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The Brighton festival and music industry convention is going live and pondering the blockchain in May
By IQ on 18 Feb 2016
image © The Great Escape
The Great Escape (TGE) has announced the first details of its convention programme for 2016.
An expanded ‘DIY programme’ on Saturday 21 May, hosted by CMU’s Chris Cooke, Dice’s Jen long and DJ/producer John ’00’ Fleming, will focus on artists ‘going live’, asking how singers, bands, rappers and DJs/producers can stage gigs and what digital channels they should use ensure they can take audiences with them after the show.
“For some reason there seems to be a dividing line between the electronic and live worlds, yet we all have exactly the same issues to deal with,” says Fleming. “As part of the TGE DIY day it makes sense for performers, producers and those working across all genres to be in the same room sharing experiences and solutions.
“Our aim is to build a bridge between the two worlds with a programme focusing on ‘going live’ which also showcases the very best in tomorrow’s music technology – and let’s not forget the fantastic networking opportunities as the two worlds rub shoulders together.”
The Great Escape Convention runs alongside the music festival programme and brings together 3,500 music industry delegates
The convention programme proper centres on four full-day ‘insight strands’ focusing on data, transparency, CDs and merch, YouTube, video content, diversity and health.
TGE today revealed details of two ‘strands’: Transparency! Data! Blockchain! Let’s make buzzwords happen!, hosted by PledgeMusic founder Benji Rogers, which explores whether the ‘blockchain’ can make digital music more transparent and efficient, and What if YouTube actually is the future?, which focuses on “both the licensing challenges and the commercial potential of YouTube; how music videos can be used as a platform of expression which looks beyond its primary function; and what kinds of video content really work online”.
The Great Escape Convention runs alongside the Brighton music festival, promoted by MAMA & Company, and brings together 3,500 music industry delegates. The four insight strands will take place on 19 and 20 May.