Startup

Hi,

You might know me in the Chambers from Kickstart Business Growth—and don’t worry, that’s still very much “alive and kicking.” But today, I’m shifting my focus in the Chambers to my biggest business passion: Stampede Press, a music pr/marketing and education agency.

Why Stampede Press?

When I was a teenager, my bedroom walls were plastered with band posters. I didn’t dream of being a “business strategist”; I just wanted to be on those posters. I wanted to be in a band.

Fast forward a few years, and thanks to the internet evolving in the early 2000s and the means to navigate it, my band Panic Cell actually did it. We toured the world, played to hundreds of thousands of people, and shared stages with the likes of Metallica. We hit number one on Scuzz TV and appeared on Kerrang! Radio 1 and MTV. Even Topshop stores featured us and local press profiled the band on billboards. By any creative standard, we’d “made it.”

But there was a massive reality check waiting for me.

While we achieved everything I’d dreamed of, I was completely underprepared for the sheer amount of work and the “strategy gaps” needed to keep the wheels turning. We were proof that you didn’t need a major label to hit the big stages, but you definitely needed business smarts, professional systems, and a loyal “customer base” of fans to survive and thrive.

That realisation is exactly why Stampede Press and Kickstart exist today.

Passion only gets you so far,  the clarity is what keeps you there. While I am a bit of a “maverick”, at my core is an academic mindset with artistic smarts.

I’ve seen multiple times how data-driven systems can scale a company. I’ve worked with music artists that have a had a bonafide number one album, but historically hardly been paid and are now in a position where they actually make money from their music. 

The same professional “logic” and data driven analytics used in the business world is exactly what’s missing for most musicians and artists today.

I’ve spent the last 14 years bridging that gap. Whether it’s through my time as an educator at WaterBear – The College Of Music and guest speaker at Nottingham Trent Uni, or working with the marketing experts at Indepreneur, I’ve seen what happens when you mix creativity with the right business tools.

How I can help you (or the creatives you know):

I’m here for the creatives who have potentially great ideas but need support with the business strategy and smarts to actually bring them to market.

My Music PR focus is specifically for Rock and Metal bands, but my processes for fanbase growth and merch sales apply to any genre or creative solopreneur. I use the “smart stuff”—like Meta Ads, email automation (Drip.com), and Shopify—to help bands stop “posting and praying” on social media and start building a career that actually pays the bills and scales.

We’re in a weird era where it’s never been easier to make music, but never harder to be heard. I’m here for the creatives who are ready to “roll up their sleeves” and work both hard and smart to turn their noise into a professional, sustainable runway.

Ultimately, I want to see Norfolk talent and venues thrive. I’ve been the guy on the poster and the guy booking the van—I know how hard it is to wear every hat, but I also know how to make it work.

If you’re a creative looking for some strategic clarity, or you just want to talk about the opportunities and challenges you’re facing, let’s grab a coffee:

. Stampede Press: stampedepress.co.uk

. Kickstart Business Growth: kickstartbusinessgrowth.com

Looking forward to catching up.

Best Wishes,

Rob Town (MA)

Founder, Stampede Press / Kickstart Business Growth