This week's Rising Star is Amy Collins, head of TV & visual at Your Army. She looks back on a successful Christine And The Queens campaign and more...
How did you break into the industry?
Although I studied music at A level, my degree was in professional dance practice, so interning was the first step. I can’t recommend it enough – it’s a great way to discover what career path is right for you while actively learning. I was fortunate enough to go straight into a role after an internship working heritage acts at radio and TV. I was also stage-managing with Musicalize, and found myself meeting the right people and took any networking opportunity that I could. It was when I was looking after [R&B artist] Brandy that I met Your Army Director Christian Nockall at BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra. Christian was with Sam Smith, who was a fan of Brandy, so we got chatting. When he told me about the Your Army roster I couldn’t believe it – a home perfect for my taste in music. I kept on his case for a job for six months, and now here we are!
What’s your proudest achievement so far?
I’m really proud of my progression within Your Army. From joining as a radio assistant to opening the TV department and becoming head of it, I feel really proud of what we’ve built and the fantastic artists we now represent, including Christine And The Queens, AJ Tracey, Jade Bird, Diplo, Ms Banks, Major Lazer and Slowthai.
Don’t be afraid to break the rules
Why is good TV coverage important?
Everyone we look after has a strong visual identity. How they are portrayed through music videos, performances, bespoke commissions and interviews needs to be positioned extremely carefully from the beginning. Whether you say yes to everything or not, it’s this early shaping that gains you media champions and fans.
What’s the single best moment of your career to date?
Christine And The Queens’ first album campaign was very special, with my work at TV being instrumental in its success. The Later… With Jools Holland booking I obtained kickstarted the campaign in the UK and led us to an opportunity on The Graham Norton show, then key coverage at Glastonbury. Chaleur Humaine was the biggest independent debut of the year.
How can young people effect change in the music industry?
Don’t be afraid to break rules and challenge conversation. It’s important to continue raising awareness of equality in music, which I would always encourage young people to do whether they are freelance or work for a large organisation. Jamz Supernova and I run a night called Flexx, where we encourage women to support one another. Surround yourself with people that want you to win!
AMY’S RECOMMENDED TRACK: Slowthai – Peace Of Mind
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