With offices and employees spread across the globe, sometimes it takes time to get to know everyone. In our series ‘What The #&@$ Do You Do?!’ (WTFDYD), The Orchard highlights Orchardites from all over the world to learn more about their role at The Orchard and experience working in the music industry.
Metin, tell us about what the *&^# you do!
I am the VP of Turkey at The Orchard. I’ve been managing the company’s Istanbul office since it opened in 2006…in other words, I’m one of the dinosaurs. I am responsible for developing and implementing the business strategy for our market where local content reigns.
My main focus is signing artists and labels so that they can benefit from the outstanding service we provide, as well as ensuring that our services are adapted to meet the needs of the region.
How does your role / department fit into The Orchard?
I help coordinate synergy between our international offices and the Istanbul team in order to provide the best class service to our clients. This requires close collaborations with all divisions across the company; from legal to retail marketing, from the New York office to Berlin.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
What gets me out of bed every morning is seeing how our best-in-class, informative, and transparent service to artists and labels helps not only their work but also the advancement of the entire market and the industry. It is an indescribable pleasure to see the result of this positive resonance we are initiating in the region.
What’s a campaign/project you are proud to have worked on?
It’s a very difficult question, simply because there are so many. But I can say that projects are more satisfying by the day because we are constantly improving and learning with each project.
How did you first get started in the music industry?
I was born into it! My father was the founder of one of the oldest labels in Turkey. I’m very lucky to be the son of a family that besides running a label, established a cassette factory, represented CBS/Columbia (later Sony Music) in Turkey during the 80s, and set up a music retail chain. I’m very happy to carry the half a century legacy of this experience into the industry.
What advice do you have for independent artists / those who want to break into the industry?
The priority is your music, but build good relationships since the capital of this industry is people. Work with people who do their job with love and passion – with people you want to share success with.
What artist have you been listening to on repeat lately?
Not only me, but the whole country is listening to Ezhel, who has released his 15th song, which hit No.1 on the charts, as all of his have for the last four years.
The rest of my list is quite long, but at the top are: Pinhani, Gazapizm, Buray, Patron, Perdenin Ardındakiler, Büyük Ev Ablukada and the queen of Turkish music, Sezen Aksu. I should add Morphia and Gariban, the fresh artists I had the opportunity to listen to before they were released and can’t stop listening to now.
What’s your favorite thing about working at The Orchard?
The culture. The unspoken consensus in this organization. Something we felt on the first day we arrived, learned afterward, and then added to our lives and carried with us. There’s a magical atmosphere that makes you feel a twinkle in your eye, where you are safe and flourishing, unique to the family.
Favorite tradition at The Orchard?
I always enjoy our gatherings, like the European Summit and Global Summit, They leave behind unforgettable memories. However, I would like to give priority to the legendary The Orchard party that we used to hold at MIDEM every year. This event became a tradition that brought together not only the team, but the entire industry. The Orchard team serviced all the preparation, from shopping to branding, opening the wine bottles and cooling them in an ice-filled tub. For more, check out Ben’s post here.
How do you discover new music?
I have no limitations when it comes to discovering new music. From Shazaming a song on the radio to digging through vinyl in a dusty record store, I use all methods, conventional or high-tech. You never know where you’ll come across good music.
What’s something you’ve learned outside of work that helps you to be your best self at work?
One of the many advantages of living in Turkey is that it has a geography where I can always sail. Sailing is a discipline that requires constant learning. Let me answer the question with these three directives on sailing (which I could talk about for hours!):
1. Stay alert.
2. Keep calm if you’re in trouble.
3. Enjoy the journey.
