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23
Sep

Europe in Synch at Westway LAB 2020

Posted by: Nikki in: B2B , Events , Uncategorized

Europe in Synch returns to the Portuguese Westway LAB in 2020, and will conclude the Music Moves Europe Initiative with a panel presenting its findings, its insights and its conclusions with regards to the follow-up project. 

An initiative by music professionals and synch experts who have a wide range of individual professional tie-ins into the synch-business, since its launch at Westway LAB in 2019, Europe in Synch has brought into motion a curated process of networking, connecting, educating, communicating, creative and legal consulting, brokering and exploitation to open the way towards an optimized synch business for artists, composers and European SMEs.

Aiming at the synchronisation work sphere, Europe in Synch works towards territorially bespoke synch-business scenarios by bringing together the “Music” (European rights owners and composers) with the “Opportunities” (advertising and film production).  When there are no synch deals done based on European content, that translates into less money, less jobs, and less EU musical culture in film and European advertising, North-American culture dominates our landscape.

Says project manager Markus Linde:
“Europe in Synch has, for the first time, brought into motion a curated process by addressing territorially bespoke synch-business scenarios. With our activities so far we have promoted the basic Europe in Synch idea and with quite some personal effort have tested the waters with proto-type events. The primary goal of this Preparatory Action has been to implement and road-test a workable scheme towards an optimized synch business.”

So far Europe in Sync has prepared and hosted one-day workshops at European music conferences (Westway Lab PT, SPOT+ DK, Live at Heart SWE, Sonic Visions LUX, MENT SLO) bringing together more than 50 participants from the music side with selected senior experts from the world of advertising followed by a public panel presenting the project and the findings of the sessions.

During the 2019 Reeperbahn Festival, Europe in Sync initiated and co-hosted a proto-type Meet&Mingle event bringing together for the first time synch professionals from the music side with creatives and producers from the advertising sector, where a panel discussion introduced the parties and the EinS project and diagnosed the need and willingness for a creative dialogue.

The film/TV sector is addressed in a proto-type Film Brokering event digitally staged in Lisbon in September 2020 in partnerships with ICA, the Portuguese Film Institute. For the first time in Portugal, this film-music brokering-session brings together film-makers in search of music with music-professionals creating film-music or representing music catalogues and music supervisors. 

In October 2020 Europe in Sync will conclude its program at the Westway LAB music conference with a panel presenting its findings, its insights and its conclusions for the next step. The findings are being analyzed thoroughly and will become the foundation and the framework for a larger long-term project. The three managers of the project have announced that reactions, input, demand and encouragement have been such, that it is safe to say that EinS will resume its mission beyond 2020. 

-END-

Notes to Editors:

Europe in Synch are;

Nuno Saraiva PT
Project Supervisor, SCL Lda. / Europe in Synch

With  over 25 years music industry experience in Canada, UK, and Portugal,  Nuno Saraiva is the founder of SCL Agency and its group of companies. Saraiva is the Executive Director of the WHY Portugal export office and music exchange platform, founded in 2016. Saraiva is also co-founder of  Portugal’s first PRO conference and showcase Festival Westway LAB, which  started in 2014, and is also the founding President of the AMAEI, the  Portuguese Independent Trade Association, founded in 2012.  He is a Board  Member of IMPALA, the European Music Companies Association in Brussels;  and also Board Member of EMEE – European Music Exporters Exchange, in representation of WHY  Portugal.

Markus Linde D
Music Supervisor / Project Manager, Thag’s Agent / Europe in Synch

With a long professional history in the record business, publishing and artist management, Markus Linde has been running his music-supervision thag’s agent imprint for some 16 years.  His services including music rights research, clearances and creative consultancy, Linde has a track record for music placements in national and international advertising campaigns and he also contributes to films and TV productions. Markus Linde is founding member and Project Leader of Europe in Synch, he conducts a personal consultancy and contributes to international conferences, work-shops and panels.

Nis Bogvad DK
Music Supervisor, Copenhagen Film Music

With 27 years experience as music professional, Nis Bogvad has worked in all aspects of the business. From Multi-Platinum selling Songwriter, EMI signed recording Artist and Producer to A&R director at EMI, Creative Director at Music Sales Group, Executive TV Music Producer to Music Supervisor. Nis has synchronized music to more than 200 commercials, TV series and Films.

Contact
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk

08
Jun

EXIT as a beacon of light at the end of the tunnel

Posted by: Nikki in: B2B

“Everyone from the event industry I spoke to is very excited about what is happening EXIT. I think it’s a little beacon of light  for the industry to focus on,” Maria May, CAA

The Third virtual session of international online conference “EXIT strategy”, discussed how the current pandemic situation has affected the live music industry and festivals, featured leading industry professionals including; Maria May, Global live music agent CAA, Christof Huber, YOUROPE, Cindy Castillo, Mad Cool Festival, Ruud Berends, ESNS and IFF Co-Founder and EXITs own Dušan Kovačević. Speakers gave insights into the situation in 3 different topics covering the current situation, the economic impact, and the future, and pointed out that newly published guidelines of WHO on mass gatherings, continuation of ETEP program, as well the loosening of restrictions in many countries in Europe, presenting big steps towards new horizons.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saXwVlcA9oU

“We are all really excited. Pretty much everybody I’ve spoken to in the industry is extremely excited that EXIT is going ahead. I think it’s a really good moment in this awful situation that we’ve all found ourselves in. I think it’s a little beacon of light for the industry to focus on a little bit against the backdrop of, we are still in very early stages with most markets around the world easing out of lockdown and working out what the future could be, what it looks like” – said Maria May. 

Secretary – General and board member of the European Festival Association Yourope, Christof Huber, said that the new recommendation of the World Health Organization which allows mass manifestations is a glimpse of hope.

“New reccomendations by WHO are like a glimmer of light that they see, that the live scene is important for our social feelings to get together, that it is important to have big gatherings” – explained Huber and stressed: „A good signs are ahead, we need to make sure that the audience trusts coming back and that the people can see that we can do the shows responsibly. “- explained Huber. What should never be forgotten, as Huber said, is the sustainability and value of live music.

Eurosonic Noorderslag is one of Europe´s, one of the most important showcase festivals that will definitely take place, in whatever format or form Governments and circumstances allow them to organize it.

“We’ll have artists do conference items but we’re not going to make up our minds on the final format or shape until somewhere in September. Obviously we are in a luxury position where we can see what the others are doing and how that goes, what works and what doesn’t work, and I think in this case it’s good to have a little bit more time, especially if you see how quickly things are changing at the moment.” – said head of Conference & ETEP @ ESNS / IFF Co-Founder, Ruud Berends. He revealed also that the European Talent Exchange Program, even in these difficult times, got the support to go ahead.

In previous months, the pandemic hit the event industry the hardest, bearing in mind that mass events were the first to be banned with a 100 percent drop in revenue.

The founder and CEO of EXIT festival Dušan Kovačević said that the invitation by the Prime Minister of Serbia to postpone the festival to august and not cancel it was unexpected news. Now the EXIT team has two months to prepare, and support and solidarity from the industry will be very important for the first events that are happening.

“I think that unity is probably the biggest theme that we will cherish from this situation. I was actually very positively surprised by how all of the industry came together. In Serbia, all of the festivals are set together for the first time and now creating an organization. This is the chance for the whole event industry to show to their Governments the real importance of the industry – economical, for the mental health, different social benefits, etc.” –  Kovačević concluded.

In discussing the  social importance of human contact, Cindy Castillo, underlined that the music industry must advocate that “new normality”, in which people can’t be able to touch each other, should not be an option because it’s in human nature to touch each other, have a need to hug get together, exchange feelings.

“We have been swallowing fear for three months. From TV, the internet, press. At the end of the day all of us, we work in music because we want to be different and it will be part of our life experience to actually go out there and normalize the situation. Not only because of our business but because music is about love, about getting together, about changing things. We need to make sure that all that fear has been for months disappears and they just start swallowing safety and understanding we can definitely be normal again, we will be normal again. I’m not going to live in a brutal reality „Black mirror” slash Matrix“ world.” – concluded Castillo.

One of the places in months to come, where the festival audience from all around the world will have the possibility to gather again will be the Petrovaradin Fortress from August 13 to 16., as all participants unanimously stated at the end of the panel – “See you at Exit!”

EXIT Festival is known for supporting social change since the Serbian revolution in 2000, is now presenting a series of panels under the name “EXIT Strategy”. The international online conference will gather regional or international panelists in the field of tourism, culture, events, media, and other spheres of public life.

To watch entire panel click here EXIT Strategy

Contact:
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpubicity.co.uk

26
May

NTIA RAISES CONCERNS OVER THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL DISTANCING ON THE NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY AND EVENTS SECTOR

Posted by: Nikki in: B2B

The Announcement last week from the Government on Departmental Task Forces working with Industry to find solutions has been received well, but there is a big question on what the government’s expectations are in terms of public health measures, and much scepticism from the sector as to how this will be managed, both operationally and through the licensing regulators.

The sector has already experienced operators being asked to close takeaway services based on the Public Safety Licensing Objective, with reasons cited as encouraging people to not socially distance. But how far is the responsibility of the Operator going to stretch?

What if some of these businesses are unworkable under the expected conditions, There must be some consideration for Government financial support for businesses unable to comply, allowing them to survive until they are able to re-engage the market place?

Says NTIA CEO Michael Kill:
“Will the Government take a more pragmatic approach and allow businesses to generate their own guides to mitigate the risk presented to us, as is the case with current Health & Safety measures? Without clarity, no one can plan, prepare, understand the viability. Our Industry wants to open, we don’t want to open and put people at risk, and the last thing anyone wants is for us to re-engage the market for us to be closed ⅔ weeks later following another spike in transmission and deaths.” 

Across Europe many countries are considering reducing the 2m social distancing guide inline with the World Health Organisations 1m recommendation, which has been re-enforced by many academics across the country as ‘sensible’. The bigger question is how will this work in Pubs and Restaurants and are Nightclubs, Venues and Events able to even consider these measures given the very premise to their existence.

The Night-time economy and events sector is built on social engagement and while many operators have been working tirelessly to find a solution, many businesses across the sector feel this is not an option, and that with the reduction in business capacity, enforced spacing, queue management, staff and customer safety and PPE brings into question not only the viability, but whether this is something that can be managed in many spaces. Even before we account for the public perception of safety within our businesses.

When lockdown is lifted many businesses feel they will only return at 40-43% of capacity for the first three months, with 64% of businesses not being financially viable. With an estimated start up cost of over 31K for the initial period, and an estimated 55% of staff returning to their roles across the sector. 

The NTIA continues to raise concerns over the impact of Covid – 19 on the Night-time economy and events sector. This has been recognised by the Department of Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) and the NTIA is now invited to join the Task Force working groups alongside other key organisations to draw on industry knowledge and experience to assess whether there are safe and workable solutions for the industry to return to business after the lockdown.

Katharine Khan, Village Underground &  EartH, London
“With 13 years experience running the 700 capacity Village Underground live music & club space in Shoreditch, London, we already know how many people we need to come through our doors to cover our costs.  Working on a regular basis at the much reduced capacities that would be required by social distancing will not enable us to cover our overheads, in fact it would run us into a financial hole pretty quickly.  We will need to find something else to do with the venue, either instead of running socially distanced events, or alongside them, otherwise we won’t exist by 2022. Our newer venue, EartH in Dalston is already covering the costs of a massive restoration project as well as overheads so the situation is similar if not more difficult.  Our best options at the moment seem to be to find something else to do with the spaces until we can reopen at ‘usual’ capacity, and to pursue live streaming.  If we are successful and can protect the businesses and the leases on the venues through temporary alternative uses we may be able to run some events under the new rules alongside but they would all be likely to lose money in themselves.” 

Dan Perrin Studio 338, London
“Nightclubs, festivals and music venues are taking on a huge financial burden in order to do our part in fighting COVID-19. This is our moral and civil duty. We have remained shut,  followed all guidelines and understand that we need to be patient and responsible at this critical time. It cannot, however, be fair, or right, to rush our industry into reopening with restrictions and conditions which will inevitably lead to financial ruin for the vast majority. 

Many of our overheads are fixed and cannot be scaled to make lower capacities viable. Not only that but the entire experience of going to enjoy music in a social, worry free environment, will be severely compromised and could cause permanent and terminal damage to live music in the U.K. – this is an issue which is unique to our industry……bringing people together is at the centre of what we do and have always done. 

It seems to me that we should be sensible with the reintroduction of events. Do not rush to reopen them, but repay our support by protecting us until it is safe to reopen in a way which will bring London’s music scene bursting back into life rather than seeing all of the heritage and culture we are so famous for become a victim of the virus. 

We do not expect to be making money right now, we are just about getting by and that is ok…..but to ask us to lose everything we have worked for seems grossly unfair. One thing is very clear: if clubs like Studio 338 are required to open at a vastly reduced capacity, with squares to separate dancers etc….that will mark the end of something very important to this city 

With the exception of outdoor events….let’s wait a little longer, support us just a little longer, let’s not lose the soul of London for the sake of a few months. Venues like ours are the colour in many people’s lives and our reopening will be the ultimate sign of the world becoming recognisable again. 

It’s important for everyone, venues and the public that it is done correctly with due consideration to what is possible, feasible and ensures people can actually enjoy themselves. That is the most important thing  after all.”

Mike Grieve – SubClub. Glasgow
“Fundamentally I don’t see how social distancing can work in a nightclub setting, regardless of the size of the space. The very essence of club culture is about sharing emotion and excitement as a crowd in close physical contact with each other. That’s not to mention the practical difficulties of managing bar service, toilets, security searches etc. or the fact that most clubs need 90% + capacity to break even financially. Until we can reopen to 100% capacity I think clubs like ours will remain closed.”

Contact:

Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
Email: nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk 
Mobile: 07957 434517

13
May

NTIA SURVEY RESULTS REVEAL NIGHT TIME ECONOMY BUSINESS CONCERNS POST LOCKDOWN

Posted by: Nikki in: B2B , Events

START

Following a survey released to over 200 sample businesses nationally across the Night Time Economy & Events Sector the NTIA have some significant findings on the forecasted outcome following the release of lockdown.

  • Businesses believe they will only be operating at approx. 40-43 % of capacity once lockdown has been lifted.
  • 63.8% of businesses feel they will not be financially viable at 40-43% of business capacity under proposed government measures within the first three months, and will need sector specific support.
  • £31,131.00 would be the average cost to restart their businesses following lockdown.
  • Businesses have predicted that only 55% of the current hospitality workforce will return to work.
  • 93.8% of business owners are concerned that social distancing measures will make their business unviable.
  • 70.8% feel the battle with public perception and the current narrative will have a lasting effect on their businesses.

Without an understanding of the measures the government will place on NTE Businesses and Events in terms of Social Distancing/PPE, the level of financial support and the timeline with which these measures and provision will be put in place has left the industry in an untenable position, effectively mothballing many businesses across the country. 

Survey respondents believed that following the NTE & Events sectors release from lockdown, 63.8% of businesses feel they will not be financially viable at over the first three months of re-engagement and will only be operating at approx. 40-43 % of capacity.

When asked about the cost of re-engaging the market place following lockdown, the average cost was over £31,131.00 just to restart their businesses within the first three months. With nightclubs and suppliers costing over £50K to restart activity.

Over 70% of the workforce has been furloughed and there is a clear understanding across the sector that only 44.9% of the sector staff will not return to their roles. According to the survey only 55% of the workforce will return, in particular, we have had feedback from the Private Security Sector which believe that over 60% of the Workforce will not return to their NTE roles due to uncertainty within the sector. This will leave a huge hole in licensed security resource, with many concerned that skilled workers will have been lost amidst the lockdown, due to personal financial pressure and security. subsequently leaving the NTE & Events sector exposed.

93.8% of business owners and operators are concerned that the social distancing will significantly reduce business capacity, where it will become financially unviable. Many realise that the social engagement business model and the spaces with which they operate will not work with proposed restrictions by the Government. 

70.8% feel the battle with public perception and the current narrative that has been bestowed on the Night Time Economy & Events sector will have a lasting effect, until it is reversed by senior figures in Government. Guidance on PPE, Risk Assessments and Staff training and communication present very relevant financial commitment, but without clarity on sector specific measures and financial support, many businesses will be left in limbo.

Given that the Government has released a very ambiguous strategy for a potential release of business lockdown for the sector of 4th July, the Industry are asking for a minimum of 3 weeks (22.9 Days) notice to be able to prepare for restarting the sector, including the re-engagement of suppliers and staff resource.

The NTIA represents the enormous success story that is the UK’s fifth biggest industry, which accounts for at least 8% of the UK’s employment and revenues of 66 Billion per annum (that’s 6% of the UK total). Members include; Independent bars, nightclubs, restaurant owners, pubs, festival and live music event operators as well as music managers and other supporters of the benefits of the Night-Time Industry from the world of business, culture, media and politics.  This is an important sector to the economy that supports a huge amount of people and must be supported and protected.

Key Quotes from the Survey:

 “Social distancing is incompatible with businesses selling social interaction.  You do not go to a bar to get drunk.  You go to a bar to socially interact with people.  Asking hospitality businesses to practice social distancing is a bit like trying to sell someone a car they cannot drive.”

“From what I can tell there is currently no guidance on how we could feasibly operate social distancing in either restaurants (between staff and customers) or pubs and clubs (seems impossible). In addition, with the way alcohol affects the decision-making processes, is it feasible to expect customers to adhere to social distancing. How would we be expected to control social distancing in outdoor areas with naturally high footfall?”

“They need to realise we cannot open partially whilst still paying all our bills, i.e. electricity for 10 people the same as 100. Atmosphere in pubs will be damaged and will do more harm than good”

“Penalties for guests who behave in an unsafe manner, will businesses be penalised if guests do not cooperate with distancing measures, can we process multiple incidences of sick pay for staff if they must isolate? Can we refuse hours to staff who we believe are required to self-isolate or will they still be permitted furlough?”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Analysis by Professor Fiona Measham & Maria Measham – Liverpool University

The survey was completed by 204 Members of the Night Time Industries Association including; Bars, Pubs, Restaurants, Hotels, Events & Festivals.

09
May

CATASTROPHIC IMPACT OF SOCIAL DISTANCING ON THE NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY AND EVENTS SECTOR

Posted by: Nikki in: B2B , Events

The Night Time Industries Association raises concerns over the impact of social distancing on the night time economy and events sector.

With the Government procrastinating over the future, the Night-time economy and events sector must act now and seek ways to adapt, diversify and remodel their businesses to survive during the lockdown. Ambiguous announcements on timelines and the consistent threats of social distancing remaining once lockdown has been lifted are placing pressure on many sectors.

The sector is built on social engagement and social distancing is an uncomfortable reality which will only lead to businesses becoming financially unviable in quick succession following the lift of government measures. The reduction in business capacity, enforced spacing, queue management, PPE, brings into question not only the viability, but whether this is something that can be managed in many spaces. Even before we account for the public perception of safety within our businesses.

 Says NTIA CEO Michael Kill:
“This goes beyond the current crisis; we must go further and use this experience to future proof businesses, bringing about a new normal, ensuring the economy is protected if this were to ever happen again. Lessons must be learned, and steps are taken to safeguard the future of the sector.”

Whilst the sector recognises the scale of the problems faced; it must be realised that some business models simply cannot adapt to some of the expected government measures. The balance between the required measures to safeguard public health against securing the protection of the economy is a hard line to draw.

Peter Marks –The Deltic Group, National Chain:
“Socialising in most town centre hospitality venues does not work with social distancing. It won’t work practically, or economically. Think standing areas, toilets, corridors, staff, and what would happen to the fire capacity?  It is the same for pubs, bars, clubs, live music venues as well as most restaurants. It is not for us to determine when we should return to normal albeit most of our customers and staff are in the low risk categories. But what we need to know is that we have a long-term support package that includes furlough payments and a rent deal mechanism for forgiveness, not just building up debt to become a zombie company later.  That way we can all be ready to give people the social life that is important to so many, whatever their preference for escapism, enjoyment and a night out.  Without hospitality, we merely live to work rather than work to live.”

Dan Deeks – Motion, Bristol:
“Social distancing has had a dramatic effect on our industry. Not only in the now as trading has stopped, but for the future.  Confidence in going out will be low and spending from our customers will also be impacted due to economic effects.  Coming back from this will be very hard, the challenge now is difficult but for example 3 months after opening will be even more so when bills need to be paid.”

Says Paul Daly – Roadtrip & The Workshop Zigfrid Ltd, London:
“We operate in a very over rented property in Shoreditch and this rent has evolved on the basis that loads of people come together, tightly together, and let off steam to amazing British & global music.  My venue does not have the room to have only 50% or 30% of the customers in and survive the huge costs involved in keeping the lights on. I’m vastly experienced at what I do and automatically know that if the government throws us under the bus and demands that we open in the middle of this pandemic we will not survive.”

Peter Hunter – Botanical Garden, Liverpool:
“There are changes and measures that will need to happen to industry to help it evolve in changing times.  There is an obvious need that these are mandated measures and balanced with support, as systems such as reduced capacity will across many industry venues render the business incapable of surviving the next few months. There needs to be consultation held with people inside the industry that have the day to day operational experience to figure out suitable best practices.”

Says Pete Jordan – Weird Science/MADE Festival, West Midlands:
“The concept of reducing venue capacities to follow social distancing guidelines is essential flawed. Beyond the economic aspects, the practicality of keeping audiences apart would be almost impossible to manage in an enclosed space. Leaving event organisers to try to navigate such and issue would neither be fair or financially realistic.”

The Night-time economy remains optimistic for the future, if we all get this right, and engage at the right levels to effect sector-specific recommendations, a comprehensive re-engagement strategy can be developed, supported by an extended financial support provision, through furlough, grants and loans.

A new landscape for the sector is anticipated and preparations for measures due to be imposed by the Government to safeguard Public Health are under way.

Furthermore, there will be considerations around the impact of resourcing, licensing and supplier management as well as understanding change in market conditions and customer needs on a business by business basis.

Contact:
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk

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