Monday, October 23, 2006

Promoting local music to a select few

This event is combining a high-level conference with a private showcase to highlight Canadian talent. It's a good idea if one of your goals is to make musicians are actually seen by industry types, who often end up partying with each other rather than checking out unknown bands.

CANOE -- JAM! Music - Karen Bliss's Lowdown: Insider Canadian music news: A new solution-minded music conference: "Vancouver's Transmission is a forward-thinking, solution-minded music conference restricted to 250 screened and accepted delegates from the international music and digital industries, who will participate in five roundtable discussions and two plenary sessions Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 at the Sheridan Wall Centre.

"There will also be a 20-act showcase for delegates only and a free outdoor concert open to the public called the Transmitnow Block Party on Dec. 2....

"'The key (criteria) for the artists is that they are export-ready and what we determined is that loosely means three main things,' says [co-producer Brad Josling of Diamond Dog Music].

"'First of all, they should've already established themselves domestically, done some strong touring, built a fan base, maybe done some international work. Secondly, they should be business ready, so they have to be supported by some sort of business structure whether it be strong management or a label, and those people have to be at the event with them, so that they can activate on the opportunity that's going to present itself at Transmission. Then, the third criteria is having a strong live show.' ...

"'The vision behind the festival has always been an artist development vehicle as well,' says Josling."

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