Dave Pichilingi, Director, Liverpool Sound City! Dave Pichilingi is a director of Liverpool Sound City, Robot Records, Boss Events and is a co-owner of owners and directors of the Masque Club, Liverpool. He has also been a teacher at LIPA for a dozen years. Liverpool Sound City! Is a music festival and business conference company in Liverpool which stages and promote events under the same banner at International music festivals such as SXSW, Midem, In The City and Popkomm.

1. AGM Northwest Creative & Media Industries Overview of the Music Business Economy and the key issues and opportunities for the regional sector David Pichilingi 24th March 2010 dave@weareboss.co.uk

2. Share, but please attribute Dave Pichilingi Liverpool Sound City http://www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk/ 1st presented 25 March 2010 at the 1st How-Do/Vision+Media Northwest England’s Creative Industries AGM

3. Regional overview and competitive position London and South East primarily dominate the music market in relation to overseas investment Worldwide decline in record business The Northwest region has successful track record for artist development Regional strengths include SJM(promoters), AdLib/Wigwam (PA & tech suppliers), Sound City/In The City (International conference and festival) Creamfields (club brand & festival), All Around The World (label, TV channel & club brand), Kendal Calling (festival), Sentric Music (online publishing) UNESCO World City of Music bid

4. DCMS report 2009 The funding perspective Viewpoint from traditional funding sector is that the music environment is “too high risk” 39% of music businesses refused finance at development were given this reason This compares to just 18% of small businesses generally Perceived lack of access to finance for those looking to enter the marketplace Difficult for the new entrepreneurs to flourish

5. The Sound City perspective Liverpool Sound City at SXSW Rationale Formula Successes Liverpool Sound City (UK) Vision Strategic relationships (Musexpo, SXSW, CMW, Midem) The Conference (Meet The Buyer, The Trial, Create!) The Live Festival The regional agenda (artists and businesses) Dubai Sound City Brand extension First ever promoters to engage in this level of activity in UAE Issues for the future Shanghai and beyond Marketing Core to everything we do Regional, national and international across all areas of activity Managing perceptions and building profile of the region as a place to do business

6. Immediate call to action To promote and support the development of key regional brands that nurture and develop real business growth for the region To support regional businesses in raising national and international profile Identify high growth potential businesses and target for specific business support and investment opportunities

7. Think about the Future! Addressing the key challenges to growth in this sector? Where are the greatest opportunities? What policies should we be collectively developing to address and support the regional businesses? What roles are open for public sector to help in these areas? How can we offer better opportunities for businesses that wish to engage cross platform with our sector? How can we best support those at the grassroots level? We need to create better entry avenues for those people aspiring to work within our industry and develop a career in the music business? What are the skills shortages that exist in the music sector? What sort of workforce development or training is needed? What can media industry partners – for instance, both commercial and BBC – do to help promote new, diverse, local musical talent across all genres?

8. Finally The music business is going through unprecedented change. There is a real opportunity for the public sector to develop effective intervention to ensure the growth and future development of the excellent skills base and raw talent that exists in our region. This can only happen through incisive and innovative policy and action.