UK trade mission aims to boost british music in China

17 March 2017 - Press release

Applications now being accepted for mission to Beijing

Download the application form here - http://bit.ly/2nE4UCV

A UK music industry trade mission to China is set to take place from 24^th April – 1^st May 2017, providing an open door for music businesses to explore business opportunities in the world’s second largest economy.

The Department for International Trade (DIT), in partnership with AIM (The Association of Independent Music) and BPI (British Phonographic Industry), is organising this music mission to China, which will take place in Beijing.

The music industry is growing in China, a country that is increasingly consuming international music and developing its association with the international music business.  

The week-long mission will act as a catalyst for collaboration, exploration and expansion of the British music industry in China. It will include a programme of education, networking, B2B meetings, conferences, showcases, music company site visits and other music related activities.

Artists, managers, promoters, record labels, digital distribution companies, festival bookers/directors/organisers and promoters, covering all genres of music are being invited to participate and the mission organisers will be tailoring certain aspects of the program to suit all delegates

DIT’s “Exporting is GREAT” campaign was launched in 2011 to “get the world thinking and feeling differently about Britain, repositioning us as a vibrant, inspiring and innovative nation to visit and do business with”. 

This is a “Music is GREAT” China Music Mission with industry partners, AIM and BPI. 

Mission registration is just £100 + vat per delegate and interested parties should note that funding may be available through DIT, details of which can be obtained through Phil.Patterson@trade.gsi.gov.uk

Some of the activities planned with in Beijing include:

• Sounds Of the Xity (SOTX) -  http://www.sxity.com/ - Sound of the Xity (SOTX), is an event which takes place every year in China. It is the only Chinese platform with a long-term commitment to the joint development of the Chinese and Western music industries. The core program of SOTX consists of SOTX EXPO and SOTX FEST. SOTX EXPO devotes to making Chinese music culture going abroad by using market principles while SOTX FEST provides customers the most cutting-edge music experience.

• Strawberry Festival – Beijing’s Major music festival 

Chris Tams, BPI Director of Independent Membership and International, said:

“The BPI and its partners organise a number of international trade missions to key music markets each year by way of developing export opportunities for their members and to promote British music around the world.  We’ve not been to China before, but with a burgeoning aspirational population that clearly has a love of all things British, improving respect for copyright and authentic quality products, and the UK needing to forge new international trading relationships, the timing of this inaugural visit couldn’t be better.  Music has become Britain’s global calling card and we fully intend to use it in this exciting emerging market which has the potential to transform global music sales.”              

Emmy Buckingham, Membership and International Manager at AIM, said:

“Since our last mission to China in 2007 AIM has been encouraged by advances in Chinese copyright law which are creating valuable market opportunities. This trade mission comes at an opportune time to equip British music companies with the vital intelligence and contacts they need to develop their business in this complex region.”