The 10th Vienna Music Business Research Days 2019 in retrospective

At the 10^th anniversary Vienna Music Business Research Days music business researchers and music industry representatives from around the globe looked into the crystal ball to highlight and discuss the “Future of the Music Business”.

The Young Scholars Workshop traditionally opened the conference as a forum for master and PhD students to present and discuss their research results with renown international music business scientists. This year two papers were awarded by an international jury with the first prize: “THE NEW MAGIC PEOPLE: An Ethnographic Study of East London’s Cultural Workers at Shoreditch House” by Sam Edrisi of Westminster University and King’s College London and “Creativity, Constraints, and Copyright – Hired Music Guns and the Case of Soundalikes” by Konstantin Hondros of the University Duisburg-Essen. Both papers are considered tob e published in the International Journal of Music Business Research (IJMBR).

On the following Conference Track Day, music business researchers from Australia, Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Romenia, Spain, South Africa, UK and the US presented their research results on a broad range of music business topics, such as gender aspects in the classical music sphere, the live music business in the Netherlands, self-management and entrepreneurship of musicians, the demand for music in the music streaming age, music branding, music labour markets and music education issues (see program).

The final Invited Conference Day on September 13^th focused on the conference main topic the “Future of the Music Business”. The London-based entertainment lawyer Cliff Fluet held the introductory keynote “The Music Business & Technology – How Their Past and Present will Dictate Their Future” and joined the following panel discussion on “The Future of Music Copyright” with Ros Lynch (Intellectual Property Office, London) and the blockchain start-up founder Steve Stewart (vezt, Los Angeles), moderated by Sally Gross (University of Westminster, London). The panelists discussed the impact of new technologies such as the blockchain and artificial intellectual on copyright legislation.

Michael Smellie, the former COO of Sony/BMG and Australian start-up investor, closed the morning session by looking back into the music industry’s recent past with his keynote on the music industry’s “Seven Deadly Sins” to learn more about the industry’s future.

 

After the lunch break Paul O’Hagan of the University of Ulster had a conversation with music manager Peter Jenner on the concept of label service contracts, which Peter Jenner introduced by signing Billy Bragg to Cooking Vinyl. Label service contracts have become very popular among superstars such as Taylor Swift, since there is no need to contract away all rights to the labels. Peter Jenner was also a mastermind and initiator of the “Music 2025” project, which was introduced for the first to the public by him and Dennis Collopy (University of Hertfordshire, UK) in 2014 at the Vienna Music Business Research Days. This year Dennis Collopy presented the project’s results to an international audience.

In the following keynote “What Are the Key Drivers of Growth in Music Streaming?” music industry analyst Chris Carey outlined the past, present and future developments in the music streaming economy. This was a good starting point for the final panel discussion on “Future of the Music Business – What’s Next after Music Streaming?” with Rebecca Brook (music industry consultant, London), Chris Carey (Media Insight Consulting, London), Phil Graham (University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia) and Michael Smellie (start-up investor, Australia), moderated by Dennis Collopy (University of Hertfordshire).

The 10^th Vienna Music Business Research Days were supplemented by a book presentation event in the evening of September 11^th. Daniel Nordgård of the University of Agder in Kristiansand/Norway presented the first volume of the Springer book series “Music Business Research” entitled “The Music Business and Digital Impacts. Innovations and Disruptions in the Music Industries“. Phil Graham of the University of the Sunshine Coast/Australia followed with the presentation of the book series’ second volume “Music, Management, Marketing, and Law. Interviews Across the Music Business Value Chain“. Subsequently both authors joined a panel discussion on “Big Data in the Music Business” with the Vienna-based start-up entrepreneur Nermina Mumic and music manager Peter Jenner.

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Introducing our guests: Sally Gross

The 8th Vienna Music Business Research Days from Sep. 12-14, 2017 are devoted to the question “Unchaining the Digital Music Business?”. Over the past few years new gatekeeping processes in the digital music business have emerged and international music business experts, therefore, highlight the role of new and old gatekeepers as well as the impact of innovative technologies such as the blockchain on structures and processes in the musis biz. Find the program here.

Sally Gross is a discussant on “New Gatekeeping Processes in the Digital Music Business” along with Scott Cohen  (The Orchchard, London and New York),  Sarita Stewart (Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville/USA) and Jake Beaumont-Nesbitt (International Music Managers Forum, London).

Sally Gross is the Program Director, MA Music Business Management at the University of Westminster. She started her career in the music industry as a music manager in 1990 and over the course of two decades has been involved with 5 acts (either as a manager or a record company director) that have each sold over a million records: Adamski, Rollo and Rob D (who are responsible for Dido), Urban Cookie Collective, William Orbit, Gotan Project and now One Direction with the song Little Things, penned by her client Fiona Bevan.

In 2000, she won the Helena Kennedy Award for Outstanding Legal Criticism whilst studying law at Birkbeck University, after which she spent a couple of years working in entertainment law.  She has been involved with all aspects of the music industry from raves in the French Alps to sold out shows at Hollywood Bowl to Sydney Opera House.

Sally continues to work as international business affairs manager for Ya Basta Records and Science et Melodie Publishing in Paris, home of Gotan Project and producer and DJ Philippe Cohen Solal and is currently working on an album and stage project about the world renown US outsider artist Henry Darger.

More recently Sally’s research interests have concerned working conditions and mental health issues within the music industries.

 

 

Introducing our guests: Scott Cohen

The 8th Vienna Music Business Research Days from Sep. 12-14, 2017 are devoted to the question “Unchaining the Digital Music Business?”. Over the past few years new gatekeeping processes in the digital music business have emerged and international music business experts, therefore, highlight the role of new and old gatekeepers as well as the impact of innovative technologies such as the blockchain on structures and processes in the musis biz. Find the program here.

Scott Cohen is a discussant on “New Gatekeeping Processes in the Digital Music Business” along with Sally Gross (Westminster University, London),  Sarita Stewart (Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville/USA) and Jake Beaumont-Nesbitt (International Music Managers Forum, London).

Scott is the co-founder of digital distribution pioneer The Orchard.  The Orchard is the world’s leading distributor of music, film and video with operations is 25 global territories.  As a well-recognized public speaker and lecturer, Scott travels the world evangelizing new business models for the digital age.

Scott’s music career started in the late 80’s in independent and major label artist management.  In addition to his responsibilities at The Orchard, he manages the Raveonettes, Dan Owen and Fallulah.

 

 

The 7th Vienna Music Business Research Days in retrospective

The 7^th Vienna Music Business Research Days on “Self-Management in the Digital Music Business” are already history. International music business researchers and business professionals gathered at the University of Music and Performing Arts to discuss the challenges and chances of the digital music economy.

In the Young Scholars’ Workshop graduate and PhD students from Canada, Germany, Norway, Poland, Spain and Russia presented their theses in a closed workshop in group of highly regarded music business/industry researchers. Lorenz Grünewald of the University of Applied Sciences for Media, Communication and Management Berlin was awarded for his paper “The (In)significance of the Brand: Brands & Music Culture”. The paper will be published in the International Journal of Music Business Research (IJMBR).

The conference track day on September 28 brought together music business academics from Australia, Austria, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Slovenia and Spain, who presented recent research results on the music business/industry.

The third conference day was again held in cooperation with the Waves Music Festival & Conference and was devoted to the topic of “Self-Management in Digital Music Business”.

 

7th Vienna Music Business Research Days on “Self-Management in the Digital Music Business”

The 7th Vienna Music Business Research Days on “Self-Management in the Digital Music Business” are held from Sep. 27-29, 2016 at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. As in the prior years, music business research from all around the world and music industry prfessionals will discuss current developments in the music business/industry in numerous presentations and panel discussions.

The Young Scholars’ Workshop (closed event) gathers for the sixth time students from all around the globe to present their research projects and to discuss them with renown music business researchers.

After the workshop,  Angela Myles Beechings presents her book in the keynote “Beyond Talent: the Psychology of Music Entrepreneurship and Self Management” in IKM’s Large Conference Room on Sep. 27th  from 19:30-21:00 (building E on university’s campus).

On Sep. 28th, music business researchers from eight different countries present their recent findings on the music business/industry. The topics range from the economics and psychology of music streaming and music education to team diversity in sound recording projects: Click here for the program.

The entire last conference day on Sep. 29th, is devoted to the conference’s main topic.  Martin Lücke (Macromedia University, Berlin) talks on best-practice models of career centers at music universities, before moderating a panel discussion with Gretchen Amussen (L’Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Paris), Angela Myles-Beeching (Manhattan School of Music, New York) and Stefan Simon (Music University Detmold) on the same topic.

After the panel discussion, music consultant Johannes Ripken highlights his concept of “Organic Artist Development”.

After the lunch break (14:00),  Stephen Power highlights in a keynote speech his very personal approach of “Self-Management in the Digital Music Business”. Stephen Power is a very successful music producer working with Robbie Williams, Blur, Diana Ross etc. In the following panel discussion, the successful Austrian music producer and vice-president of the Austrian Composers’ Society, Harald Hanisch, moderates a panel with Roxanne de Bastion (musician, London), Keith Harris (manager of Stevie Wonder, London), Stephen Power (music producer, London) and Johannes Ripken (musik consultant, Kiel) the challenges of “Self-Management in the Digital Music Business”.

The last conference day will be closed with awarding the best paper of the Young Scholars’ Workshop.

Conference program: https://musicbusinessresearch.wordpress.com/vienna-music-business-research-days-2/

How to get there and campus map: https://musicbusinessresearch.wordpress.com/vienna-music-business-research-days-2/conference-site-how-to-get-there/

Video-Livestream on Sep. 29th: http://www.mdw.ac.at/mdwMediathek/livestream/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ViennaMusicBusinessResearchDays

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VMBRD

Introducing our guests: Roxanne de Bastion (musician, London)

The 7th Vienna Music Business Research Days from Sep. 27-29, 2016 are devoted to “Self-Management in the Digital Music Business”. International music business experts, therefore, discuss the challenges and chances of artist self-management as well as the future development. Find the program here.

As a self-managed artist, the London-based musician Roxanne de Bastion completes the panel on “Self-Management in the Digital Music Busines” in Joseph Haydn-Hall on Sep. 29th from 15:30-17:00. The other panelists are: Steve Power (music producer, London), Keith Harris (manager of Stevie Wonder, London) and Johannes Ripken (music consultant, Kiel). The moderator of the discussion is Harald Hanisch, successful music producer and vice president of the Austrian Composers’ Society.

Roxanne de Bastion is a singer, songwriter and performer. Born in Berlin to a musical, bilingual family, she started composing and performing at the age of 15. Soon after, Roxanne took her career in her own hands and moved to London, equipped only with her guitar, her songs and a one-way ticket.

Since then, Roxanne has released her debut album “The Real Thing” on her own label, Nomad Songs, and regularly tours across the UK, mainland Europe and the USA. Her music has gained support from BBC6, Xfm, R2 Magazine, The Sunday Times as well as major radio stations across Europe and MTV Germany.

As an independent musician she offers insight into the everyday workings of life as an artist in today’s ever-changing industry and has been invited to speak on subjects such as ‘the future of music’, ‘copyright in the digital age’ and ‘music streaming’. In 2014, Roxanne was invited to join the board of the FAC in order to represent up-and-coming musicians. The following year, Roxanne founded FM2U, a conference and network specifically from and for independent musicians.

 

“Standout number…astonishingly assured” (The Sunday Times)

“A real mover and shaker in the independent music world and a great writer” (Ruth Barnes, Amazing Radio)

“One of the most perfect voices I’ve ever heard” (Tom Whalley, BBC6)

 

Check her webpage: http://www.roxannedebastion.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt7_SjYMYipAapOifHOoHgA

Soundcloud account: https://soundcloud.com/roxanne-de-bastion

Twitter account: https://twitter.com/roxannemusic

Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/roxannedebastion

 

Introducing our guests: Steve Power (music producer, London)

The 7th Vienna Music Business Research Days from Sep. 27-29, 2016 are devoted to “Self-Management in the Digital Music Business”. International music business experts, therefore, discuss the challenges and chances of artist self-management as well as the future development. Find the program here.

The London-based highly regarded music producer Steve Power will hold the keynote on the conference’s main topic on Sep. 29 from 14:00-15:00. In the following panel discussion, Steve Power discusses on “Self-Management in the Digital Music Business” with Roxanne de Bastion (musician, London), Keith Harris (manager of Stevie Wonder, London) and Johannes Ripken (music consultant, Kiel).

Steve Power was born in Liverpool and as a teenager was was part of the nascent punk and new wave scene of the late seventies there. The band he was in were signed to Richard Branson’s Virgin records in 1981. The band used a large part of their record company advance to create a professional recording studio and made their album there.

When the band went on the road to promote the album Power remained behind and ran the studio as a commercial enterprise and worked with bands such as Dead or Alive and Frankie goes to Hollywood.

In 1984 Steve moved to London and after a while became a house engineer at Battery studios. Here he worked with artist such as Billy Ocean, Womack and Womack, and Bon Jovi. In the late 1980’s he produced Blur and worked with a number of other notable guitar bands such as The Stone Roses, and mixed tracks for The Charlatans.

After a quiet period in the early 1990’s when Power almost gave up the business, success on a grander scale finally arrived. Spaceman (Babylon Zoo), You’re Gorgeous (Babybird), preceded 26 hit singles with Robbie Williams including Angels, Strong, She’s the One, Millenium and Rock Dj followed.

Since then Steve has produced Joe Cocker, Diana Ross, Kylie Monogue, Enrique Iglesias and Andrea Bocceli, and continues to be be busy, production credits on the most recent Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams of only a couple of years ago demonstrate that he is still in demand.

Check Steve’s webpage: http://www.stevepowermix.co.uk/

 

 

 

Introducing our guests: Johannes Ripken (Northstar Connection)

5 : 7 Querformat

The 7th Vienna Music Business Research Days from Sep. 27-29, 2016 are devoted to “Self-Management in the Digital Music Business”. International music business experts, therefore, discuss the challenges and chances of artist self-management as well as the future development. Find the program here.

Dr. Johannes Ripken, a music busines consultant from Kiel/Germany, talks on Sep. 29 from 11:45-12:45 on “Organic Artist Development in the Digital Music Business”. Dr. Ripken has established himself as an expert in artist development for more than 10 years. His work experience as artist and label manager has been backed with many years of intensive studies research in the music industry which was gathered in his Ph.D. thesis on artist development. He has been working in the music industry since 2006 at Universal Music Germany for the Polystar division and the Domestic division for artists like Tiesto and Afrojack, with his own record label Sonic Art Music including sub labels, as artist manager of the established artist Dennis Sheperd and as artist himself. Additionally, he exploits his expertise as lecturer at several universities such as Popakademie Baden-Württemberg, Macromedia University and Akademie Deutsche Pop. On a regular basis, he is invited as speaker at business conferences and has built his profile as author of the book “Organic Artist Development”, published by Nomos.

     Johannes Ripken, 2015, Organisches Artist Development, Nomos.