The Team Around You Launches — Connecting Artists with Vetted Music Industry Experts

Platform founded by highly regarded executive, Phil Loutsis, who has more than 15 years music industry experience

The Team Around You, a platform connecting artists with vetted music industry experts on a consulting basis, has today confirmed its full launch on November 1 following a successful UK beta.

Since its August soft launch, the platform has attracted over 200 artist sign-ups, facilitated 30+ expert consultation sessions, and built a community of hundreds of subscribers to The Team Around You's industry insights newsletter. Early feedback has been unanimously positive, with artists praising the accessibility and quality of expertise available through the platform.

Founded by respected music industry veteran Phil Loutsis, the new platform is set to transform the way independent artists access professional support. Artists can connect directly with a carefully curated roster of vetted music industry experts, booking one-to-one sessions that deliver practical, actionable, and career-defining advice.

Unlike traditional models, The Team Around You platform allows artists to work with multiple consultants on a flexible, session-by-session basis, ensuring tailored support that adapts to their individual needs, empowering them with the tools, insights, and connections they need to thrive in today’s competitive music landscape.

The Team Around You’s roster of 35+ experts includes:

– Beth Cherry (artist development expert and editorial strategy specialist who has secured dozens of Spotify and Apple Music playlist placements)

– Diane Wagg (renowned manager and press/radio plugging expert with years of major label experience)

– Steve Budd (festival creator, long-term collaborator with Damon Albarn and manager of Gang of Four)

– Helena Antoniades (campaign strategist with major label experience, who has run successful campaigns for Rizzle Kicks, including recent TikTok breakthroughs)

With over 15 years of experience, The Team Around You founder, Loutsis, most recently served as VP, Artist Support at Sony-owned distributor/label AWAL. Having first joined AWAL in 2011, Loutsis oversaw the artist support teams that supported and developed a global roster of more than 20,000 artists alongside driving growth in the business.

“I've seen firsthand what the drought in meaningful, bespoke support for exciting early-stage artists is doing to the industry. Platforms are increasingly ignoring artists until they have already built a substantial audience on their own,” says Phil Loutsis (Founder, The Team Around You). “The cultural landscape can be richer and fairer — a little one-to-one support can go a long way. You don't need to be in London, you don't need to be rich, you don't need to be connected. Search by skill, put it on your calendar, pay for the session.”

An early mover in building a dedicated marketplace for music industry expertise, The Team Around You operates with a transparent commission model (15% platform fee / 85% expert payout) and offers unparalleled access to industry consultancy. Every expert on the platform is vetted and has a proven track record — from major label backgrounds to charting success and internationally recognised projects, ensuring that artists are not just buying generic support but gaining direct access to some of the industry’s most trusted professionals.

Steve Budd (Music Industry Veteran & Festival Founder) said:
“Now support for artists is pretty much just apps until you've established a significant audience. A platform like The Team Around You that gives developing artists access to bespoke support from experienced experts is a game changer.”

With more than seven million artists self-releasing in 2023 and independent music accounting for over 40% of the global market, The Team Around You is uniquely positioned to offer flexible and actionable support tools and advice for the growing needs of independent artists, while providing a simple, centralised route to industry experts to reach creatives.

“Having a proper chat with someone experienced was super valuable since I was unsure of my next steps and got bespoke advice on how to get moving,” said Independent artist Dean Frost. “Talking through where I’m at right now and where I want to get to in my career was reassuring and gave me a clearer sense of direction.”