Music Management & Strategic Services

Providing the business infrastructure, so you can protect your creative atmosphere.

The Notochord Philosophy

When you're building a profile in the music industry, managing the business side can seem daunting and dilute the energy you need for your music. You are often burdened with promotion, complex administration, and the pressure of long-term strategy - when occasionally, you just want it all to seem a whole lot clearer on the next best step.

The core philosophy of Notochord is built on establishing clear boundaries to protect your bandwidth and proactively work towards goals. In biology, the notochord is the essential, flexible rod that provides structural support to an organism before its backbone is fully formed. I act as that foundational support for your career.

We define this partnership through a clear division of labor:

I handle the Infrastructure: High-level strategy, data integrity, grant acquisition, back-catalogue optimisation, and tour routing.
You focus on the Atmosphere: Your creative output, your vulnerability in the room, and your face-to-face connection with your audience.

By providing this professional "backbone," I ensure your creative energy isn't wasted on administrative friction. I am here to help you navigate networking gaps and connect the dots, provide operational scaffolding, and translate what fuels you into practical, data-driven next steps.

Notochord doesn't just manage music; we provide the structural integrity required to move from an emergent artist to a independent, self-sustained professional.

How Notochord Works: Flexible Entry, Rigorous Execution

Tier 1: Strategic Advisory (The Starting Point)

Every partnership begins with a conversation. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your administration, release strategy, or data management, we start with a paid, 90-minute strategy session. I audit your current infrastructure, make sense of your plans, and translate your goals into practical next steps.

90-Minute Strategy Consultation: $150 one-off session.
Recurring Advisory Sessions: $75 per session (55 minutes).
Hourly Operations Support: Standard arts consultancy rates between $65 and $300 per hour depending on the complexity of the task.

Tier 2: Project Sprints (The Execution)

For artists who require structural execution following our advisory sessions, Notochord opens its operational toolkit. Operating as flat-fee or success-based Sprints, I can step in as your structural architect to execute labor-intensive projects. This includes:

Funds Acquisition: End-to-end grant writing and funding strategy.
Audience & Media: Digital marketing system creation, ads management, and targeted radio/new media servicing.
Data Integrity: Back-catalogue optimization and royalty auditing.

Tier 3: The "Incubator" (Full Strategic Partnership)

Notochord limits its core roster to a highly exclusive "Portfolio of Five" artists. For artists who have built momentum through our Project Sprints, we enter an Unincorporated Joint Venture. I provide my label services, rights administration, and high-level CSO strategy for a Net Receipts Split on specific projects. No archaic multi-year contracts, and zero master rights surrendered. I handle the infrastructure; you protect your music.

Goal-Agnostic KPIs: I do not force a one-size-fits-all metric onto your music. If you don't value streaming, we focus on Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) physical sales, direct digital downloads, acquiring 1,000 new email subscribers, or booking high-fidelity live shows in "intentional rooms".
The Financials: I provide my "sweat equity" and label services for a Net Receipts Split (e.g., 80/20 in your favour) on the specific project we are executing. I only take a cut of the profits after our mutually agreed costs are covered.
The Graduation Point: If we hit major, mutually agreed milestones - such as generating $20,000 in a single quarter from live performances - you officially "graduate," triggering a transition into full management.

Behind Notochord

Hi, I'm Nicholas Rodwell. I have a Bachelor of Contemporary Music and extensive experience building independent music projects from the ground up. From composing and performing music through to producing content, managing music departments for major independent radio (4ZZZ), and managing bands and indie record labels (The A&R Dept), I have an intricate knowledge of music’s trajectory through digital and terrestrial mediums.

Supported by a Data Analytics Certification, my expertise lies in back-catalogue optimisation, auditable data sets, and complex rights administration. I have hands-on experience working within the backend of technical distribution platforms such as FUGA (Downtown), Believe, and GYRO. Through this, I deeply understand their quality control requirements, product configurations, and the specific audience data metrics required to unlock their marketing team activations.

Beyond the digital supply chain, I also bring a strong understanding of the live sector. I have close working relationships with established venues such as Oxford Art Factory and their booking partners, CLBR. This allows for strong, practical insights into venue management, booking, and advancing for small-to-medium venues, as well as a clear understanding of the commercial imperatives driving these spaces.

However, I am not just an administrator; I operate as your Chief Strategic Officer (CSO). I blend the flexible, empathetic entry points of a consultant with the rigorous, data-driven execution of a Label Manager to help you scale your career on your own terms.

The "Double Lock" Promise

As a custodian of your intent, I believe in transparent, co-designed business practices. Every major strategic, creative, or financial move we make utilises a "Double-Lock" system: it requires a Values Check from you, and a Business Check from me.

If an algorithm or industry standard doesn't align with your ethics, we pivot the business strategy to honour your intent. You define the goal, you define the timeline, and I will build the business infrastructure to get us there.

Ready to clear the administrative noise and focus on your art? Let's chat about you, your situation, and if, when, and how I can help.

Reach out

Testimonials

Matthew Colin

"Beyond any potential outcome, it is the most buoyant thing to have another person believing in your vision and dialing in the rubix cube around you." - MC

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