By Mrs Simms (Business and Economics Teacher)

On Thursday 13th March, our A Level Business students had the pleasure of a virtual talk with Bedford High School alumna Emma Banks (1986) about her role as a music agent in the entertainment industry. Our students have been preparing for one of their exam papers, which will focus on the music industry.

A multifaceted businesswoman, Emma is the Co-Head of the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in London and is one of the most successful and respected talent agents in the music business. Her current roster includes Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, Florence + The Machine, Kylie Minogue, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and many others. Emma is also Chair of Nordoff and Robbins, a music therapy charity that helps those living with life-limiting illness, disability and social isolation.

Our students used this opportunity to ask questions about live events and the challenges entrepreneurs face within the industry. They gained insight into the realities of making concerts profitable and the difficulties smaller artists encounter when trying to establish themselves. This will provide valuable context as they prepare for their exams.

Lily-Amber Robertson (Upper Sixth) said, “I thoroughly enjoyed Emma Banks’ talk about the music industry. We learned about artists, the future of music streaming, the importance of merchandise sales, musical entrepreneurs and more. It was great to hear from someone with such in-depth knowledge of the industry, and I feel much more informed ahead of my A Level exam in June.”