Citizensound were invited by the Venice Festival Of Media organisers C Squared, to deliver a session at last year’s inaugural event, entitled ‘Brand, Bands and Fans’. We ran a panel session with esteemed band managers Pete Jenner of Sincere Management and Gary McClarnan of Sparklestreet. The aim of the session was to discuss how Brands could get involved with Music in ways that benefit them, the Artist and the Fans. The session was a sell out, with standing room only. This no-doubt influenced the orgasnisers decision to have us us back to run another session at this year’s event!

citizensound brands and bands session, DIY: Do… or Die?

DIY culture, where creators connect more closely to consumers, is beginning to alter the shape of the music industry. It is nothing short of an industry revolution - where record labels now act as agents, and where tour operators now act as record companies. Can brands harness the DIY culture? Where can agencies get involved? How can both manage the managers? This Session will find the answers.

And as ever we have an august bunch of speakers to chew the fat with citizensound founder Paul Bay acting as moderator.

Maarten Steinkamp CEO, Continental Europe of Sony BMG. Maarten heads up the Continental European division of SONY BMG, which at 20 markets, is the biggest international division of the music entertainment company of Bertelsmann and Sony Corp.

Martin Stiksel, Co-Founder, Last.fm set up insine.net in 1999, a platform for unsigned bands and an online record label together with Felix Miller. They were joined by Richard Jones of Audiosrobbler fame in 2003, and founded Last.fm with a view to building the social music platform to end them all.

Jon Webster, CEO, Music Managers Forum. “Webbo” has worked for 2 people most of his life - himself and Richard Branson. Most of his career was spent at Virgin Records, which he became Managing Director of in 1988. In 2007 he embraced the artist centric future when he was appointed CEO of the Music Managers Forum

John Ingham, Chief Experience Officer, ESP. John has been involved in interactive media since 1985. From 2001 to 2005 he was Head Of Content Development at UK mobile operator O2, helping to develop Europe’s first OTA mobile music download service. He now advises media and entertainment companies on their online and mobile strategies. He was also the first man to interview the Sex Pistols back in 1976!

We’ll post up more background information on the topics we’ll be covering in the run up to event. If you are planning to attend this years event, don’t forget to sign up for our session which will take place on Tuesday 15th of April at 1.45pm. We look forward to seeing you all there..