Today we’d like to introduce you to Laury Verdoux
Hi Laury, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always knew I wanted to work in the music industry since I was a teenager, I just wasn’t sure what job I wanted to do. I absolutely loved going to concerts, so I thought it would be nice to be involved in that field. I went to university to study Cultural Management with an emphasis on Music and Events. So after my studies, I started working in music booking, which even led me to work for Elton John’s French tour back in 2019. Fast forward to now and after working abroad for a couple of years, I founded Moonlight PR – a PR agency helping artists of all genres get their music heard.
Now I thrive by helping artists with their promotion, with a small focus on being a bridge between Asia and the Western world. Having worked in South Korea, it was only natural for me to turn towards helping Korean artists with their promotion outside of Korea. This applies to Europe, the USA, and Latin America, and encompasses both music releases and tours. I was the first foreigner to be hired directly by Korean labels to work on their PR outside of Korea, specifically focusing on PR and not on marketing or the business side of things. This is a proud achievement for me, especially as someone who had no prior contacts in the music industry and came from the French countryside.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It wasn’t a smooth start for me, to say the least. As mentioned earlier, I always aspired to work in the music industry, so I earned both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree accordingly. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any connections in the industry in my country, and initially, I was only offered unpaid internships or some form of training – which is acceptable for a few months but not for years. I held numerous unstable positions, especially with venues. Surprisingly, things took off when I went to Korea in 2020 to study music production + do an internship for a label there. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to pursue my dream job in PR, even though I knew nothing about PR a few years ago. I find it ironic that I had to go to Korea to then break into the music industry in France and beyond.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Moonlight PR?
Moonlight PR is a music PR boutique that I founded to help artists of all genres get their music heard. We are dedicated to breaking down barriers for artists, especially those just starting out in the music industry. Through our pool of contacts and extensive research, we work to secure coverage for artists and, more importantly, target the specific outlets the artist wants to reach. With our extensive experience working on a variety of campaigns in Europe, Asia, LATAM and the USA, we are able to collaborate with artists internationally and offer comprehensive press, radio, and playlist services.
What sets Moonlight PR apart is the fact that we offer 360-degree campaigns to artists across different countries. Typically, artists would hire a PR agency specializing in one country, but with Moonlight PR, they can work with a single agency that handles their international promotion. It’s a great way to open more doors (both for the artists and Moonlight PR) and I love the international aspect of my work.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Since COVID-19, my notion of staying in one place has changed and I like that. Before the pandemic, I had to be physically present where my clients were, which limited my client pool. With COVID-19, artists and labels realized that the job of a publicist can be done remotely. While living in Korea during the pandemic, I began working with clients in the USA, Europe, and the rest of Asia. This was a significant boost, allowing me to expand my company as I acquired more clients through online interactions. I’m pleased that this mindset has persisted even after the pandemic, although in France, some artists and labels still prefer to work with professionals in the same city. Now, I can be in any city I want and still work effectively. I work with various artists from different countries, which allows me to travel to attend their gigs or for interview opportunities. It’s the perfect excuse to travel.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://moonlightprmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonlight_pr_/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/lr_musique/
Image Credits
MIN’s photos: Lauren Nakao Winn