Since launching in Los Angeles some 12 years ago, the annual MUSEXPO conference has established itself as a key date on the industry calendar. Bringing together a comprehensive cross section of industry leaders from around the world, the event has played a pivotal role in bringing the industry’s finest together under one roof to discuss the key factors shaping today’s market.
Already confirmed to participate are UK Music chief exec Jo Dipple, Sony/ATV MD UK and president, European Creative, Guy Moot, Disturbing London manager Damaris Rex-Taylor, BBC Radio 2, 6 Music and Asian Network controller Bob Shennan, Glassnote founder and president Daniel Glass and MPA Group of Companies CEO Jane Dyball, plus a whole host more to boot.
September sees the conference arrive on British shores for its European edition. Appropriately titled MUSEXPO Europe, the 2016 outing takes place at London’s Millennium Hotel from September 18-20, and promises to be one of the year’s most important industry gatherings.
And, while there’s enough on offer to fill this mag twice over, we’ve compiled a handy list of 10 reasons you simply cannot afford to miss the show…
1 The stellar panel line-ups
A raft of informative panel discussions covering the breadth of the music industry will be held during the conference. From live events and streaming to publishing and the role of artist managers in today’s ever-evolving market, each of these sessions will feature industry experts and some of the most influential figures from around the world.
Across MUSEXPO Europe you’ll be able to sit in on all the following panels: The State of the European Sonic Union; The Evolution of the Live Music Business in the Digital Age; Global Manager’s Futurecast - The Unsung Heroes & How They Get it Done; European Radio Summit - Radio’s Evolution in the Age of Digital, Streaming and Beyond; Marketing & Monetisation - Music Communication; European Publishing Forum - The Future of Copyrights; and The Future of A&R Worldwide - Artists & Repertoire, Artists & Relationships and Artists & Revenue.
2 Unparalleled networking opportunities
Where else will you be able to find such a diverse and far-reaching gathering of the industry’s biggest power players under one roof? With executives, managing directors, chairs and CEOs from across the entire spectrum of the global music industry in attendance, the networking opportunities on offer at MUSEXPO Europe are there to be taken advantage of by all.
Whether it’s during the event programme or one of the event’s many social activities, including wine tasting sessions and cocktail receptions (more of which later), attendees will be able to mingle and socialise with their peers in a relaxed environment.
3 European spotlight
Offering a truly global perspective on the very latest developments affecting all areas of the music industry, MUSEXPO will provide a comprehensive overview of what’s going on not just in the UK but also on the continent and in the Asian market, which we’ll come to later.
Kicking off proceedings on Monday morning is global keynote The State of the European Sonic Union, which features a stellar panel comprising of Bob Shennan (controller, BBC Radio 2, 6 Music, Asian Network and director, BBC Music), Guy Moot (president, UK and European Creative, Sony/ATV Music Publishing) and Jo Dipple (chief executive, UK Music).
There will also be a special Nordic spotlight session, exploring the ways in which the territory has become a fertile testing ground for various sectors of the industry.
4 You’ll learn something new about your business
As exemplified by the MUSEXPO Europe panel programme, this year’s event will see a plethora of the world’s most influential figures in music today gather to discuss the most pressing challenges facing the market.
Every participant, panellist and keynote speaker will bring something unique to the table, so whichever area of the industry you work in and no matter how experienced you are in your field, there will be something to learn and take home from those shaping the industry.
5 The interviews
MUSEXPO Europe will feature a number of live, on-stage interviews throughout the event. Among those confirmed to take the hot seat so far is Steve Schnur, worldwide executive and president, EA Music Group.
Schnur oversees the sonic designs for some of the world’s most popular video games as part of EA Games’ gaming franchises. He and his team have consistently broken songs and artists to millions of consumers across the globe.
Also participating in one of MUSEXPO Europe’s keynote interviews are Gabe Turner and Leo Pearlman of Fulwell 73 Productions. The pair have worked on a raft of award-winning projects, spanning music videos, TV, film and commercials.
These include upcoming Usain bolt film I Am Bolt, Class Of 92, Mo Farah: Race Of His Life and Gary Barlow: On Her Majesty’s Service. In February of this year, the company collected the Best Music Video Brit Award for a record-breaking third consecutive year for its work with One Direction.
6 An insight into the future of BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra
Ben Cooper, controller, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, will be providing attendees with an insightful look into how BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra continue to engage with audiences and set the agenda for pop music and, indeed, pop culture in a rapidly evolving industry that is increasingly shaped by the web and social media.
During this session, Cooper will discuss the changing face of radio and how the broadcaster has diversified its ecosystem.
7 Asian spotlight
Entitled Spotlight on Asia: The Creative & Commercial Realities of the World’s Largest Consumer Market, this session will delve into the potentially lucrative Asian market. It will also examine the ways in which western markets can better navigate and engage with the territory via live events, streaming platforms, licensing, sponsorships, brand
experiences and more. Panelists include Amarpal Singh Gaind (head of international operations,
Saregama PLC), Anurag Rao (founder and CEO, Canvas Talent and co-founder and CEO, Farout Media), Ed Peto (managing director, Outdustry), Mark Strippel (head of programmes, BBC Asian Network) and Rob Graham (managing director and CEO, EON Media Group and executive producer, Asia Pop 40).
8 The MUSEXPO European Executive of the Year Award
The MUSEXPO Europe gala dinner on the closing night not only feature’s the aforementioned gala meal, but also the MUSEXPO European Executive of the Year Award presentation, which will recognise the work and achievements of one of the industry’s very finest.
9 The wine tasting
After a long day of panels and interviews, it’s only fair that attendees are sufficiently watered and, indeed, wined. Not only will the post-show wine tasting sessions and cocktail reception offer the chance to unwind, they will provide a relaxed environment to chat with peers and reflect on the issues of the day.
10 It’s in London – no 12-hour flight!
Following its Hollywood outing earlier this year, you only have to make the trip to the capital for the European version, so you’ll save a fair amount on your travel expenses.
