Thursday 13 & Friday 14 April 2023

The Wide Days conference brings together the full spectrum of music professionals - from leading international industry figures, to emerging artists, fledgling companies and supporting organisations.

All conference sessions take place at Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh (54 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2LR) from 12.00-17.00 on Thursday 13 April and 09.00-18.00 on Friday 14 April. Pick up a delegate pass to access all conference and networking sessions.

2023 Programme

Round Table -

.Our round table series continues and this year explores how the music industry can work effectively with government and the public sector, in areas including policy, export, cultural diplomacy, wellbeing and innovation. The session combines an informal workshop format with short case studies, with the aim of fostering ideas, identifying challenges, establishing an ongoing dialogue and fostering collaborations.

Particicipants include: Dr Adam Behr (Newcastle University), Lena Ingwersen (managing director, Music Cities Network, G), Neil Semple (Department for Business & Trade), Simeon Pranger (Treetop Agency, NL)

Showcase Development

As the number of music industry events returns to pre-pandemic levels, we take a look at their selection processes, what they offer acts and how they are funded. The discussion also explores how a minimum standard can be established for showcases and how artists, their teams and export offices, can ensure they maximise the opportunities.
Speakers:
Cesar Andion (Spanish Wave/Mad Cool)
Ingrid Kohtla (Tallinn Music Week)
Mikey Rishwain (M For Montreal)
Olaf Furniss (Wide Days)
Paulina Parvanov (Waves Vienna)
Moderator: Umong Shah (Future Echoes)

PPL presents:
Get Played, Get Paid! Making Money From Your Music

Starting and sustaining a career in music can mean a lot of hard work, so understanding your revenue streams is vital for any new artists. Whether it’s money from radio play, television, or your music being played in public, we’ll be discussing how revenue flows back through to the performer and rightsholder or record label, featuring insight and practical advice from PPL experts.

Simon Williams (Fierce Panda) in conversation

Starting out as a fanzine editor, before graduating to NME and XFM, Simon Williams went on to launch Fierce Panda Recods, one of the UK’s most enduring indie labels responsible for early releases by Coldplay, Green Day, Keane, Placebo and Death Cab For Cutie, as well as Idlewild and numerous Scottish acts. Over more than two decades he also promoted festivals and hundreds of gigs. On the final day of 2019 he survived a suicide attempt and went on to write Pandamonium - How Not To Run A Record Label, an autobiography told through the prism of a life in music. 

Meet Creative Scotland

Speaker: Jamie Houston (music officer)

AGENTS OF TRUTH

What is it reasonable to expect from a booking agent and have agency models and services changed since the pandemic? Our panel members reveal what they look for in an act, outline how they approach the role and give an insight into how artists can ensure they end up working with the right person.

Speakers:
Amy Craig (Runway Artists)
Rob McGee (FMLY Agency)
Moderator: Charlene Hegarty  (Zero Myth)
Additional speakers TBA

15 Minutes of Knowledge: A History of Music In Advertising

Veteran music supervisor Josh Rabinowitz, provides an history of music in advertising and outlines what opportunities exist today.
Speaker: Josh Rabinowitz (Brooklyn Music Experience)

15 Minutes of Knowledge: How Not To Get Synced

Sync agent Pam Lewis-Rudden gives her top ten reasons for compositions not being synced - and explains how to avoid them.
Speaker: Pam Lewis-Rudden (Plutonic Group)

15 Minutes of Knowledge:
Music Broth - Music Instrument Bank

Music Broth, is an innovative grassroots social enterprise which was founded in 2017 to establish a musical instrument and equipment library. It now offers over 2500 items in Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as a range of learning opportunities. Instruments have been donated, repaired and restored, ensuring that they do not end up in landfill

Speakers: Jen O’Brien (Music Broth) & James Bajgar (Music Broth)

15 Minutes of Knowledge:
Clubber Power - Electricity From The Dancefloor

Last year Glasgow venue SWG3 launched  BODYHEAT, a pioneering new thermal heating and cooling system which harnesses the body heat from clubbers. The energy is then stored in 12 underground boreholes, until it is needed.  Find out how the technology came about, how it works and how it forms part of a greener industry.
Speaker: David Walls (TownRock Energy)

15 Minutes of Knowledge:  Fan Engagement - From Stone Age to Space Age

What is fan engagement, how has it evolved over the decades and what could it look like in the near future? Jenn Morgan looks at the history of connecting with your audiences and provides some top tips for everyone from emerging artists to established acts.
Speaker: Jenn Morgan (Push Entertainment)

15 Minutes of Knowledge: Making A Music Metaverse (on a budget)

A step-by-step guide on how to create a 360 online environment, incorporate live performances and promote yourself internationally (without it costing the earth)
Speaker: Kleo McNeil (artist)

15 Minutes of Knowledge: Working With Adaptive And Interactive Sound

A guide to creating compositions and songs, which can be made to vary and adapt to respond to range of external factors. The session covers both the studio and live environment, providing an introduction to essential tools and examples of how they can be used. 
Speaker: Nani Porenta

15 Minutes of Knowledge: Five Steps Towards Equitable Streaming

The Council of Music Makers – which brings together UK songwriters, composers, artists, musicians, producers and artist managers - recently launched a five-step plan towards ensuring that streaming offers more equitable rewards to all those who compose, perform and produce music. Designed to inform ongoing government-led work also involving record companies, music publishers and streaming services, it aims to build a music-maker-centric future.
Speakers: Annabella Coldrick (Music Managers Forum), Chris Cooke (CMU).

Meet the CEOs

The leaders of some of the UK’s key music organisations share their respective visions for the future, highlighting the positive developments they anticipate and the key challenges facing their members and the wider industry.

Speakers:
Peter Leathem OBE (PPL)
Annabella Coldrick (Music Managers Forum)
Silvia Montello (Association of Independent Music)
Jon Collins (LIVE)

Mexico - Market Focus (in partnership with the Department for Business & Trade)

Mexico boasts a thriving festival market and a capital which boasts some of the highest Spotify listenership in the world. Following our online exchange between Mexican, Scottish and Welsh music professionals and Olaf’s recent trade mission to Mexico. Panelists outline why some of Europe’s key music export offices see the country as a destination.

Speakers:
Leyla Flores (Loud Music Brokers)
Sostenés González (Belllena Records
Ana Rodríguez (International Music Managers Forum)
Malfi Dorantes (Malfico)

Canada - Market Focus (in partnership with the Department for Business & Trade)

Canada is the world’s second largest country by area, but three quarters of its 38m population is concentrated in just three provinces (Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia). The panel provides an overview of how to effectively target the territory, the practical considerations and opportunities not available in other markets.

Speakers:
Gourmet Delice (Bonsound)
Additional speakers TBA

15 Minutes of Knowledge: Bat Rave 

 Ahead of their Bat Rave showcase at Wide Days, Hanna Tuulikki and Tommy Perman outline the Echo In the Dark conservation project. The initiative, created with support of  Hospitalfields, is a collection of electronic tracks made from combining human vocals with the echolocation sound of 14 species of chiroptera. 
Speakers: Hanna Tuulikki and Tommy Perman

15 Minutes of Knowledge: Performance Anxiety

Performance anxiety, often referred to as stage fright, can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Claire Cordeaux provides a range of steps for managing symptoms before performances and what ongoing support is available for performers.
Speaker: Claire Cordeaux (British Association for Performing Arts Medicine)

15 Minutes of Knowledge:
Getting your music across borders: the funding guide for Music Mobility

On The Move and Music Export Poland have recently collaborated to produce a guide to funding for music mobility in Europe. Find out how to use this fantastic resource to fund your music getting abroad and reaching new people. From grants to residencies and funds to support collaboration in new countries there are a million possibilities.
Speaker: Jess Partridge (Sounds & Strategy)

Reimagining Live 

What would the perfect live landscape look and how could we get there? A cross section of music professionals consider a range of challenges. These include secondary ticketing, touring bottlenecks, venues’ merch commissions, exclusivity clauses, and creating a healthier environment for musicians, as well as improving access for artists, crew and audiences with disabilities.

Speakers:
Beverley Whitrick (Music Venue Trust)
Jon Collins (LIVE)
Additional speakers TBA

15 Minutes of Knowledge: 12 Months In The Music Business

Chris Cooke summarises the most monumental moments in the past 12 months of the music business - in 15 minutes.
Speaker: Chris Cooke (CMU)

Attitude is Everything: Accessibility in Music

With 19% of the working-age population of the UK affected by a serious impairment, we host a dedicated strand with charity Attitude Is Everything highlighting a range of case studies and initiatives to make the music industry more accommodating for music professionals, artists and audiences with disabilities.

Speakers:
Paul Hawkins (Attitude is Everything)
Rich Legate (Attitude is Everything)
Alex Covell (Attitude is Everything)
Phoebe Roberts (Attitude is Everything)

Festival’s Without Barriers

Attitude is Everything have partnered with the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), the Association of Festival Organisers (AFO) and the British Arts Festival Association (BAFA) to support their combined memberships of 200 festivals to play their part in making 2023 the most accessible summer yet. Under the banner #FestivalsWithoutBarriers, they have made three calls to action in order to help improve the experience for disabled customers and increase attendances.
Speaker: Alex Covell (Attitude is Everything)

Inclusive Design

From a design perspective, access is based on how many people are able to use the interface without issues. These can be small changes such as increasing contrast for those who are visual impairments; avoiding justified or centered text; or larger steps such as adding adaptive controllers for a game or interactive exhibition. These can make the difference between someone feeling welcomed and at ease or not even going near you or your concepts now or in the future.  In short, making a design more accessible makes it more human.

Speakers:
Aiesha Duncan (V&A Dundee)

Association For Electronic Music

In 2022 the AFEM published its first study into neurodiversity among its members. This session presents the results of the report, as well as outlining how organisations and individuals can foster a working environment which allows neurodiverse creators and music industry professionals, to thrive and succeed.

Speakers: Finlay Johnson (Association for Electronic Music), Phoebe Roberts (Attitude Is Everything

A&R You Brave Enough? 

Artists are invited to submit tracks for feedback from media and music professionals.
Speakers: Malte Tabeling (Humming Records), Susan Hansen (journalist)
More speakers TBA.

plus more to be announced…