MUSIC INDUSTRY | 07.09.2011
Berlin is 'gateway to Europe' for international music market
The 21st Popkomm music trade fair, a key networking opportunity for labels, distributors and musicians from across Europe, opened Wednesday in Berlin.
After a mid-2000s slump, the event took a break in 2009 but bounced back last year as a highlight of the rebranded Berlin Music Week. This year there are over 400 exhibitors from 21 countries at the three-day event.
Speaking shortly before the opening event, Daniel Barkowski, who has headed the Popkomm team since mid-2009, said that just like the industry it represents, Popkomm is continually changing.
"We always have to re-imagine our concept every year to keep up with a changing market," he said. "This year sees us go back to our roots with a business-to-business approach and the reintroduction of our conference. But we are also exploiting new technologies and business ideas. For example, we have the "Networking_Gate," where we have matchmaking, speed meetings and elevator pitches: that's a chance to meet the right people for your business."
Speaking shortly before the opening event, Daniel Barkowski, who has headed the Popkomm team since mid-2009, said that just like the industry it represents, Popkomm is continually changing.
"We always have to re-imagine our concept every year to keep up with a changing market," he said. "This year sees us go back to our roots with a business-to-business approach and the reintroduction of our conference. But we are also exploiting new technologies and business ideas. For example, we have the "Networking_Gate," where we have matchmaking, speed meetings and elevator pitches: that's a chance to meet the right people for your business."
It's all about networking
In a digital world, CDs and records are increasingly becoming relicsIn his speech at the opening press conference, Raimund Hosch, chief executive officer of Messe Berlin, the city's trade fair organization, singled out the new "Networking_Gate" as a key opportunity for businesses to connect.
"Already some 208 participants have booked more than 700 meetings," he said. "Popkomm is an important event for artists trying to break into the market, and just as the IFA (International Radio Exhibition) uses the slogan 'Get In Touch,' the same can be said of Popkomm since music spans the world."
Music city Berlin
In a digital world, CDs and records are increasingly becoming relicsIn his speech at the opening press conference, Raimund Hosch, chief executive officer of Messe Berlin, the city's trade fair organization, singled out the new "Networking_Gate" as a key opportunity for businesses to connect."Already some 208 participants have booked more than 700 meetings," he said. "Popkomm is an important event for artists trying to break into the market, and just as the IFA (International Radio Exhibition) uses the slogan 'Get In Touch,' the same can be said of Popkomm since music spans the world."
Music city Berlin
Harald Wolf, deputy mayor of Berlin, said the city's music scene was something integral to the success of the Popkomm event.
"Popkomm is as changeable and as vivid as the Berlin music scene itself," he said. "As a mere trade fair, Popkomm felt the pinch in the mid-2000s but nevertheless remained a constant in a changing music scene. When it came back in the heart of Berlin, it did so energized by the creativity of the city. The strength of Berlin is in its ability to change; one could say the same for Popkomm."
"Popkomm is as changeable and as vivid as the Berlin music scene itself," he said. "As a mere trade fair, Popkomm felt the pinch in the mid-2000s but nevertheless remained a constant in a changing music scene. When it came back in the heart of Berlin, it did so energized by the creativity of the city. The strength of Berlin is in its ability to change; one could say the same for Popkomm."
Holger Weiss, CEO of the personalized online radio platform Aupeo!, started his presentation with a short video. Making his way through the company's trendy green and white office on Berlin's Alexander Platz, he aimed to show how international his company is by having members of staff greet the camera in their native language.
"We have 30 employees at Aupeo! now and among them some 12 different nationalities," he explained. "That just goes to show how international Berlin is. But what is also important is that the city is a hub for music and technology to come together. I think we are still in an intermediate stage, but this is definitely going to develop further."
Tempelhof's former departure hall has become a central meeting point for the music industryGrowth in the industry
As far as development is concerned, Hans-Joachim Otto, state secretary to the federal minister for science and technology, said last year Germany saw a 24 percent growth in its music industry thanks to the Internet, and while online music raises some legal issues, solving such problems should not hinder further development.
"Digitalization blurs the boundaries between industries that previously were separate entities," he said. "While issues such as Internet piracy do need discussion, we ought not to forget that new talent needs to be discovered and fostered. Popkomm is a perfect place for that debate; it's a big name and is setting trends far beyond the borders of Berlin."
Popkomm director Daniel BarkowskiEncouraging the debate between the digital and analogue worlds is Daniel Barkowski. It's a big challenge but one which he thinks the fresh "New Popkomm" can handle.
"It has to be discussed. After all, the Internet is not going to just go away," he said. "So you have to either work with it or try to completely ignore it. Everything is changing fast and we need to keep up with that and try to link the digital and the analogue worlds."
Author: Gavin Blackburn
Editor: Rick Fulker
"We have 30 employees at Aupeo! now and among them some 12 different nationalities," he explained. "That just goes to show how international Berlin is. But what is also important is that the city is a hub for music and technology to come together. I think we are still in an intermediate stage, but this is definitely going to develop further."
Tempelhof's former departure hall has become a central meeting point for the music industryGrowth in the industry As far as development is concerned, Hans-Joachim Otto, state secretary to the federal minister for science and technology, said last year Germany saw a 24 percent growth in its music industry thanks to the Internet, and while online music raises some legal issues, solving such problems should not hinder further development.
"Digitalization blurs the boundaries between industries that previously were separate entities," he said. "While issues such as Internet piracy do need discussion, we ought not to forget that new talent needs to be discovered and fostered. Popkomm is a perfect place for that debate; it's a big name and is setting trends far beyond the borders of Berlin."
Popkomm director Daniel BarkowskiEncouraging the debate between the digital and analogue worlds is Daniel Barkowski. It's a big challenge but one which he thinks the fresh "New Popkomm" can handle."It has to be discussed. After all, the Internet is not going to just go away," he said. "So you have to either work with it or try to completely ignore it. Everything is changing fast and we need to keep up with that and try to link the digital and the analogue worlds."
Author: Gavin Blackburn
Editor: Rick Fulker
dw
No comments:
Post a Comment