MusicTank Think Tank

Never Mind The Boxset: The Album Post-iTunes

http://www.musictank.co.uk/events/album-format

The album -- the recordings business’ main unit of currency -- ain’t doing too well.  Faced with a double whammy of illegal downloaders and those who have adopted a pick n’ mix attitude to purchasing, there’s been much talk of the inevitable demise of this bedrock of the recordings business. Still, whilst the likes of Ash and Radiohead may have turned their back on the format, there are just as many who are trying to find ways to revitalise the album.

New digital formats such as iTunes LP and Bach’s MusicDNA are bundling the music with a whole host of additional content. Record stores, both on- and offline, are striking deals with labels for exclusive bonus material. And vinyl continues to defy the doommongers with a whole new market in deluxe, expensive editions and labels such as Warp offering free downloads or bundled CDs with vinyl purchases.

This debate will look at just what the recordings industry can do to revive the album's flagging condition, and with the help of strategy consultant Keith Jopling, take a peek at non-music brands such as Lego, Filofax and Marvel Comics,each having successfully reinvented themselves in the face of oblivion. We'll also hear from HMV's Gennaro Castaldo, who will help represent the views of major music retailers, many of whom have been clamouring for years about the need for more product innovation.

From the sensible to the extreme, we'll hear from those who believe that technology, design and marketing can provide a shot in the arm to the format that gave us 'Dark Side of the Moon', 'Nevermind', 'OK Computer' and 'Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em', and hear from those who have turned their back on the album altogether

Full details: http://www.musictank.co.uk/events/album-format

SPEAKERS:

INTRO: Emma Pike, VP Communications and Artist Relations, Sony Music Entertainment Ltd and Mark Uttley, Head of Insight, Sony Music Entertainment Ltd.

KEYNOTE: Stuart Batsford, Former Product Manager and Catalogue Manager at Virgin and Warners.

PANEL: Dagfinn Bach, President, Bach Technology (MusicDNA); Steve Bunyan, Director Marketing, Union Square Music; Paul Conroy, Music Consultant, Adventures in Music and Universal Records; Steven Hill, Head of Marketing and New Projects, Warp Records; Simon Singleton, Pure Groove; Keith Jopling, Strategy and Business Development Consultant.

DIARY:

Date & Time:  Thursday, May 20, 18.30-21.00hrs

Cost:  £25 MusicTank Members | £30 Trade Body | £35 Full Price

**Price includes drink on arrival and post-event written transcript **

Venue: The Basement, PRS for Music, Copyright House, 29-33 Berners Street, London, W1T 3AB.

Booking: http://www.musictank.co.uk/events/album-format

Please remember that all MusicTank events MUST be booked and paid for in advance!  Become a member of MusicTank for just £30 per year and enjoy privileged discounts on all MusicTank events (http://www.musictank.co.uk/about/membership-benefits).

21-04-10