From Ebbw Vale to Oasis – Marcus Russell inspires music learners at Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone

Students at Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone were given an exclusive insight into the music industry as Marcus Russell, long-time manager of Oasis, returned to his roots to speak with aspiring musicians.

Growing up in Ebbw Vale, Marcus first showed signs of his future career when he set up a local music club after noticing major bands were skipping the area. Determined to change that, he successfully persuaded the local council to fund the venue and allow him to run it – quickly turning it into a sell-out success every Friday night.

Before entering the music industry, Marcus worked locally in the steelworks near Festival Park and later became a teacher. It wasn’t until his 30s that he took his first step into artist management, working with the band, Latin Quarter. Realising his passion for the role, he made the bold decision to leave teaching and pursue music full-time.

Since managing Oasis from their early days in 1993, Marcus has gone on to establish his own management and record company, working with major artists including Stereophonics and Johnny Marr from ‘The Smiths’.

During the session, learners asked a wide range of questions – from what inspired his career, to how the industry has evolved, how artists get noticed today, and the most common mistakes made by new managers and performers. Marcus also reflected on key moments in his career, including working with Johnny Marr, which he described as one of his biggest breaks.

Highlighting just how much the industry has changed, Marcus shared that when he first started, around 60 to 100 new songs were released each week – compared to an estimated 120,000 songs now uploaded every single day!

The talk provided an honest, eye-opening look at the realities of the music industry, leaving students feeling inspired and better equipped to pursue their own creative careers.

Lecturer, Dan Richards, said “It has been a fantastic opportunity for our learners to get the time to meet and speak with Marcus on his journey within the music industry, and gain first-hand knowledge on how the industry has developed over time. Marcus was absolutely fantastic, where he provided students with in-depth knowledge about the ‘Do’s’ and ‘Don’ts’ when forming a career in the music industry. He answered questions thoroughly, providing clear advice and insight on how our learners to enhance their skills as future musicians when making a living within the music industry. The masterclass was fantastic, one that I really enjoyed and gained knowledge myself from listening to Marcus’s journey. This is a link that I would like to keep for future students who aim to study music within education.

Learner, Ricky Edwards said “I really enjoyed the chat he had with us he gave excellent advice surrounding the music industry and his experiences within it. He also gave insight into what some of the people he worked with were like, including Johnny Marr from The Smiths, siting he was a lovely guy and listened to all types of music. One of the standout points he made was how he was from Ebbw Vale and got to manage bands like Oasis. This gives me hope that there’s more for me and others alike outside of these Welsh valleys”.

Ready to follow in the footsteps of industry greats? Apply now for music courses at Coleg Gwent and start building your future in the music industry today.