Music Meets Business - the Music Plays Again in Berlin at Popkomm

More Than 800 Exhibitors for the First Time, from All over the
World - Congress Panels with Outstanding Participants - over 2,000
Performers Playing in Berlin Clubs During the Popkomm Festival

For the first time the exhibitor total has passed the 800 mark,
and they are coming from 48 countries to Popkomm, which opens next
Wednesday in Berlin. More than 15,000 trade visitors from all over the
world are expected to attend, artists and music managers, promoters
and publishers, as well as many experts from sectors with a particular
affinity to the music industry. Popkomm is being opened by Minister of
State for the Arts Bernd Neumann.
The first of the keynote addresses at the congress will be given
by Feargal Sharkey, formerly the singer with the Undertones and
currently chairman of the UK's Live Music Forum, who will be speaking
on the subject of the Creative Industries. Eleven companies from eight
countries will be competing for the top prizes in the finale of the
third Popkomm-IMEA - Innovation in Music & Entertainment Award. The
three-day Popkomm Music Festival will begin on Wednesday evening in 30
Berlin clubs, and will feature performances by over 2,000 artists from
27 countries.

The number of national stands has now risen to 26

Popkomm 2006 is more international than ever. A total of 26
national stands have been registered, four more than at last year's
event. The countries involved include Australia, Brazil and Canada, as
well as many European countries. Music export offices and labels from
Eastern and South Eastern Europe are particularly strongly
represented, and Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Scotland and
Slovenia are attending the Berlin Popkomm for the first time.
"The strong international presence has long been a characteristic
feature of Popkomm", according to Dr. Ralf Kleinhenz, General Manager
of Popkomm GmbH. "Over seventy per cent of its 817 exhibitors come
from abroad. It seems that industry representatives from all over the
world have circled this date on their calendars. This is also evident
at the congress and the showcases at the music festival."

Partner country Brazil presents its musical diversity

Following on from France and Spain in previous years, the partner
country at this year's Popkomm is Brazil. The first partner country
from outside Europe is occupying all of Hall 16, where it is
emphasising its standing as a rapidly developing music market with
many diverse aspects. Many promising newcomers from this South
American music nation are helping to set the tone for the Popkomm
Festival too.
Major companies such as Warner Music Group and Universal Music are
also being joined in Berlin this year by Sony BMG. Universal Music and
Sony BMG are giving an even more international emphasis to their
presence at Popkomm. Warner Music is continuing its successful concept
of inviting dealers and marketing partners to attend the presentations
at Popkomm. The majority of exhibitors at Popkomm consist of small and
medium-sized companies, for whom international networks are especially
vital. For example, representatives of the indies can be found on many
of the national stands as well as at the "Label Camp". This section of
the exhibition provides a space for displays by small firms, helping
them to gain a foothold on the market and there has again been
increased demand for space at the "Label Camp" this year.

Expansion of the live sector and online music distributors

The live sector at Popkomm is still expanding, with even more
exhibitors from this field in the exhibition halls this year.
Platforms include not only the combined stand of the National
Association of the German Events Industry but also that of the Intro
Festival Camp. The live music sector will be among the main themes of
the Popkomm Congress.
Yet another trend at Popkomm 2006: online and mobile music
distributors are more strongly represented than in previous years. For
example, this year Yahoo Music, mp3.de and net mobile are joined by
Jamba Music.

Creative Industries one of the main themes of the Congress

The three-fold concept that was successfully introduced in 2004,
comprising a trade fair, congress and festival, has been retained. The
main themes of this year's Congress are Pop & Politics, Marketing,
Live, Mobile Music and Prospects for Artists. In addition to Feargal
Sharkey the other keynote speakers are Gilberto Gil, Minister of
Culture of the Popkomm partner country Brazil, and Lou Pearlman,
producer and successful creator of boy bands.
Popkomm has made the subject of "Creative Industries" a focal
point on the agenda of its congress. "In many countries the subject of
Creative Industries has been a feature of cultural and economic policy
for many years. We regard it as one of the main objectives of Popkomm,
to include this subject on the agenda in this country too", explains
Katja Bittner, the Director of Popkomm. A number of panel discussions
will be taking place on this highly topical subject, attracting some
outstanding participants, including the Official Representative for
Creative Industries of the French Minister of Culture.
One of the new features of the congress consists of reviews of
specific countries, focussing on Brazil, Japan, China and Russia. We
have also observed a great deal of interest in markets in Eastern
Europe.

World's largest platform for professional showcases

There were some 2,500 submissions, more than ever before, from
more than 30 countries for the Popkomm Music Festival. Some 2,000
artists from all over the world will be appearing at the 30 festival
clubs to the delight of international music experts and the Berlin
public. Today the Popkomm Festival is the world's largest platform for
professional showcases. This year's festival programme again includes
a combination of music and literature, "Word up!" The Popkomm Music
Festival will reach its climax on 23 September with the Berlin
Clubcommission's Club Night.