CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

HELP MUSICIANS SCOTLAND WELCOME
09.00-09.45 | The Lounge
Bursary pass collection point. Meet the team from Help Musicians, find out about their initiatives and how you can benefit from them.

INTRODUCTION TO PPL (in association with PPL)
09.50-10.30 | The Study

PPL royalties play an essential role in sustaining recording artists, who are increasingly releasing their own material. Find out about the work of the collection society and, most importantly, how to get paid!

Speakers: Tom Ferguson (Performing Services Executive, PPL) and Joe Shergold (Member Services, PPL)

DIRECTORS WELCOME TO WIDE DAYS followed by
MUSIC TOURISM - DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS (in association with Music Tourist)
10.00-11.00 | The Debating Hall
Last year Newcastle University’s Dr Adam Behr and Dr Matthew Orr undertook a study in consultation with Music Tourist consultancy and the Scottish Music Industry Association. Their aim was to identify how the music, retail, hospitality and tourism sectors can work together and develop closer ties. They exclusively present their findings at Wide Days and discuss their recommendations on fostering more collaboration between the industries.
speakers:
Dr Adam Behr, Dr Matthew Ord (University of Newcastle), Olaf Furniss (Music Tourist / Wide Days), Dougal Perman (Scottish Music Industry Association).
Moderator: Fiona Shepherd (The Scotsman/Glasgow Music City Tours)

ASK THE YOUNG TEAM
10.40-11.30 | The Drawing Room
Why do people go to festivals, how do they listen to music and what do they drink at gigs? Inimitable broadcaster Vic Galloway, with the aid of live polling software, invites industry guests (including promoters, labels and managers) to connect with their consumers and ask the questions they have always wanted to ask.
Questioners:
Nick Stewart (Sneaky Pete’s), Susan Kerr (DF Concerts), Beverley Whitrick (Music Venue Trust).
Moderator: Vic Galloway (BBC 6 Music & Radio Scotland)

‘THE FINAL DAYS OF EMI - SELLING THE PIG’
10.40-11.30 | The Lounge
When private equity firm Terra Firma bought Britain’s biggest record company in 2007 it marked the collision of two diametrically-opposed cultures. Veteran music journalist Eamonn Forde talks to Hannah McGill about his book charting the demise of EMI following the takeover.

CMU:DIY WHY YOU DON’T GET PAID (AND ENSURE YOU DO)
11.00-11.40 | The Study
CMU’s Chris Cooke outlines the top five reasons songwriters and artists don’t get paid when their songs and recordings are used. After an initial presentation he will be joined by Caroline Sewell (Musicians’ Union) and Raffaella De Santis (Harbottle & Lewis) to describe the steps to ensure the royalties flow.

LYRIC CLINIC (in association with PRS)
11.40-12.30 | The Lounge
Join three of Scotland’s finest and most diverse lyricists for a session about effective writing techniques, how approaches vary according to genre, avoiding “rhyme crimes” and the key considerations for lyrical collaborations.
Speakers:
Dr Dave Hook (aka Solareye), Iona Fyfe (artist), Stina Tweeddale (Honeyblood)
Moderator: Stuart Fleming (PRS For Music)

AI & BLOCKCHAIN – THE NEW DOTCOM?
11.40-12.40 | The Debating Hall
Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain have been hailed as revolutions for the music industry, with claims often reminiscent of those made during the Dotcom boom. The panel explains how to separate fact from fantasy, what we can really expect in the future and what hurdles need to be overcome for ideas to become reality. There will be an Introductory presentation by Sam Taylor.
Speakers:
Becky Brook (JAAK), Raffaella De Santis (Harbottle & Lewis).
Moderator: Sam Taylor (CMU)

15 MINUTES OF KNOWLEDGE
11.50-12.50 | The Study
Leading digital services Bandcamp, EmuBands and SoundCloud each give a 15-minute presentation on getting the best out of their platforms, highlighting essential features and techniques.  
Speakers:
Hazel Berry (SoundCloud), Jules Rodriguez (EmuBands), Aly Gillani (Bandcamp).
Moderator: Suzanne Miller (Help Musicians Scotland)

NEW PUBLISHING MODELS & HOW TO SET UP A MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY
13.30-14.30 | The Debating Hall
The founders of three new music publishing companies present their models and how they built their businesses from scratch. They will also explain the essential steps for setting up a music publisher, including incorporation, registration and collecting copyrights.
Speakers:
James Kennedy (Konic Records), Jamie Gilmour (Rightsbridge), Mia Hallesby (GILT).
Moderator: Nicky Carder (MMF)

THE FUTURE OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
14.40-15.40 | The Debating Hall
What are the main challenges faced by music publishing companies in the streaming age and how will blockchain, Spotify publisher services and other digital platforms impact the traditional approach to the business?
Speakers:
Becky Brook (JAAK), Jen O’Connell (Integrity Music), Jonny Petch (SMAB LLP).
Moderator: Chris Cooke (CMU)

MANAGERS OF CHANGE
13.30-14.20 | THE DRAWING ROOM

The first Wide Days in 2010 featured a panel looking at music management which included  Keith Harris, manager of Stevie Wonder. He returns to Wide Days to host a discussion with the next generation of managers, exploring what issues they face, how the role of the manager has changed and what new approaches are being adopted to survive.

Speakers:
Anna Russell (AR Artist Management), Feedy Frizzi (MBF Music) and Ray Black (Craft Management)
Moderator: Keith Harris

PEAK SHOWCASE?
14.30-15.30 | The Drawing Room
Showcase events have proliferated across Europe with music export offices often investing heavily in hosting stages at international events. Meanwhile, several initiatives have emerged to foster artist exchanges. What are the most effective approaches and what can be done to ensure that they deliver for both artists and the industry?
Speakers:
Angela Dorgan (Hard Working Class Heroes, Ireland), Christoph Storbeck (Linecheck, Italy), Francine Gorman (Ja Ja Ja), Máté Horváth (New Beat, Hungary), Ralph Christoph (C/O Pop, Germany).
Moderator: Anastasia Connor (Noise Unit PR)

CMU:DIY GUIDE TO BUILDING AN AUDIENCE
13.45-14.35 | The Study
Which tools, tactics and platforms should artists and music businesses be using this year? What is the best content for each social media channel and the most effective way to reach decision makers in the media, the industry and streaming services? Sam Taylor (UnLimited Media) presents this CMU:DIY guide and is joined by Abbie McCarthy (BBC Radio 1), Alex Thomson (Greenhouse Group) and Debbie Ball (Create Spark).

STAYING ALIVE (in association with AIM)
15.40-16.30 | The Drawing Room
With the advent of downloads and CD burning, numerous indie labels went to the wall, while the majors merged and shed thousands of jobs. In this panel we look at how three seminal record companies evolved to survive, what it takes to retain a creative core at the heart of a business and ask whether the 90s really were a better time for artists and labels.
Speakers:
Peter Quicke (Ninja Tune), Sarah Bolshi (Sunday Best), Dave Clarke (Soma Records)
Moderator: Olaf Furniss (Wide Days)

TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU - JOURNALISTS vs PRs
16.45-17.45 | The Drawing Room
Following the success of last year’s agents vs promoters session, we invite music journalists and PRs to vent about what drives them mad about each other. All in the interests of creating greater understanding and harmony, of course.

Speakers:
Anastasia Connor (Noise Unit PR), Debbie Ball (Create Spark), Susan Kerr (DF Concerts), Tallah Brash (The Skinny) + Derick Mackinnon (Scotland on Sunday), Arusa Qureshi (The List)
Moderator: Louise Mason (freelance producer/presenter)

A&R YOU BRAVE ENOUGH? (in association with UHI)
16.40-17.50 | The Study
A rare opportunity for delegates to have one track heard and honestly critiqued by individuals working in the music industry.

Panel:
Fiona Shepherd (The Scotsman), Phil Taggart (BBC Radio 1), Jade Kupoluyi (Virgin)
Moderator: Ruth Kilpatrick (Record of the Day)