The biz's brightest new talents tell their stories. This week it's the turn of Maria Baylay, director, digital commercial strategy at Ingrooves Music Group.
Where did your journey into the industry begin?
“My journey started in 2012 with a successful A&R internship at Universal Music Germany in Berlin, which was followed by an international marketing apprenticeship. To be honest, it was the best thing that could have happened to me, as I learned the ins-and-outs of a major record company and the music business in general – from supply chain, sales strategy and finance, to product management. By the end, I really understood what it takes to release a record. It also grounded me, because I was able to learn how vital every department in a record company is, no matter how small or invisible it may be. Every record release, whether single, EP or album, is the sum of many parts and when the machine works well together, then success for the artist is tangible. I moved to London in 2016 and have been at Ingrooves Music Group (now part of Universal Music) ever since.
What’s your mission statement?
“Success through collective creativity. We can achieve more together than we can on our own.”
The best thing about working in music is...
“I love the challenges the business comes with. In an ever-evolving industry and a market that is now saturated like never before, you really need to stay on top of global trends and developments while differentiating yourself from competitors. I am fortunate to meet a lot of very knowledgeable professionals from different backgrounds that inspire me to become an even greater expert. That, and of course the fact that we get to be part of an artist’s musical journey motivates me daily.”
What tech challenges is the biz facing over the next five years?
“There are several, but a key challenge is the need for an industry-wide approach to amassing metadata. This is an issue that our colleagues in music publishing have been critically conscious of for some time and have been seeking to address in a number of ways (such as the ICE copyright database). The latest initiative is happening over in America through the new Master Licensing Collective created by last year’s Music Modernisation Act. With multiple databases to update across myriad industry departments, this technology will benefit the entire ecosystem.”
What’s your ultimate ambition?
“To keep on being inspired and ultimately inspire others. These seven years have shown me that possibilities are endless if the belief in the music and what we are doing is there.”
MARIA’S RECOMMENDED TRACK:
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