The first line-up of panellists for the Music Futures Conference set to take place at Sage Gateshead (UK) on Thursday 12th November has been announced.
With recent reports suggesting that A&R are too reliant on data, the conference will be asking the question Crisis what Crisis – and MBW will be moderating.
- In the light of massive success of British music in the USA is this really the case?
- Is the record industry spending too much time looking for the big one too quickly and relying on signing artists that already have significant traction?
- Is it becoming all about getting the deal done and spending little time on long term vision with little or no follow up once acts are signed?
Already signed up for the debate are Alison Donald (Co-President of Columbia Music UK), Jim Chancellor (MD, Fiction Records and Joint Managing Director and Head of Music at Caroline International) and Caroline Elleray (Head of A&R, Universal Music Publishing).
Elsewhere, Joe Harland (Head of Visualisation, Radio 1 and 1Xtra) and Simon Cole (CEO of 7 Digital) are lined up alongside panel curator and moderator Chris Price of New Slang Media to discuss ‘The Rebirth of Radio’.
This panel explores the space where broadcast and Internet radio collide. How have listener habits changed? Who are the most exciting players? What is Radio 1 doing to remain relevant to young listeners in the smartphone era? What does it mean for labels and promotion?
In recognition of the increasing influence that streaming is having on consumption and distribution models MusicFutures, will also explore ‘The Future of Retail’ from all aspects including the affect this will have on downloads, physical record stores and of course the vinyl revival.
Already confirmed to take part in this discussion are Kim Bayley (CEO of the Entertainment Retailers Association), Martin Talbot (MD of The Official Charts Company),Melanie Armstrong (Director of Music Category, HMV) and Lee Morrison (General Manager UK, Believe Digital).
Guests are still to be announced for the final key panel theme, ‘Music Publishing in the Digital Age – Are things about to become a lot clearer?’ plus other ‘in conversation’ sessions, insight presentations and roundtable discussions.
Generator CEO, Jim Mawdsley commented, “We aim to make this the must attend conference for the UK MusicIndustry and as such have aimed high to encourage a line-up of senior music industry executives to take part in panels and debated that will look over the horizon on where we are all heading too.
“We are also adding to our strong line up of partners and with HMV, the Musicians’ Union on board as sponsors and Music Week, MusicBusiness Worldwide, Music Ally and Motive Unknown working on the conference content with us, we are really pleased at the response we have so far been shown by everyone we have invited to attend and with much more to come this is definitely proving to be the must attend event of the year.”Music Business Worldwide
