Case study · 2021 to 2023
Industry Access: opening the studio doors.
Industry Access is the live interview and masterclass series Ron Haryanto created, named and hosted in 2021, while he was General Manager of Studios 301 and CEO of Abbey Road Institute Sydney. Each session put a working producer or engineer in a room at Studios 301 with students and emerging creatives, with Ron interviewing them about how the industry actually works. It grew into the first Industry Access Music Conference in 2023, and later into The Mentor Academy.
- Created and hosted by
- Ron Haryanto
- Where
- Studios 301 and Abbey Road Institute Sydney, Alexandria
- When
- 2021 to 2023
- Format
- Interview, live studio walk-through, audience Q&A
The challenge
Abbey Road Institute was coming to Sydney, but the campus did not exist yet. How do you build education initiatives without a school or students? How do you show that studying inside a working studio means access to the actual music industry? And how do you prove you are who you say you are, without repeating the same education taglines every school uses?
The idea
Stop telling people what industry access is and show them. Ron created and named Industry Access as the lever: put the producers and engineers who work at Studios 301 in a room with the people who want in, and let the community and relationships speak for the school before it opened. Abbey Road Institute called it an initiative to open studio doors and professional opportunities.
The format
An up-close sit-down in the studio, not a lecture. The guest’s pathway into the industry, their creative process and career lessons, a real-time walk-through of work in progress, then an open audience Q&A.
The sessions
“The Industry Access Initiative is a series of sessions, workshops and masterclasses aimed at giving you direct access to key members of the Abbey Road Institute & Studios 301 community. Featuring some of Australia’s best engineers, producers, music makers, artists and key industry people, the initiative aims at highlighting and showcasing the people who make up our community and the greater Australian Music Industry.”
The original brief, as written by Ron for the Studios 301 and Abbey Road Institute event pages, 2021
Willstah + i.amsolo
An intimate sit-down at Studios 301 with Grammy-nominated producer Willstah (Ariana Grande, DJ Mustard, Ella Mai, Clinton Sparks, Savage) and i.amsolo (OneFour, Justice Crew), talking through recent productions, how they navigated the music industry and their approach to writing and producing records, with a real-time demonstration of a work in progress.
- Their pathway into the industry and their creative process
- Collaborating with international artists
- The current state of hip hop production in Australia
- What makes a producer professional
- Their journey from performing artist to music producer
Simon Cohen
A relaxed conversation with Grammy-nominated, ARIA-winning vocal producer and mix engineer Simon Cohen (Justin Bieber, Masked Wolf, Lizzo, Thelma Plum, Genesis Owusu, Jessica Mauboy), taking the audience through his approach to vocal production, mixing and working with some of the world’s biggest recording artists.
- His origin story
- Knowing your strengths and weaknesses
- Finding your signature sound, the reason people hire you
- The importance of finishing your work
- His mixing process and building an efficient workflow
Steve Spacek
An up close and personal sit-down with South London vocalist, producer and artist Steve Spacek (Mos Def, Thundercat, Leon Ware, J Dilla, Africa Hitech), a former global lecturer for Red Bull Music Academy, on his career, his approach to making music and collaborating, and finishing projects on iOS before bringing them back into traditional methods.
- Growing up in South London and the music scene
- Connecting iOS apps with Logic
- Performing as a multi-instrumentalist and music technologist
- Navigating collaborations with other creatives
Adrian Breakspear
Abbey Road Institute and Studios 301 presented Industry Access Sessions with Grammy-nominated engineer and producer Adrian Breakspear, who also guest lectured at the Sydney campus.
Amara Primero
Industry Access: how do you get your music to the screen? With composer Amara Primero, founder and CEO of Primerchord Production Music, on composing, producing and getting music placed in film, TV and advertising.
Paul Brandoli + Karen Hamilton
Industry Access with Studios 301 songwriter and topliner Paul Brandoli and publishing veteran Karen Hamilton (120 Publishing / TMRW Music), diving into the world of songwriting, producing and toplining in today’s industry.
The Industry Access Music Conference
Two days at Studios 301, and the first conference of its kind under the Industry Access banner.
On the poster
“We all love music; that’s why we are here.”
Willstah, guest speaker at the first Industry Access session (Abbey Road Institute, 2021)
“You now have an education facility that’s based out of and collaborating directly with a commercial recording facility. So it’d be like studying to be a chef at a five-star Michelin restaurant.”
Ron Haryanto, General Manager of Studios 301 and CEO, Abbey Road Institute Sydney (2021)
What it led to
Industry Access became the front door to Abbey Road Institute Sydney and grew into the first Industry Access Music Conference in February 2023. The same idea, direct access to the people doing the work, is the foundation of The Mentor Academy, which Ron co-founded.
Read the conference case studyQuestions people ask
- Who produced the Industry Access Music Conference?Ron Haryanto produced the 2023 Industry Access Music Conference and co-programmed it with Australian Music Week and the Abbey Road Institute team.
- Who created Industry Access?Ron Haryanto created, named and hosted Industry Access in 2021, as General Manager of Studios 301 and CEO of Abbey Road Institute Sydney.
- Who appeared on Industry Access?Guests included Willstah and i.amsolo, Simon Cohen, Steve Spacek, Adrian Breakspear, Amara Primero and Paul Brandoli with Karen Hamilton. The 2023 conference featured keynotes from Peter Noble OAM and L-FRESH the Lion.
- Can Ron create a series like this for us?Yes. Ron designs, curates and hosts interview series, panels and fireside chats for schools, studios, brands and industry bodies.
On the record
- Abbey Road Institute: Get Music Industry Access (August 2021)
- Abbey Road Institute: Meet our team, Ron Haryanto (April 2021)
- Studios 301: Industry Access Sessions feat. Steve Spacek (2021)
- Abbey Road Institute: The Role of the Modern Music Producer, with Simon Cohen and Adrian Breakspear (August 2021)
- Abbey Road Institute: Top 5 Tips from Paul Brandoli, on his Industry Access with Karen Hamilton (September 2022)
The newsletter
More Questions Than Answers.
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