Bicknell, Pope and Ramakers Go Eurosonic

Ed Bicknell, Carl Leighton-Pope and Leon Ramakers are among the speakers at this year’s Eurosonic-Noorderslag weekend, which has just announced its panel subjects and the full lineup of bands.

Bicknell, international VP for William Morris Agency, and former Mojo Concerts chief Ramakers will be interviewed on their careers and the state of the live music industry. Leighton-Pope will deliver one of the keynote speeches.

The January 10-12 gathering comprises almost 100 panels and private meetings. The public discussion topics include "Exporting Your Music," "Radio Rights At Festivals," "Health And Safety At Festivals," "Green and Clean Workshops" and "Booking A Tour Live Onstage," an annual feature that mixes the amusing with the educational.

"Why Is Swedish Music So Successful?" is another that will be under discussion, a subject particularly appropriate considering the success the country’s acts have enjoyed in the European Talent Exchange Programme (ETEP).

As part of the Swedish focus there will be two Swedish panels and a meet and greet with the Swedish music industry.

At least a dozen of the country’s acts will be trying to live up to the standards set by Sweden’s previous ETEP winners such as Loney, dear (2007), Moneybrother (2005) and Soundtrack Of Our Lives (2004).

There’s likely to be a lively threat from their neighbours in Denmark, another country that usually has an act do well at ETEP, particularly as The Kissaway Trail is already attracting media attention in the U.K.

It’s also likely that a U.K. act will do well, as both Franz Ferdinand and Editors secured a lot of outdoor work from the Groningen showcase.

Of the acts announced earlier, Belgium’s Hooverphonic has already enjoyed some European success, as has the same country’s Sarah Bettens.

The 2007 Eurosonic-Noorderslag weekend attracted 2,400 music biz professionals from 36 countries.

Just fewer than 250 acts appeared and took their chance to get spotted by the 54 festivals that subscribe to the ETEP scheme. More than 90 journalists and other media people turned up to report it.