The Conference hosted by the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission (NIMIC) will address the challenges and the new opportunities opening up for the industry in Northern Ireland.
Speaking at the launch in the Whitla Hall, Queens University Belfast the Minister said: “Today’s event is about developing opportunities for creative individuals to take the step to making a career in the music industry whether they be composers, producers, managers, music publishers, artists, concert promoters, record companies and online music entrepreneurs.
“The music industry has become very important for Northern Ireland as over the last three years our artists have secured record and publishing deals bringing inward investment of over £2million.”
The music industry is changing, not just in how music is produced but in how it is marketed and sold across the globe. Globalisation and digitisation have brought new challenges in the form of increased competition but also immense opportunities.
Commenting on the Northern Ireland’s music industry the Minister continued: “It is not so long ago that those following a career in the music industry had to relocate to London taking with them their creative talent, skill and expertise.
“Today, whether you’re based in Belfast, Londonderry, Newry or Enniskillen, the technology is there for you to market and sell yourself across the globe if you have the right product.”
The Minister continued: “It is entirely fitting, therefore, that the launch of the Northern Ireland Music Industry Conference, ‘The Way Forward’ marks the opening of Year 3 of NIMIC’s flagship skills development programme ‘Music – It’s The Business’.
“This programme which has been jointly funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the Arts Council for Northern Ireland (ACNI), encourages more entrepreneurs from the music industry to start a business, and assists music companies to grow and compete more successfully in global markets.”
Recognising the importance of the creative industries and the recent launch of the £5million Creative Industries Innovation Fund the Minister said: “I am keen to see entrepreneurs making use of the funding available to support innovative ideas, products, and experiences in turn strengthening the sector as a whole.
“Northern Ireland is known around the world for our strong musical traditions. From Feargal Sharkey and Van Morrison to more contemporary bands such as Ash, Snow Patrol and the Divine Comedy, all have achieved significant popular and critical acclaim across the world.
“There is also a strong supply of talented emerging artists and musicians such as Duke Special, The Answer, Foy Vance, Ben Glove and Ian Archer. They are an inspiration and encouragement to people with ideas to seize every opportunity that opens up to them in this fast moving industry.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The music industry is one of the UK’s biggest and most culturally significant creative sectors. It has a turnover of £5billion per annum, export sales of £1.3billion and it accounts for the equivalent of some 126,000 full-time jobs in the UK.
2. Invest NI has also supported NIMIC’s trade marketing activities and as a direct result of these activities, NI based bands secured sales of approximately £850,000 in terms of advances and publishing deals over the past year.
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