Features
European Music Managers Launch EU Funded Support Program
Following a successful bid to the European Union’s Creative Europe funding program, the European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA) has announced the launch and initial rollout of EMMpower – “a three-year program to provide support and capacity building to thousands of music management businesses throughout Europe,” according to a press release.
The EMMA brings together music managers in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK – with links to allied organizations in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The organization, by its own admission, represents approximately 2,000 music managers across Europe, and another 600 worldwide.
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The latest member is the newly-formed Danish music managers association Danske Artist Managers (DAM).
EMMpower, which has launched effective March 2023, will provide EMMA members with market research, mentoring, networking, professional development, and advanced training opportunities. To encourage participation, the project will also incorporate a diversity task force and host focus groups on specialist genres.
First on the program agenda is a series of spotlights on key markets in Europe’s €81.9 billion commercial music sector, the first one focused on Germany, followed by one on the UK.
“Led by local experts, these free monthly online presentations will provide comprehensive information about the business structures of each individual territory, allowing managers to gain valuable first-hand insights to help grow the international careers of their creative clients,” according to the description.
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EMMA has also today opened applications for the EMMpower Mentorship Program, running from April 2023 through December 2023. The program is designed to “connect early-stage managers around Europe with more experienced peers for periods of tailored online consultancy. Participants will also benefit from monthly online educational workshops.
EMMA chair Per Kviman commented, “Music managers are the incubators, developers and business-builders of Europe’s creative talent. In a fragmented digital market, where most artists and songwriters operate as self-contained businesses, the role of the manager has never been so important, or so all-encompassing.
“Through rigorous research and by providing strategic mentoring and professional development, the EMMpower project is aiming to support music managers throughout Europe and to create new networks and communities. I believe this is a landmark opportunity for every type of music entrepreneur, and on behalf of EMMA would like to thank the team at Creative Europe for the responsibility they have invested in us.”
Tessy Schulz of Tessy Schultz International Artist Management Music Consultancy, and a previous mentor for EMMA, added, “EMMpower will provide music managers across Europe a unique opportunity to increase their knowledge, grow their business and develop new international networks. As a previous participant in EMMA’s mentor programme, I know first-hand how valuable these cross-border initiatives can be – allowing more experienced managers to pass on their knowledge, support and know-how to a younger generation, and creating new connections around Europe.”