for them getting involved too. It’s shining a spotlight in that way.”

The EMI North launch has coincided with Leeds 2023, a year of cultural events in the city. Bradford, meanwhile, is in line for “Brit School for the North”, under plans submitted to the Government earlier this month and in Wakefield, Tileyard North is billed by developers to become the UK’s largest creative community outside of London, bringing together people across the region working in industries such as music, film, TV and design. "What’s really nice is these things are being done in a way that’s boosting and amplifying the good work that’s already here,” Tony says.

“They’re all trying to build and develop on what’s already here rather than trying to push something from London or elsewhere, which is quite exciting.”

Amber Strawbridge, 22, is a musician in Leeds, under the artist name Bored At My Grandma’s House. Amber says people “in the big city” have caught on to the Northern music scene which has been producing talented artists for years. “They know about it because everyone is making their own waves and things are shifting hopefully to be more level so everything isn’t centred in London. We’ve made that happen ourselves by staying at it and working at it.”

Cawley has moved from his previous role as the MD of EMI to head up EMI North, which is based in Duke Studios in Leeds city centre. It marks full-circle in a two-decade career which began as a sales rep for Universal Music in North Yorkshire. After taking up a similar role in London’s West End, he joined Mercury Records, becoming MD there before moving to EMI.

His career has seen him work with artists including Queen, Taylor Swift, The Killers and The Stone Roses, but launching EMI North, he says, is “arguably the most exciting, terrifying and challenging” point to date. “As far as I’m aware, breadth of knowledge and networking by supporting more independent businesses and talent is the only way to grow and develop in an industry that is evolving daily.

"Having such wonderful partners for the launch has enabled us to have the right platform to grow, develop and hopefully become a useful and helpful part of the arts community in Leeds and the surrounding areas. We’re just getting started but exciting times are ahead for us all I hope.”