Rising Star is our monthly column in which we meet the industry’s brightest new talents. Here, we meet Emily Quillin, Digital marketing & social media manager, ERA UK & Record Store Day UK
INTERVIEW: Miranda Bardsley, Luciana Cacciatore
You joined ERA off the back of studying English and drama at Royal Holloway. How did you get your first break in the industry and what inspired you to join the trade body?
“Music has always been fundamental in my life. I graduated during the pandemic and dived into some random jobs trying to ‘find’ myself until I heard HMV was returning to my town. The next thing, I’m senior sales assistant and designated TikTok-maker. I have a lot of memories of HMV in the early noughties – thanks to my dad – so I channelled that nostalgia into it. Then we accidentally went viral; ‘that HMV-TikTok person’ was my street name for a bit! My time at HMV was transformative – a glimpse into an industry I admired and it got me thinking how I could take things to the next level. That was when I stumbled across ERA. I had one of those ‘this is it’ moments, and now, here I am!”
Vinyl Alliance recently revealed that Gen-Z is the key driving force behind vinyl’s current popularity. Why do you think that is?
“The relationship between Gen-Z and vinyl has been discussed by the Record Store Day team for a while. A shift was seen years ago when One Direction released [a live version of Rock Me from their documentary] This Is Us on vinyl for RSD and fans really connected with it. Then there’s the nostalgia factor. Gen-Z sits on the cusp of the digital age and ‘old-school,’ and vinyl offers something different – an active listening experience, not a passive one. It’s also a great way for artists to connect with fans through exclusive releases – of which I have my fair share!”
Was there an overriding trend you noticed during this year’s RSD?
“The one that sticks out to me was where fans of all generations were taking photos together outside their local indie record shops, holding the same releases, united by a shared appreciation. That sense of community spirit is so special. Of all the trends I’ve seen, I hope this one is here to stay.”
You have worked on RSD projects for acts like Oasis, Blur, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and more. Has there been a stand-out one so far?
“I have had some real pinch-me campaigns, but if I had to pick one, the coordination of the RSD list launch for socials is monumental, working across 400 artists, with 300 indie record shops and our social media audience of over 300,000 to consider. I loved creating the festival line-up campaign for the list launch this year. I wanted to push the boat out and it received the most engagement of any list launch in our history. Thousands then went on to make their own posters!”
Do you think we, as an industry, are doing enough to ensure that indie retailers have the support they need?
“We’re seeing more support from labels with indie-focused campaigns: indie exclusives, artists sharing support, hosting in-store events, collaborating with shops on social media, and RSD’s success. But it’s not easy. Indie record shops face similar challenges to those on the high street. It’s why RSD is so important; it unites indie retailers, labels, fans, and it’s a testimony to the power of community.”
