December 8, 2022 – Martin Atkins, School of Music Instructor and Coordinator of the Music Business program at Millikin University, was inducted as a fellow of In Place Of War by Brian Eno at a ceremony held in London on November 18.
Atkins joined fellow inductees Peter Gabriel (musician, human rights activist and founder of WOMAD Festival), Igor Cavalera (founder of Sepultura and Brazilian activist) and DJ, producer, artist and activist Laima Leyton.
In Place of War is a global organization of partner foundations and artists using creativity in place of conflict as a tool for positive change. Atkins has been a continual advocate for the work of In Place of War, supporting it through workshops and presentations informed by his unique approach to entrepreneurship. He’s also helping develop the conversation around bringing their 100 Agents of Change program to Chicago.
While in the UK, Martin was invited to speak to students at Abbey Road Institute about diversified skill sets and a production mindset, and at Birmingham Institute Of Modern Music regarding his entrepreneurial approaches to touring. In his 43-year career in the music business, he has headlined several events across the country, playing with such bands as Public Image Ltd, Killing Joke, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails and his own supergroup, Pigface, which has been ranked in the top 12 Greatest Supergroups by Revolver Magazine.
Within the last month, Atkins has also been chosen as one of 300 speakers at SXSW 2023 (from a pool of 3,500 submissions), where he will talk about touring smartly and how to survive as an artist during the present age where merchandise sales and DIY scrappiness reigns supreme. Brian Justison, Director of the School of Music at Millikin University, had this to say about Atkins’ career:
“Music Business, like some soft skill areas, is a nebulous concept, but Martin’s decades in the business and his continued relevancy as the industry has undergone monumental changes show that he has the creative mindset to remain on the bleeding edge. Millikin’s students are fortunate to have access to his insights and expertise.
Atkins is advisor to Millikin’s student-run label and music publishing company, First Step Records, which provides hands-on experience in running an independent music label. During the spring of 2023, Atkins will be teaching record label history and operations, touring 101, legal issues in the arts, a senior seminar on topics in the music business and overseeing internships in First Step Records and commercial music.
Additional information about In Place of War can be found on their website at inplaceofwar.net.
More about Martin Atkins’ appearance at SXSW 2023 can be found here.
Information about the School of Music’s music business major can be found by clicking here.
