Scotland’s music convention, Wide Days (Edinburgh: 10-11 April), is to unveil plans for a UK version of a musician-led touring network, which boasts 30,000 members in its native Brazil and last year facilitated over 6,000 gigs.
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Details of the British Fora Do Eixo, which will run under its translated name
Off Axis, are to be included in a special presentation at the Edinburgh event on Thursday 11 April.
The talk will be given by Jeff Thompson, from the Manchester-based Un-Convention organisation which hosts grassroots music events around the world and is spearheading the initiative: “We have supported Wide Days since its launch in 2010 and it is the perfect platform to announce our plans for Off Axis,” he says.
Commenting on the addition to the programme, Wide Days co-organiser Olaf Furniss says: “I am delighted that Wide Days is able to provide the first opportunity in the UK for people to learn about this exciting venture, which has the potential to help many artists.”
In Brazil, the Fora Do Eixo touring network was launched to help acts reach new audiences in cities and festivals in other parts of their country. Musicians with a fanbase in their own region host acts from outside, and in return receive credits which they can use.
Founded in 2005 the network has become a powerful lobby for artists and is set to be the subject of a film by leading music business commentator, Andrew Dubber, and the makers of the documentary, Last Shop Standing.
SPOTIFY DIRECTOR FOR KEYNOTE + STREAMING TALK ANNOUNCED
Wide Days is pleased to announce Spotify director Mark Williamson for the event’s keynote speech, as part of a session devoted to the business of streaming. He will give an overview of Spotify’s position in the industry, opportunities for growth and what this means to artists and rightsholders.
Williamson’s talk will be preceded by a myth-busting overview of the streaming business presented by Andy Zondervan, who is New Business Development Manager at Dutch collection society Buma/Stemra, and responsible for programming interactive and innovation panels at Eurosonic Noorderslag.
The presentations will be followed by a short panel discussion and Q&A featuring both guests, who will also be available for individual, 15-minute meetings with delegates.
“Edinburgh has the highest concentration of Spotify users in the UK, so it is particularly fitting to be speaking at Wide Days,” says Williamson, who heads the company’s Artist Services division in Europe.
Wide Days co-organiser, Olaf Furniss, adds:
“This is a fantastic addition to our programme and offers the music industry in Scotland the first real opportunity to explore an increasingly important area of the business.”
The session will draw on figures relating to global sales of recorded music, due to be published on Monday [April 8].
WIDE DAYS 2013 SHOWCASE ACTS
Wide Days has completed its showcase line up (Band links below).
Masked techno trio Roman Nose, Highland grunge band Garden Of Elks and brass-infused Saint Max and The Fanatics, complete the line up, which also includes Fatherson, Siobhan Wilson, Washington Irving and Fat Goth. All three acts were chosen in consultation with an industry panel.
“We discovered some amazing acts by inviting submissions and it was a hard task to narrow it down to the final selection,” says Wide Days director, Olaf Furniss. “I would like to thank everyone who applied.”
Wide Days deliberately focuses on a small number of acts, working closely with the artists to ensure the showcases are a success. Previous participants include PAWS, Rachel Sermanni, Stanley Odd, Meursault, Withered Hand and FOUND, who have all gone on to sign deals, tour internationally and pick up significant festival bookings.
Admission to the gigs is included in the delegate pass, but a limited number of free tickets are available via the Wide Days website. Registration for the daytime conference – which includes seminars on music publishing, promoters and music photography – range from £25 to £125.
Wide Days is not-for-profit event organised by Community Interest Company Born To Be Wide.
Wide Days 2013 Showcase Acts
Free Showcase tickets available from: www.widedays.com/showcase-tickets
Fatherson: www.widedays.com/fatherson
Fat Goth: www.widedays.com/fat-goth
Garden of Elks: www.widedays.com/garden-of-elks
Roman Nose: www.widedays.com/roman-nose
Saint Max & The Fanatics: www.widedays.com/saint-max-and-the-fanatics
Siobhan Wilson: www.widedays.com/siobhan-wilson
Washington Irving: www.widedays.com/washington-irving
ABOUT WIDE DAYS:
Wide Days was launched in April 2010 by Community Interest Company, Born To Be Wide, which hosts regular music industry seminars and informal networking events. The convention is a combination of panels, presentations and showcases, bringing together industry veterans with those operating at grassroots level.
Past speakers include the organisers of most of Scotland’s leading music festivals, top managers Rab Andrew [Texas/Primal Scream] and Keith Harris [Stevie Wonder], as well as Scott Cohen, founder of the word’s largest digital music distribution company, The Orchard.
Its evening showcases, which are open to the public, provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting emerging acts across a diverse rang of genres and have previously included acts such as Rachel Sermanni, PAWS, Meursault, Carrie Mac, Withered Hand, Panda Su and Stanley Odd, who have all gone on to be signed, synced or booked for festivals.
Wide Days is supported by a host of partners and sponsors including: Musicians’ Union (MU), Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), University of the Highlands & Islands, Music Publishers Association (MPA), EmuBands, Eventbrite, GoNorth, The Wel, Edinburgh University Students Association (EUSA), Innis & Gunn and Henderson’s of Edinburgh.
Wide Days is Scotland’s only convention dedicated exclusively to music business seminars, presentations and showcases. The annual boutique event is run in Edinburgh by not-for-profit organisation, Born To Be Wide, which boasts a distinguished track record of bringing together industry veterans with those doing amazing things at grassroots level.
Since its launch in 2010, Wide Days has consistently attracted high-profile speakers including leading festival promoters, managers and technology experts.
Wide Days 2013 takes place at the University of Edinburgh’s Teviot Row House on April 10-11 – the world’s oldest student union building.
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