AIM, the BPI and Music Publishers Association are heading to China for a trade mission in the spring.
The UK music industry is partnering with the Department for International Trade (DIT) on the week-long trip from March 31 to April 6, which will allow participating companies to explore commercial opportunities in the world’s second largest economy.
Last year China made the Top 10 in the IFPI’s Global Music Report. The country is increasingly consuming international music and developing its associations with the global industry.
The Beijing mission will act as a catalyst for expansion of the British music industry in China. It will include a programme of education, networking, B2B meetings, conferences, showcases, music company site visits and other music-related activities.
Artists, managers, record labels, publishers, digital distribution companies, and festival bookers - covering all genres of music - are being invited to participate, and the mission organisers will be tailoring certain aspects of the program to suit all delegates.
Paul Pacifico, CEO of AIM, said: “With recorded and online music revenues growing every year, added to the fact that Merlin has signed deals with the three biggest streaming-service owners in the country, China has become one of the most exciting digital music markets in the world. This year’s trade mission will provide incredible opportunities for British businesses to build relationships, gain a greater understanding of this key market and create strategic plans to tap into it. We’re delighted to be taking part alongside our British Music partners.”
This year’s trade mission will provide incredible opportunities for British businesses
Paul Pacifico
Chris Tams, BPI Director of membership and international, said: “The BPI and its partners organise a number of international trade missions to key music markets each year by way of developing export opportunities for their members and to promote British music around the world. This is the third mission to China we’ve been involved with and we hope to build on the success of last year’s visit.
“With a burgeoning, aspirational population that clearly has a love of all things British, improving respect for copyright and authentic quality products, and the UK needing to forge new international trading relationships, the timing of this visit couldn’t be better. Music has become Britain’s global calling card and we fully intend to use it in this exciting emerging market which has the potential to transform global music consumption.”
Chris Butler, director UK MPA & Chairman ICMP, said: “As music publishers with an increasingly multi-territory view, there is no stronger strategic imperative than that of conceiving and implementing a ‘China strategy’. We welcome the announcement of this trade mission and look forward to taking advantage of the opportunity it represents for our members and their writers.”
Mission registration is £100 + VAT and funding for the mission may be available through DIT.
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