5AM Records
Based in Walsall Wood, 5AM Studios was created in 1992 to support local performers. Managed by Michael Grant and Tony Bean, the studio began principally by working with local acts and mastering their demo tapes ready for production - But with the advent of 5AM Records in 2001, the enterprising duo decided to expand their role to include disc production, act management and distribution.
Although most acts are Midlands-based, the marketing and distribution must be concentrated on continental Europe, as Michael explains:
“The UK scene is dominated by pop, so for many of our niche acts we knew from the outset that we would have to attack the club scene in France and Germany, where they are more receptive to the sort of music we produce”.
And that is why they signed up to UK Trade and Investment’s Passport to Export scheme, as Michael goes on to explain:
“For us it’s been really good. Firstly they brought in a mentor who was able to guide us through the commercial issues concerning how best to work in export markets, then they provided some one-to-one language training which helped to refresh and develop my schoolboy French. Now they are supporting us in getting the whole 5am website redeveloped for an international marketplace”.
Since signing up to the scheme in 2003 the company has really developed its export market. Michael puts their success down to the support received from Passport to Export:
“The passport scheme paid for us to attend the MIDEM Trade show in France and that was a great opportunity to make contact with European companies in the music industry, and to learn how the industry works in other countries because it is by no means the same across-the-board. And the French lessons came in handy too, because although most of the business was conducted in English it was nice to be able to chat socially with our new contacts in their own language. It was an important part of building up the relationships”.
5AM Records are now preparing for the imminent launch of their international website and are contemplating more language training leading up to an extended trade visit to France, again subsidised by the Passport Scheme. These are exciting times for a very ambitious and enterprising Midlands Company
 Back to Case Studies
|