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Major international music conference Pivotal to launch in Birmingham this September

Birmingham will be the proud host of a new international music conference this September, set to take over the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter district for a unique one-day event.

  • Birmingham’s first international music conference of its kind launches in the Jewellery Quarter this September 
  • One-day event to feature panel discussions, seminars, networking and markets
  • Pivotal’s inaugural event takes place on Friday 14th September between 09:00-22:30
  • Tickets are on sale now
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Pivotal – Birmingham’s first international music conference in recent times – will showcase panel discussions, networking events and talks on anything from music production to distribution and journalism to PR and promotion across five JQ venues; 1000 Trades; The Actress & Bishop; RJJZ Jazz Bar; Stirlings and Giraffe Audio.

Up to 500 delegates are expected to be in attendance, with speakers and panelists confirmed so far including representatives from AWAL, British Academy for Songwriters, Composers and Authors, Believe Music, CMU, Formation Audio, PRS For Music, Resonate Streaming, Rotor Videos, Sentric Music & WARM as well as musicians Natalie Holmes and Emma McGann, producer Matthew Cotterill, and manager Paul Schofield (JAWS). Further panelists are to be confirmed in due course, including national and local media outlets.

 

An exhibition area at Pivotal will feature industry bodies and businesses Academy of Contemporary Music, Association of Independent Music, British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, British Phonographic Institute, Musicians Union, Music Managers Forum, Ticket Fairy and Tunecore.

Conference attendees will also have the ability to book one-to-ones with their choice of handpicked industry professionals with a series of Pivotal ‘Speed Networking Surgeries’.

Speaking about Pivotal’s debut, Lyle Bignon, founder of the Birmingham Music Coalition, said: “Recent developments in Birmingham and the Midlands region, as well as our many music business exports – from rising grime stars to acclaimed classical ensembles, emerging electronic producers to established music industry professionals – are all indicators that creative industry business here continues to grow beyond expectations.

Lyle continues: “The launch of the Birmingham Music Coalition will help to support and solidify the independent music sector and the supply chain to expand to meet demand.

“BMC is committed to highlighting the city’s attractiveness for national and international investment, whilst nurturing home-grown talent. We’re hyped to share our plans with the music community over the coming weeks and months.”

AIM, BIMM and CD Baby are all confirmed as sponsors in addition to the BPI, Musician’s Union, Purity, Ticket Fairy and ROTOR.

Pivotal will also see the first full Birmingham Independent Record Market (BIRM) take place, celebrating the best independent record labels and retailers from the city and beyond, and featuring vinyl, CDs, cassettes, merch and more from a host of traders across different venues in the Jewellery Quarter.

Pivotal Music Conference 2018

Pivotal takes place in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, UK on Friday 14th September 2018. Tickets are on sale now, priced at £16.50 via pivotalmusic.co.uk.

Richard Franks

Founding editor of Counteract. Freelance travel and music journalist.