Applications open for Sound City Korea 2019

10 June 2019 - Press release

4 more emerging UK acts will go to Zandari Festa in September

5^th year of Arts Council-backed Sound City scheme

 

Applications for the 5^th annual edition of Sound City Korea 2019 are now open, with Zandari Festa once again named as partner.

Sound City Korea, part of the Liverpool-based Sound City brand, is a pioneering programme for musicians and industry professionals that targets Korea - a rapidly emerging and increasingly important international market with an annual spend of $53m on music and digital content, widely regarded as a gateway to a wider Asian market. 

This year's initiative will see Sound City once again take four English artists to Zandari Festa in Hongdae on 26 – 29 September, giving them the opportunity to expand their global platform and profile in the Asian market.

The main aim of Sound City Korea is to secure impactful international deals for artists and their management via a series of networking events at Zandari conference. 

Over its first four years, Sound City Korea, part funded by Arts Council England, supported 80 artists and industry professionals in attending Zandari Festa. 

In the lead up to Zandari this year, Sound City will run workshops in both Liverpool and Manchester for the chosen artists to prepare themselves for their trip. The workshops will feature a panel of experts who will explore the complexities of international touring, the Korean music market and how to navigate funding. A select group of guests who have previously attended South Korea with Sound City will also advise the four acts on how to utilise networking opportunities to make themselves known and make the most out of this unique experience.

By the end of these workshops, the artists will be fully equipped with all the tools they need to maximise their development from Sound City Korea and establish international connections that will benefit them for years to come. 

Artists and their managers will also be supplied with the Sound City Korea toolkit in preparation for their showcases. The kit contains information about what to take on the trip, general etiquette in Korea, showcase funding information and how to tour further in Korea and the wider Asian markets.

Artists applying to Sound City Korea 2019 must be 'export ready' and hold some of the following attributes:

• An already established local fanbase
• An established catalogue of material
• National gigging/touring experience
• Professional industry infrastructure (management, agent, label, distribution)
• Commitment and drive to take their music to a worldwide audience

 

Applications will close at midday on July 12 and can be made via this link: www.gigmit.com/liverpool-sound-city

Sound City CEO Dave Pichilingi said: "The heartbeat of Sound City is to discover new music and to give it a platform to a global audience. Our spiritual home is Liverpool but, from day one, we have always wanted to take our message to the rest of the world. Over the past 12 years, we have presented thousands of artists in places such as New York, Norway, China, Dubai and in Korea. Our relationship with Korea is very special and we are so proud to once again work closely with our partners Zandari to take the cream of UK talent to this amazing country."