Sarathy Korwar, Kevin Brennan & Robin Millar CBE to speak at AIM Connected 2021

23 February 2021 - Press release

Final speakers and sessions announced for independent music event

 

The Association of Independent Music (AIM) has announced the final sessions and speakers joining its flagship independent music conference AIM Connected, featuring a range of artists, industry big-hitters and thought-leaders discussing the key issues across the independent music sector. AIM Connected unites the themes of business, tech and people for a one-day multi-room online event, coming up on Thursday 11 March 2021.

UK jazz artist Sarathy Korwar joins AIM Connected, following his win for coveted Best Independent Album prize at the AIM Independent Music Awards 2020 for his second studio album, 'More Arriving'. 'More Arriving' cemented Korwar as one of the most original and compelling voices in the UK jazz scene with a powerful "reflection of [his] experience of being an Indian in a divided Britain"¹. He joins the conference with his manager, Henry Walton, and Tony Morley, Managing Director of The Leaf Label. Together their discussion will cover some of the key lessons learned throughout their journey and what it takes to become a successful independent artist in 2021 and beyond. The conversation will be moderated by Tara Joshi, Music Editor of Gal-Dem & Freelance Culture Writer.

A final flurry of music industry leaders are joining the conference to give one of AIM's trademark TED-style 'Strong Opinions' - quick-fire keynotes from experts, packed with knowledge and practical take-aways.

Kevin Brennan MP will give a Strong Opinion on the intersection of music and politics in the shadow of Covid and Brexit, describing his work, as part of the DCMS Select Committee and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Music, in influencing government to understand the challenges for the UK's music industry as it navigates a difficult summer of cancelled shows and festivals, and engagement with Europe post-Brexit.

Other new speakers giving Strong Opinions include Marsha Ramroop, Founder, Director and Inclusion Strategy Consultant for Unheard Voice Consultancy, Robin Millar CBE, Chairman of Blue Raincoat Chrysalis Group and Chair of disability charity Scope, and Achal Dhillon, Managing Director of Killing Moon Music Group. Marsha Ramroop will give key insights into addressing the problem of unconscious bias in music, Robin Millar CBE will be addressing accessibility in the music workplace, and Achal Dhillon will share his journey in successfully launching a new independent label group and artist service company during a pandemic.

The conference will also see AIM CEO, Paul Pacifico, delve into conversation with Alice Hu Wagner, MD Strategy, Economics and Business Development for the British Business Bank, to discuss the key findings and outcomes from the bank's report 'Alone together: Entrepreneurship and diversity in the UK'[1], which revealed important statistics on the effects that ethnic and economic background, gender and geographic location have on entrepreneurial opportunities and outcomes.

Newly announced panels include 'Witness the Fitness' - a selection of case studies on the organic connection between independent music and the world of fitness and wellness, examining the opportunities for independent music within this burgeoning landscape through insights from representatives of two brands who have become household names while utilising music in creative ways - Peloton and Calm.

One of AIM's Annual Platinum Partners, PPL, will host the workshop 'Metadata...Updated!' - a deep dive into an essential topic for everyone involved in releasing independent music. The conversation will cover how to handle metadata from RightsHub, understanding industry metadata standards and how to plan ahead for the changes coming around enhanced metadata with DDEX, as well as how to engage with RDx, the industry's new Repertoire Data Exchange system.

Full details of all workshops, conversations and Strong Opinions can be found via the AIM Connectedwebsite.

Subsidised tickets are completely free for full AIM Members (Rightsholders and Distributors) as well as Friends of AIM. Non-members can purchase tickets for just £50. All tickets can be purchased here.

AIM thanks its Annual Platinum Partners: Amazon Music, Facebook, Merlin and PPL, whose ongoing support makes AIM's annual programme of events possible.