Finding the Future 2015

In 2015 City Showcase ‘Finding The Future’ was again held at the Apple Store but this time in the new store in Covent Garden, London reinforcing the Apple brand at the heart of UK music, introducing the new Apple store in Covent Garden and extending the opportunities for songwriters and artists both new and emerging.

Dates: Wednesday 18th November – Friday 20th November 2015
Venue: Apple Store, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8HA

Programme below the images

CITY SHOWCASE: FINDING THE FUTURE 2015

Listings as published

OVERVIEW
Dates: Wednesday 18th November – Friday 20th November 2015
Times: 1:30pm – 7.30pm
Venue: Apple Store, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8HA

DAY 1 – Wednesday 18th November 2015

1.30pm – 2pm
KEY NOTE
UK Music Presentation/ Key Note re Skills Academy – Speaker/presentation from Jo Dipple (CEO – UK Music)

2pm – 3.30pm
CAREERS PANEL: Apps, Widgets & Online Content: A Career in Digital & New Media
MODERATOR Adam Cardew (Digital Director – Absolute Marketing)
PANEL
Nadia Themistocleous (Head of Digital – Record Label @ Global Entertainment)
Kameil Sattar (Proper Music Distribution – Head of Digital)
DESCRIPTION: Q&A with industry panellists who will be discussing career prospects, career progression and the types of roles available, from web programmers and designers to social media managers. Hear perspectives on the importance of having a digital presence and the difference in responsibilities between large and small companies.
* How has this role developed over the years?
* Education – do you need a degree? What kind?
* How are developments in technology affecting/benefiting this role?
* Salary expectations.
* Where do you start?

4pm – 5.30pm
Music Industry 2.0: Reaching The Modern Consumer and Achieving Success In The Digital Age
MODERATOR Liz Stokes (Editor – Record of the Day)
PANEL
Leanne Sharman (Disciple Media)
Gideon Mountford (Head of Video/International Business Development Manager – Believe Digital)
Mark Meharry (Music Glue)
DESCRIPTION: Technology has made producing music cheaper and more accessible than ever through various devices, the fact that music is now mostly digital means that entrepreneurs of all kinds are the new ‘gatekeepers’ and can freely re-invent the way music is experienced. Panellists will discuss the processes and potential pitfalls of experimentation and development of emerging music discovery platforms, whilst providing useful insight and expertise to help you achieve success in a technologically democratic market.
* What are the benefits?
* What are the pitfalls?
* What level of commitment is required?
* Helpful resources.

5:45pm – 6:45pm
Hacking The International Music Market
Q&A
Alison Wenham (AIM) interviewing Daniel Miller (Founder – Mute Records)
DESCRIPTION: Candid insights from Daniel Miller of Mute Records who will be addressing everything you need to know about exporting your music and marketing your projects in territories outside of the UK. You may be well on your way to breaking the UK and may have had some success with your releases, but are now eyeing territories abroad to develop your business and expand your reach. This session discusses how to make the most out of the opportunities available and how they can benefit you and your business, including Q&A with Daniel Miller of Mute Records.
* Funding support?
* Partnerships?
* Trade body or Government support?
* What other support is available?

7pm – 7.30pm
MEET THE FUTURE: Live Performance and Q&A – Flora Ward from PRSF introducing Emma McGrath
Introduced by Andy Ellis of PRS For Music
DESCRIPTION: ‘Meet the musician’ style Q&A and performance session from Emma McGrath
* Who are you?
* How did you start?
* How do you come up with song ideas?
* How long have you been doing music?

BRIEF INFO:
Emma McGrath is a 15 year old songwriter and performer from Hertfordshire. She picked up the guitar properly for the first time at the age of 10 and played her first open mic at 13. Writing a combination of hard hitting acoustic music carried by an incredibly powerful voice, at only 15 Emma has already achieved a lot. She released her first EP, ‘The Judgement’ in November 2014, received BBC Radio 2 play on Dermot O’Leary’s show, and had one of her tracks chosen as BBC Introducing ‘Track of the Week’ on BBC 3 Counties. She has also played the prestigious 100 Club on Oxford Street. Currently studying for her GCSEs as well as her Grade 8 guitar exam, Emma is also finding the time to work on her new EP.

DAY 2 – Thursday 19th November 2015

1.30pm – 2pm
An Audience with…
Interview between James Hanley – Senior Staff Writer – Music Week and Rob Hallett (CEO – Robomagic)
Conversation with Rob Hallett discussing his career and how he got to where he is now.
* What were the steps he took to found Robomagic
* What is Robomagic and its ethos
* History of career
* Advice he would give to those who are aspiring entrepreneurs

2pm – 3.30pm
CAREERS PANEL: Eat. Promo. Sleep. Repeat? A Career in Artist Relations & Events
MODERATOR Morna Cook (Head of HR – Universal Music)
PANEL
Angie Jenkison (Artists Relations – Teenage Cancer Trust)
Caryn Tomlinson (SVP of Corporate Communications – Universal Music Group International)
Kevin Reynolds (CEO of KRMB Management Ltd)
DESCRIPTION: Q&A with industry panellists discussing careers in artist relations and events. Hear advice and discussion on typical duties, how to get ahead and the difference in responsibilities between large and small companies.
* Education – do you need a degree? What kind?
* Career prospects and opportunities for progression?
* Salary expectations.
* Where do you start?

4pm – 5.30pm
Music Management & Artist Entrepreneurship: Does The New Artist Model Work?
MODERATOR (tbc)
PANEL
Josh Brandon (Senior Talent Manager – Insanity Group)
Neil Simpson (Partner – ATC Management)
Paul Pacifico (CEO and President FAC)
DESCRIPTION: Panel based Q&A for aspiring music managers and artist entrepreneurs. The music manager is the hidden member of any act, helping to make business decisions and enabling the act to have time and space to concentrate on creating and performing their music. Hear expert perspectives on how the rise of the ‘new artist model – anybody can make and distribute a recording’, which places an emphasis upon commercial autonomy by artists and entrepreneurs, has also created the need for the development of a new music business skill set.
* Contracts and rights.
* Endorsements – what are the mutual benefits?
* Investment, financial commitment and revenue streams.
* Benefits and pitfalls.
* Collaboration, networking and strategic partnerships.

5:45pm – 6:45pm
A Million Love Songs Later: What Are The Elements Of A Great Love Song?
MODERATOR Tim Fraser – BASCA
PANEL
Ben Montague (Songwriter)
DESCRIPTION: Songwriting masterclass where 2 songwriters (CS members – [names here]) perform one song each and get critiqued by an expert panel. Hear perspectives and engaging discussions on the ingredients of a great love song and tried and tested techniques.
* How to write a love song?
* What are the components of a hit?
* Is there a formula?
* What is the 1 in 10 theory?

7pm – 7.30pm
MEET THE FUTURE: Live Performance and Q&A – MD of Peer Music Nigel Elderton introducing Coco and the Butterfields
Introduced by Andy Ellis of PRS For Music
DESCRIPTION: ‘Meet the musician’ style Q&A and performance session from a ‘heavily tipped’ artist.
* Who are you?
* How did you start?
* How do you come up with song ideas?
* How long have you been doing music?
BRIEF INFO:
CoCo and the Butterfields began life as buskers in Canterbury, Kent. After beating off 10,000
competitors to win the UK Live and Unsigned competition in 2012, CoCo began to tour the UK
playing sell out shows and entertaining the festival crowds with their upbeat, contagious and ‘anthemic’ sound. Quickly becoming a festival favourite the band, led by Dulcima’s mesmerizing vocals, have taken their music to the likes of Glastonbury, Isle of Wight Festival, Bestival and Greenbelt. Having had Sir Bob Geldof himself refer to the band as ‘very cool’ 2015 has seen CoCo and the Butterfields complete their second UK tour, sell out London’s prestigious Jazz Cafe and perform at one of Europe’s biggest festivals – Colours of Ostrava!

DAY 3 – Friday 20th November 2015

1.30pm – 2pm
An Audience with Henry Semmence (CEO and Owner of Absolute Marketing)
Interviewed by Chris Cooke (Business Editor & MD of CMU)
* Henry’s career – how did he get to where he is now
* Highlights of career
* Advice he would give to those getting into the industry

2pm – 3.30pm
CAREERS PANEL: The Writing’s On The Wall: Careers In Music Publishing
MODERATOR William Booth (Deputy Managing Director – Sony/ATV)
PANEL
Sarah Liversedge (Director A&R, Bucks Music Group)
Ben Bodie (A&R/Head of Publishing – Ministry of Sound)
Janice Brock (A&R Director – Sony/ATV)
DESCRIPTION: Q&A with industry panellists discussing day to day responsibilites and jobs when working in the publishing side of the music industry. Gain insight into career prospects, career progression and other opportunities within this competitive field.
* What characteristics are needed?
* Job roles – A&R, Licensing, Synchronisation.
* How are developments in technology affecting/benefiting this role? Streaming? UGC?
* Salary expectations.
* Where do you start?

4pm – 5.30pm
It All Starts With The Song: Entrepreneurship in Music Publishing & Copyright
MODERATOR Alex Mann (MU)
PANEL
Crispin Evans (Cote Basque Music Publishing Ltd)
Maria Forte (Maria Forte Music Services Ltd)
Jane Dyball (CEO of the MPA)
DESCRIPTION: Debates about how money being generated by subscription and ad-funded streaming services is shared between the ‘sound recording’ and ‘song copyright’ owners (the former getting a larger slice of the pie) are becoming increasingly vocal. Expert panellists will share perspectives on the call to stop websites distributing unlicensed content. Gain insight into the key aspects, opportunities and pitfalls to consider in this complex but profitable part of the music business.
* What does the future hold?
* Self-publishing vs traditional publishing?
* How are developments in technology affecting/benefiting the industry? Streaming revenues?
* Key issues or trends?
* Where do you start?

5:45pm – 6:45pm
Creative Film & TV Songs: Writing To A Brief
MODERATOR Simon Darlow (BASCA)
PANEL
Abi Leland (Managing Director/Music Supervisor – Leland Music)
DESCRIPTION: 2 songwriters (CS members – [name here]) perform one song each and get critiqued by an expert panel of 2. Hear insights and participate in discussions on the business of songs, synchronisation and writing to specific briefs for TV and Film. Experts will talk through the steps and actions to take when receiving and acting on these briefs.
* What is a typical brief?
* What are the financial benefits?
* Where do you start?
* What are the opportunities?

7pm – 7.30pm
MEET THE FUTURE: Live Performance and Q&A – Daniel Lloyd-Jones from Sony ATV introducing Louis Mattrs
Introduced by Andy Ellis of PRS For Music
DESCRIPTION: ‘Meet the musician’ style Q&A and performance session from a ‘heavily tipped’ artist.
* Who are you?
* How did you start?
* How do you come up with song ideas?
* How long have you been doing music?