Urban Development has announced its Industry Takeover line-up for The Great Escape 2017.
Founded 16 years ago, the company, which encompasses talent development, education and charity, will stage The Industry Takeover Showcase at The Queens Hotel on Friday, May 19. The festival runs across various Brighton venues from May 18-20.
The line-up includes Urban Development-supported acts Paigey Cakey, Tizzy & Brandz and The Masks, as well as Kojey Radical and Folly Rae.
Urban Development has also partnered with Universal Music to host a special edition Industry Takeover Seminar at The Old Courtroom, which will be chaired by Music Week. The seminar aims to analyse the business behind urban music and what the future holds for young music industry professionals, independent and emerging artists.
Urban Development and Universal Music have assembled a panel of music industry experts Alex Boateng (head of urban, Island Records), Tasha Demi (product manager, Polydor Records), Zeon Richards (director, Renowned) and Joss Meek (head of digital, Wired PR). They will explore how to grow the British urban music scene and what the role of major labels and label services should be for urban artists, looking at some recent partnerships, joint ventures and deals between independent talent and major labels.
The showcase will be open to Delegate Ticket, Festival Ticket and Day Ticket holders, while the seminar will only be available to Delegate Ticket holders.
Pamela McCormick, founder and director of Urban Development said: ”It’s incredibly exciting to announce Urban Development’s line-up for The Great Escape this year, showcasing Paigey Cakey, who we co-manage, as well as The Masks and Tizzy & Brandz – all three of whom we have supported with Accelerator deals. We are delighted to bring our Industry Takeover strand to The Great Escape, also our partnership with Universal Music is part of a long-standing relationship with a mutual goal in growing a sector that is brimming with talent. It is all part of our purpose to develop, champion and educate diverse, young musical talent from the British urban music scene. With more innovative talent development activity being announced later this year, this is all part of our continuing commitment to build a centre of excellence for UK urban music, while playing an integral role within the music industry as a whole.”
Alex Boateng added: “As a friend of Urban Development, it’s a huge privilege to be part of the Industry Takeover Seminar panel at The Great Escape. Urban Development nominated me and supported my application to the BBC Urban Music Bursary when I graduated from university, and I worked for the organisation for a short time thereafter, I am also a trustee of the Urban Development Foundation charity. This seminar panel was created following Island's announcement to establish an urban division, both Island and Urban Development want to grow the UK urban music scene, so it was perfect to team up with Urban Development to put this together.”
Paigey Cakey said: “Urban Development have been there to support and look after my career as I develop and grow as an artist. It’s amazing to have an organisation that does such great work and is so influential in the music industry in my corner. I can’t wait to join Urban Development at The Great Escape this year.”
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