We loved this conversation with Sami and hearing about the work being done to create real infrastructure for emerging artists across Scotland. From artist development and collaborative writing camps to building pathways into publishing and sync, UP2STNDRD is helping reshape what a sustainable music career can look like.
At Rightsbridge, we’re proud to play a role in supporting that mission and contributing to the growing conversation around music education, publishing rights, royalties, and long-term artist development. The more knowledge artists have about how the industry works, the better equipped they are to protect their rights, build sustainable careers, and create opportunities on their own terms.
“The core of what we do is artist development, not just making music, but actually teaching artists how the industry works.”
I’m Sami Omar, founder and creative director of UP2STNDRD . We’re a Glasgow-based production house and platform working with emerging artists across Scotland. We’re essentially trying to build the infrastructure that doesn’t really exist here yet. We run a recording studio, artist development programs, host writing camps which in return creates opportunities for artists via connecting them to commercial opportunities like sync placements in TV, film, and advertising.
The core of what we do is artist development, not just making music, but actually teaching artists how the industry works. Most of the writers and producers we work with are insanely talented but have no idea about publishing, royalties, how to make money beyond streaming. We’re filling that gap. The focus of our writing camps is to encourage collaboration across regions and genres bringing together artists who’d never normally collaborate. This been really effective and key at breaking down the geographic silos in Scotland’s music scene.
What's next for UP2STNDRD?
We’re trying to scale what we’ve built without losing the artist-first approach that’s central to how we operate. Right now, we’re gearing up to launch our International writing camp series held in Toronto / Paris / Scotland, working with a cohort of talented Scottish based artists/producers. The focus is to build on previously established international collaborative networks, and would act as a route to export opportunities out with showcasing.
We’re in talks with Sunny Govan, a nationwide radio station, to potentially launch a bi-weekly show dedicated to Scottish hip-hop and run quarterly writing camps across different cities. The goal is to create a repeatable system in the form of camps that generate sync-ready tracks, radio play that gives artists nationwide exposure, and publishing representation that actually earns them income.
In addition, we are establishing our publishing arm focusing on signing Scottish artists/writers and producers of all genres. This will help UP2STNDRD explore partnerships with larger publishers who can help us scale globally while keeping our artists’ interests protected. Long-term, the vision is to prove that you can build a sustainable music company in Scotland that’s artist-friendly, commercially viable, and doesn’t require moving out of Scotland to succeed.
If you could change one thing about your sector, what would it be?
I’d shift the focus from funding one-off projects to investing in actual infrastructure. Scotland gets a lot of grant funding for showcases, events, festival slots, which is great, but what happens next? There’s no follow-through. Artists get visibility for one night then they’re back to square one.
What we’re missing is the middle layer, the studios, publishers, sync agents, consistent radio platforms that turn talent into sustainable careers. That stuff all lives in London.
We need Scottish companies that can sign artists, develop their catalogues, get them sync placements, and provide ongoing support.
That requires long-term investment, not just six-month project grants.
Finally, education. There’s almost no accessible professional development for artists here.
They don’t know how publishing works, what a split sheet is, how to protect their rights. We end up with incredibly talented people signing terrible deals because they literally don’t know any better. We need industry education embedded into the ecosystem, not just reserved for people who can afford music business courses. That’s how you build a community with culture at its core, that’s well equipped to navigate the industry.
