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INDIE CITY
LMW98 plays host to the BPI sponsored The Indie City Zone will be on the main trading floor, which is the focal point of the LMW98 exhibition. At least 100 'indie' labels meeting the BPI's criteria will be invited to come and hang out, network and mingle in the funky Lounge / Business Centre. Featuring six private meeting / listening rooms (CD / tape players provided), available for use by on-site arrangement with the BPI reception / enquiry desk, plus a fax, photocopying and message service, Indie City will give small independent UK record companies and distributors a chance to mix with the industry's movers and shakers and meet a host of new business partners. The special subsidised package is £250 (exc vat) for two 3 day passes and full use of the indie lounge facilities. " Our overseas visitors, estimated at over 1,000 this year, are especially keen to meet UK indies and talk deals and opportunities. The BPI have made this possible through their sponsorship which is great, " enthuses Andrew Morris, CEO of the Business Design Centre, who is masterminding the event this year. Fiona Haycock of the BPI devised the initiative at a recent meeting of the LMW Advisory Council and says : "This is a logical extension of the facilities already offered by BPI to record labels at international trade fairs. We hope that Indie City will give British record companies the best chance to make the most of London Music Week." The Conference on Independents Day will focus on indie based issues with a number of key speakers debating the subject of charts, building a fan base and nurturing more long-term artists.
the electrifying international music event LMW98 is expected to attract as many as 6000 delegates. It will combine an extensive week long festival of live music from venues across the city with a innovative trade-only conference and exhibition, held at the Business Design Centre in Islington. Aiming to promote the UK industry as a whole and marry it with other markets and industries, the exhibition will be packed with the very best contemporary music product available for licensing, distribution and retailing. The live music festival is jointly promoted by Radio one, Metropolis Music and LMW. Radio One will kick off their live seven day programme from LMW venues around London with Pete Tong's Essential Mix on Saturday, 25th April. Coverage will continue with two live gigs each night introduced by Steve Lamaqc and will also be featured in Tim Westwood, Mary Anne Hobbs and Jo Whilesy's shows. The acts, which will be of a high calibre, are still to be announced. Carlton TV will be broadcasting an hour long special featuring highlights from the live music festival on 29th April at 10:45 p.m. On the flipside of the live music festival is Undiscovered, the unsigned bands event which takes place in six Islington venues on 28th,29th, and 30th of April. Last year's discoveries included Ultrasound and Lo-Fidelty Allstars. 54 bands who will have been selected by high profile committee including Geoff Ellis (DF Concerts), Stephen Jones (Music Week), Ben Myers (Melody Maker), Clare Pattenden (The Evening Session, Radio 1), Nick Moore (The Barfly Club), Kwame Kwaten (D'Influence) and Bindi Binning (London Music Week) will battle it out to impress the cream of A&R reps from around the globe. Among the companies committed to the LMW conference and exhibition are Sony, BMG, Warner, Virgin and the BPI. Sony Central's exhibition space (taken with a number of its sister companies including Colombia TriStar and Playstation) will provide a place for delegates to network and relax. BMG are sponsoring Retail Day on 30th April and will announce the results of its independent retail survey as well as previewing some of its forthcoming releases in the afternoon. Warner will also be holding a forthcoming releases preview session on 30th April and are taking a hospitality suite. Virgin is sponsoring the lanyards and LMW micro-guide, a booklet which features edited highlights of the event whilst the BPI is sponsoring the Indie City zone and the Independents Day conference on 29th April. Labels meeting the BPI criteria will be invited to visit the Indie City lounge and use its business facilities, which includes a message service and meeting room, at a discount. Conference will take place over a period of three days - International Day on 28th, Independent Day on 29th and Retail Day on 30th April and will attract speakers from around the globe to discuss issues in the business such as the impact of digital technology and convergence of the industry. "We are set to make the second London Music Week a smash hit. If you're in the business of Making music, you need to be there," says Andrew Morris, MD of the Business Design Centre.
the search is on to discover As part of LMW98 which runs from 25th April to 1st May, a panel of industry representatives will be looking to launch new talent on the road to fame and fortune at UNDISCOVERED, an unsigned bands event in Islington on 28th, 29th and 30th April. Amongst the acts dragged from obscurity at LMW97 were Ultrasound (now signed to Nude) and Lo-Fidelity Allstars (who were snapped up by Skint). UNDISCOVERED is only open to unsigned bands and is sponsored by Melody Maker. Those wishing to be considered for a gig should submit their demo tape along with the UNDISCOVERED entry form no later that 27th February 1998. Entry forms can be found in Music Week (issue dated 24th January), Melody Maker (issue dated 31st January) and NME (issue dated 7th February) or can be obtained by post (no personal callers please) from Bindi Binning, London Music Week, Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, London, N1 0QH or by faxing LMW on 0171 288 6446 54 bands will be selected to play at this event and impress A&R reps from around the world by a high profile committee including Geoff Ellis (DFConcerts), Stephen Jones (Music Week), Ben Myers (Melody Maker), Clare Pattenden (The Evening Session, Radio 1), Nick Moore (The Barfly Club), Kwame Kwaten (D'Influence) and Bindi Binning (London Music Week). The final decision will be made in mid-March. "There's a real mixture of musical tastes on the committee and we are looking to showcase everything from indie to pop to R&B and more," says Binning. "The acts chosen will be the ones that we feel will appeal to the A&R community." A CD featuring 19 of the best demos will also be made available to A&R departments courtesy of Sugar Records and can also be found as a cover mounted CD on Melody Maker in April 1998.
JOHN BARRY TO PARTICIPATE Legendary composer JOHN BARRY has confirmed that he will be participating in London Music Week, the international music business convention and live music festival, which runs from 25th April to 1st May. BARRY, best known for scoring the many James Bond themes and considered by many to be the modern master in his field, will be taking part in a conference with GARY FARROW, Vice President of Communications at Sony Music UK, at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London on International Day, Tuesday, 28th April 1998. Entitled "GARY MEETS BARRY", the session will include many topics such as the crucial part music plays with film and an overall view of where both industries are currently at. This will also be the first time the Oscar winning BARRY has taken part in such a seminar in the UK. "GARY MEETS BARRY" will be followed by the screening of "MIDNIGHT COWBOY", featuring the unforgettable Barry score from the movie. "John has been one of the most influential writer/composer's for the last four decades. His influence with cutting edge artists has been immeasurable," says Farrow. |
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