The Tip Sheet

The Tip Sheet began in the United Kingdom in 1993 as a weekly music-industry publication founded by Jonathan King. Rather than competing with consumer music magazines, it targeted people who could influence the path of a recording: record-company staff, publishers, broadcasters, journalists, promoters and other professionals. Its core proposition was early access to promising artists and songs. The magazine was accompanied by a promotional CD, allowing recipients to hear selected material while reading the publication’s commentary and recommendations. This combination gave The Tip Sheet a role in artist discovery and record promotion. The publication could draw attention to performers before they had achieved broad public recognition, particularly when they were unsigned or otherwise outside the established commercial system. It promoted The Corrs, The Darkness and Eva Cassidy at early stages of their profiles. It also helped publicise songs that later became conspicuous commercial successes, including Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping,” the Cuban Boys’ “Cognoscenti Vs. Intelligentsia” and Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out?”. These examples reflect the brand’s emphasis on identifying material with potential rather than merely reporting established chart performance. King remained founder and managing editor until 2001. After his imprisonment, his brother Andy assumed the editorial position, assisted by Joe Taylor. The leadership change occurred during the publication’s final printed phase. From 1998 through 2001, Phil Kerby, trading as Audio Edit Productions, compiled and mastered The Tip Sheet CD using a SADiE Portable digital audio workstation at the publication’s offices on Chiltern Street in London. This detail indicates that the CD was produced as an integrated part of the service rather than as an incidental supplement. The printed edition and CD insert ended in 2002. The brand did not disappear completely: an online message board continued, carrying forward the discovery and discussion function in a digital environment. The later online activity connected The Tip Sheet to Record of the Day, a related music-promotion service involving Joe Taylor and former employee Paul Scaife. A notable later example came in 2005, when The Tip Sheet’s message board and Record of the Day featured “No Tomorrow” by Orson. The previously unknown band reportedly attracted multiple offers within days. Within weeks, it had secured a publishing agreement with Universal Records reported at an estimated £300,000 and a label agreement with Mercury Records reported at approximately £1 million. The single topped the UK chart, followed by the band’s debut album. The Orson episode demonstrates how the brand’s online successor and associated discovery network could connect early exposure with rapid commercial development. The Tip Sheet is therefore best regarded as a specialist music-trade brand that operated across several formats: weekly print, promotional audio compilation and online discussion. Its printed run was relatively short, but its documented artist recommendations and later digital continuation place it within the history of UK music-industry discovery services that preceded and anticipated modern online promotion platforms.

• 2005

  Orson receives early exposure through the online service

  [1]The Tip Sheeten.wikipedia.org

  The Tip Sheet message board and Record of the Day feature Orson’s “No Tomorrow,” followed by rapid industry interest and later UK chart success.

• 2002

  Printed edition ends

  [1]The Tip Sheeten.wikipedia.org

  The magazine and its promotional CD cease publication, although the online message board continues.

• 2001

  Andy King takes over editorial management

  [1]The Tip Sheeten.wikipedia.org

  Following Jonathan King’s imprisonment, his brother Andy becomes managing editor with assistance from Joe Taylor.

• 1998

  Dedicated CD production begins under Phil Kerby

  [1]The Tip Sheeten.wikipedia.org

  Phil Kerby, trading as Audio Edit Productions, begins compiling and mastering the Tip Sheet CD at the publication’s London offices using a SADiE Portable digital audio workstation.

• 1993

  The Tip Sheet is founded

  [1]The Tip Sheeten.wikipedia.org

  Jonathan King establishes The Tip Sheet as a weekly UK music-industry magazine and promotional music service.

A specialist UK music-industry discovery and promotion service focused on circulating emerging artists and recordings to professional insiders before mainstream recognition.

• Music-industry publication · 1993

  The Tip Sheet weekly magazine

  The original weekly publication was aimed at UK music-business insiders rather than a general consumer audience. It combined editorial coverage, recommendations and promotional information intended to help professionals identify artists and recordings before they reached broad public attention. Its specialist readership and early-discovery focus positioned it between a trade newsletter and an industry-facing music magazine.

• Music compilation and promotional media · 1993

  The Tip Sheet promotional CD

  The CD insert provided audio access to selected recordings promoted through the weekly service. From 1998 to 2001, Phil Kerby of Audio Edit Productions compiled and mastered the discs using a SADiE Portable digital audio workstation at The Tip Sheet’s London offices. The format gave industry recipients a practical way to assess new tracks alongside the publication’s editorial recommendations.

• Online music-discovery service · 2002

  The Tip Sheet message board

  After the printed magazine and CD ended, an online message board continued the brand’s role in circulating and discussing emerging music. It later became associated with the exposure of Orson’s “No Tomorrow” in 2005 and represented the digital continuation of The Tip Sheet’s industry-discovery model.

• 2005Orson “No Tomorrow” discovery push

  United Kingdom

  The Tip Sheet message board and Record of the Day featured “No Tomorrow” by the then-unknown band Orson, bringing the track to the attention of music-industry professionals.

  Outcome. Orson reportedly received several offers within days, signed publishing and label agreements within weeks, and later achieved UK number-one results for the single and debut album.

  Source
• Emerging-artist promotion

  United Kingdom

  The Tip Sheet regularly promoted artists who were unsigned or not yet widely known, including The Corrs, The Darkness and Eva Cassidy. Its editorial and CD-based exposure was aimed at music professionals able to support recording, broadcasting and commercial development.

  Outcome. The activity contributed to the publication’s reputation as an early-discovery platform, although specific causal outcomes for individual artists are not documented in the cited material.

  Source

• 2005

  Online feature for Orson’s “No Tomorrow”Product launch

  Background

  The Tip Sheet message board and Record of the Day encountered “No Tomorrow” while Orson was still unknown.

  Action taken

  The track was featured through the online music-discovery network, giving it early exposure among industry professionals.

  Aftermath

  The band reportedly received multiple offers within days, followed by a publishing deal with Universal Records and a label deal with Mercury Records. The single and first album subsequently topped the UK chart.

  Reported estimated value of publishing and label agreements. Approximately £300,000 publishing agreement and approximately £1 million label agreement (2005)

  Source

• 2002

  End the printed magazine and CD formatStrategy

  Background

  The Tip Sheet’s print publication and promotional CD were discontinued after operating as a weekly industry service from 1993.

  Action taken

  The brand stopped printing while retaining an online message board, shifting its discovery and discussion activity to the internet.

  Aftermath

  The online presence continued and later supported exposure for Orson’s “No Tomorrow” in 2005. No further operating details are documented in the cited source.

  Source

1. 1The Tip Sheeten.wikipedia.org