Today we’d like to introduce you to Mala Sharma.
Hi Mala, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
For over 30 years, I’ve had a backstage pass to the music industry and have seen it change drastically. I started out in music while I was in college in Athens, GA when it was the epicenter of indie music. I was fortunate enough to work with some incredible bands doing tour press for an independent label as well as managing the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies. I realized that not only was my work behind the scenes impactful but extremely rewarding to me. I also realized that relationships are the most valuable asset in your career. The Mudd Puppies booking agent was Marc Geiger, who went on to co-found Lollapalooza. That relationship led me to Los Angeles to work directly with Rick Rubin. From Athens indie rock scene to Los Angeles hard rock scene was quite amazing. The first album I worked on was Mick Jagger from there, it was everything from Red Hot Chili Peppers to ACDC.
For me, working on Johnny Cash’s comeback albums and Wildflowers with Tom Petty were not only career high points but I still pinch myself. That relationship led to my next role heading up a Sony Distributed label, Fifty-Seven Records and working with another Grammy award-winning producer, Brendan O’Brien. So from LA to New York and back to Atlanta, working with some incredible musicians like David Ryan Harris. The industry began shifting away from artist development toward streaming. I found that rather than fight the tide, I would go back to what I enjoyed. Helping artists but this time advocating for them. Michele Caplinger, Sr. Executive The Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter and Tammy Hurt, Chair of Board of Trustees along with Simon Horrocks, Gold Diggers Studio and I started Georgia Music Partners to do just that.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Georgia Music Partners formed to address the talent drain in Georgia. Georgia’s music industry contributes nearly $5 billion in economic impact for the state and there are nearly 100,000 Georgians that earn money through some aspect of the industry. More than half of these are gig workers that supplement their creative work with other businesses. For an incredibly rich and diverse industry, we are undervalued as one of the state’s biggest exports. GMP is working with city and state leaders to not only recognize but to elevate opportunities and investment for music. States such as Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Tennessee are doing just this. We are advocating for a dedicated statewide music office to promote our success stories, attract business opportunities and investments and help with workforce development of the thousands of music business graduates that are coming out of KSU, UGA etc…
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As I mentioned, music industry professionals wear many hats. As the epitome of innovative entrepreneurial small business, I am no different. I started my own business, Sound Advice & Consulting, an entertainment business strategy and research firm. Some of my clients include Wabi Sabi Sound, Avatar Events Group, Dekalb Entertainment Commission. I serve on a number of boards from Napster’s Artists Advisory Board, Backstage Pass Inc to the Atlanta Music Festival Commitee.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Well the harder you work, the luckier you get. But, I certainly feel like I hit the career lottery in working with some incredible artists and producers. Even more so, working alongside these immensely prolific and talented people that put incredible faith and trust in me and our partnership. Career advice, mentorship and leadership lessons came from not only Rick Rubin and Brendan O’Brien but also artists managers, musicians, city and state leaders. In doing so, they challenged me, lifted me and allowed me the room to learn from mistakes. I don’t take any of that for granted and at this point in my “lucky” career, I want to provide the same luck/opportunities for those coming behind me, especially women. The music industry is still overwhelmingly a male-dominated business from music business educators, producers and engineers to artists and managers. There are some incredible female music business leaders in Atlanta. It is wonderful to see that we are working to open doors for women, help them network and mentor them along their career journey so that their hardwork can lead to luck.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.georgiamusicpartners.org
- Instagram: @gamusicpartners
- Facebook: @gamusicpartners
Image Credits
Picture 1 CatMax Photography
