The music industry, like life, is not quite as simple as it seems. To most people, it’s all about The Singer or The Song, but behind every million seller, every explosion of new music and every sold out stadium tour there’s what’s technically known as ‘the other stuff’.

For ‘other stuff’ read: rehearsal rooms, studios, managers, lawyers, producers, agents, promoters, pluggers, venues… The list is almost endless. Without these building blocks, you can kiss goodbye to your dreams.

Welsh Music Foundation is about this ‘other stuff’. We’re the first port of call for individuals, small businesses and start-ups who need information on running a music enterprise. WMF run regular events – from drop-in surgeries to mentoring sessions, career development training to networking ‘speed dating’ – and utilise our industry contacts and expertise to help develop the music sector in Wales. WMF’s information service provides specialist advice, whilst the WMF directory pulls together over 2000 Welsh music businesses and services in 65 categories.

Swn Festival is tremendously exciting because it brims with all of this ‘other stuff’. For one long weekend, people will be gathering in Cardiff to listen to and discuss music. WMF is proud to support Swn for the fourth year running and here’s to many more.