Testimonials

"I want to do it again!"
"I had several epiphanies"
"Really made me think"
"Given me confidence"
"Really enjoyed the material, really well written"
"Enjoyed the teleconference"
"Stimulating lots of ideas"
"I feel awesome about this"
"Has given me great perspective"
"Am now in a positive and empowered state"
"Have gained tremendous clarity in last 2 weeks"
"Business info is empowering artistic endeavours - great balance"
"Bridges the gap between art & business"
"Given me the tools to easily develop my ideas"
"I’ve been raving to everyone about it. Really blown away."
"Breakthrough has been the catalyst for change - information has come at just the right time. Helping to join the dots."
"Was burned out but now reinvigorated"
"Changed lots of things I do - got my mind around stuff I was struggling with"
"Course has been totally incredible, so amazing, awesome"
"Great 4 weeks, got so much out of it, perfect timing"
"Really, really like the concepts"
"The whole model is great - I like the course"
"Thank-you, great work"
"Opened a lot of doors for me especially my understanding and getting the business up to a better standard"
"Helped me create systems for the business"
"I now relate everyday tasks back to things in the course"

 

"It was great to learn procedures for the things I am currently facing in business and to know that I was on the right track with the things I was already familiar with. I will refer back to this material for a long time."

 

"Breakthrough gave a huge boost to my knowledge of music industry business skills. More importantly, it focussed my mind on key elements necessary for success and gave me a greater perspective on the industry."

"It's been such help running ideas by David who put a lot of my thoughts into perspective. Breakthrough gives me an affirmation that I am on the right path to my goals as a musician."

 

 

"In our experience from running the Sound Barriers music industry workshops, the line that separates those that cross from being aspirants to commercial professionals in the music industry revolves primarily about alleviating the ‘fear’ and hesitancy in fusing business skills with passionate artistic drive. Anything that helps aspiring industry professionals cross this line would have an effect on the ‘biodiversity’ of the industry in Australia.

 

"It is clear through GD Worldwide’s day-to-day interaction with the independent music industry that this need is not currently being met with many businesses run by these entrepreneurs failing to survive. Everyone would be wealthier if this ‘pointless’ negative cycle could be broken. In our position there is a clear need to make artists and indeed, all small businesses in the music industry more robust and thus more likely to endure."

 

"I have observed over the years that the music industry and the broader entertainment industry, although very attractive to younger entrepreneurs, is fraught with traps for the unwary, many of which could be avoided with basic business skills training. There is a crying need for assistance to small businesses in the music industry, thus this application is extremely timely. Teaching industry participants to take a more professional/business approach will yield significant direct and indirect dividends to the industry as well as the broader economy."

 

"Young capable people have always been attracted to the music industry because it looks to offer a fabulous mix of creative and commercial opportunities.  When you add to this the excitement generated from relatively recent technology changes which have revolutionised every aspect of the industry – from recording and digital formats…. to sales, marketing and distribution – then it is easy to see why so many young people are drawn to it.

 

There are many commercial and emotional hurdles & pitfalls that come with the territory, though, and a program which teaches the appropriate practical & commercial skills & disciplines to overcome these is both timely and should be encouraged. Furthermore, teaching industry participants to take a more professional/business approach will – I have no doubt - deliver benefits not just to the music industry, but to the broader economy.

Given the program’s unique approach & specific focus, there it should follow that demand for places would be keenly sought after."

 

"Through my experience of working in the music industry, there is a clear need to make artists and indeed, all small businesses created by young entrepreneurs in the music industry more robust and thus more likely to endure. In addition, as both a young person and a director of a small music business company, I have found working with David Solomon at the Upstart Academy to be enormously beneficial in gaining the necessary skills in developing our own unique business infrastructure."

 

"Although there are a plethora of great ideas espoused; many do not get off the ground because the people involved lack basic business skills and the ability to apply professional processes. We are unaware of any other such programme that is tailored specifically for the needs of the industry."

 

"As an independent music publicist I see many examples of poor business management within the industry. It is clear that the need is not currently being met with many businesses run by these entrepreneurs failing to survive. There is a clear need to make artists and indeed, all small businesses in the music industry more robust."