MUSEXPO Europe Day 1 highlights
Day 1 of the MUSEXPO Europe conference provided an array of informative insightful and animated panel sessions and debates. The opening panel saw Music Week editor Mark Sutherland moderate a panel that featured Virgin EMI president Ted Cockle, label head at Music for Nations Julie Weir, UK Music chief executive Jo Dipple, Sony/ATV UK MD and president of European creative Guy Moot, Controller, BBC Radio 2, 6 Music, Asian Network and director, BBC Music and Ticketmaster UK managing director Andrew Parsons. Each panellist discussed both the biggest challenges an opportunities facing the music industry. BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra controller Ben Cooper then took to the stage to announce that MistaJam will cover Annie Mac’s 7-9pm weekday new music show on Radio 1 when she takes her maternity leave in January 2017, at the MUSEXPO Europe conference in London. He also announced also the launch of 25 hour-long downloadable ‘phone first’ music playlists a week for Radio 1 and 1Xtra, themed around the stations’ mainstream playlist and specialist music programming. Next up was the live panel, which saw several key figures from the international live sector came together to discuss market. Among the topics covered was the rise of boutique festivals, with panelists noting that the need for a different festival experience from that of huge fields and world famous acts is growing at an increasingly rapid rate. The afternoon saw Vevo's Nic Jones discuss Warner, video premieres and YouTube in a keynote interview. Warner Music Group and Vevo announced a new licensing agreement last month, in which videos from Warner artists will be distributed on Vevo-owned and controlled properties, including the Vevo mobile app and Vevo.com. Speaking to Music Week editor Mark Sutherland, Jones said: "We'd been talking to them for five years about wanting to work with them. Maybe we are in a sort of perfect storm where they can see the value of working with Vevo now. The management panel proved the most animated and raucous session of the day, drawing the first day of the conference to a close. Moderated by Music Week editor Mark Sutherland, the Global Manager's Futurecast session brought together JEM Music founder Colin Lester, Disturbing London founder and MD Dumi Oburota, Cato Music founder Glen Rowe, ROAR Group chairman Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE and artist manager Sammy Andrews. The panel discussed what it takes to propel an artist to the masses and looked at how management models continue to evolve. (Music Week)
PPL appoints Lynne McDowell as head of communications
Music licensing firm PPL has appointed former BPI senior executive Lynne McDowell as head of communications, effective October 10. The newly created role will see McDowell take the lead on the implementation of PPL’s communications and marketing strategy, ahead of its joint venture on public performance licensing with PRS in 2017. Reporting into PPL’s operations director Christine Geissmar, McDowell will head up a team with responsibility for the delivery of all communications and marketing activity across the UK. Commenting on the appointment, Geissmar, said: “We are delighted to welcome Lynne. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge and I am sure she will make a significant contribution to PPL”. Speaking about her new role, McDowell added: “I’m delighted to be moving into the driving seat of communications at PPL. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to work alongside an ambitious team at an exciting time for the organisation.”
Max Martin renews US representation deal with ASCAP
One week after Paul McCartney, another prominent European songwriter has renewed his agreement with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Swedish hit maker Max Martin has signed a new deal with the US rights organisation for representation of public performances of his songwriting catalogue. "I love being part of the ASCAP family of songwriters and composers,” said Martin. “As songwriters, we are lucky to have ASCAP on our side, offering support and fighting for our rights.” Since his first US Top 10 single in 1997, Robyn’s Do You Know (What It Takes), Martin has scored 22 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits, making him one of the most successful songwriters of all time. He has won an unprecedented nine ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Awards. This year, he co-penned and co-produced Justin Timberlake’s No.1 hit single Can’t Stop the Feeling! “Max Martin is a generous spirit whose irresistible music keeps winning listeners hearts," commented ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. "We love his music and we admire his broader sense of mission and advocacy for songwriters everywhere.”
The Orchard partners in China with Taihe Music Group
Sony Music-owned music, film and TV distribution company The Orchard has inked an exclusive digital deal with Taihe Music Group (TMG), the largest label group and music service provider in China, that will bring The Orchard’s complete music catalogue to a wide selection of Chinese services. In addition, the deal will have TMG’s local catalogue handled by The Orchard for distribution outside of China. The Orchard first entered the Chinese market in 2014, but this deal now allows the company's catalogue to find wide distribution across China on such platforms as Ali Music, Kugou, Kuwo, NetEase Cloud Music, QQ Music and Baidu Music, the largest Chinese-language music search platform, which TMG owns. “We are very excited for this win-win partnership and foresee it will be a significant milestone for the global digital music industry,” said Qianshimu, CEO of TMG. TMG represents some of the leading C-Pop artists in the country – including Chen Jieyi, Xu Song, Fang Datong and Zhang Shaohan – through top labels Taihe Rye Music and Ocean Butterflies Music as well as Touch Music Publishing. “The Orchard, with its strong global distribution channels and transparent reporting, has been on our radar for several years,” said Michael Tseng, GM of International Digital Music at TMG. “We completely trust them to bring the best C-Pop music to the world outside of China.”
Darcus Beese to be honoured at tonight’s MUSEXPO Europe gala dinner
Island Records president Darcus Beese will be the inaugural recipient of the European Executive of the Year Award at tonight’s MUSEXPO Europe closing gala dinner. The award celebrates the work of an industry executive who has helped set new standards in artistic and commercial achievement across Europe over the past 12 months. So far this year, Island has notched up a stellar array of No.1 hits on the albums chart with artists such as Catfish & The Bottlemen, PJ Harvey and Ariana Grande, plus Drake’s near-record-breaking hold on the UK singles No.1. Commenting on his award success, Beese said: “MUSEXPO European Executive Of The Year… Wow… I don’t know what to say. I’ve been in music and Island Records for pretty much all my adult life and I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. Every day is an honour and a privilege to come in and run this amazing label full of incredible artists and the absolute best staff. It’s always been about the music, the artists and the people in the company and I believe we are the best. So while I am the recipient of this award, it really does belong to everyone at Island, all the artists and all the people who work here because they love music and want to be a part of it. You can still purchase tickets for the dinner at http://musexpo.net/MUSEXPO_EU_2016/registration.php.
