ECMA Announces 2015 Export Buyers Program Delegates & Highlights

Press release provided by Pigeon Row
http://www.pigeonrow.com/
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Over 100 international delegates from the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Switzerland, Belgium, and Australia descend upon St. John’s, NL for the 2015 Eastlink East Coast Music Week, April 9-12.  

 

“In 2002, we started the Export Buyers Program with 13 international delegates,” says Shelley Nordstrom, Export Manager for the East Coast Music Association. “14 years later, our program has grown to a phenomenal North American success story, renowned as a leading ‘business to business’ marketplace with over 100 international and Canadian delegates. The program is a concrete pillar for export business development and results in millions of dollars in annual revenue for East Coast artists and companies and builds long term relationships with international and Canadian booking agents, presenters, festival representatives, promoters, film and music placement supervisors, digital experts, and media. The true impact of this program has greatly assisted to elevate Atlantic Canadian artists and businesses into the global marketplace.”

 

Some of the international program delegates include: (US) booking agent Trish Galfano, Myriad Artists (NC); Ryan Farlow, The Windish Agency (NY); Meredith Fraser, Panache Booking (LA); talent buyer David Silbaugh, Summerfest (MI); Kelly O’Neill Wenzel, producer of the Boulevardia Festival and the Kansas City Irish Fest (MO); Chuck Wentworth, Rhythm & Roots Festival (RI); Nan Krushinski, Pittsburgh Irish Fest (PA); George Holt, NC Museum Park/National Folk Festival (NC), William Lewis, PineCone, the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music (NC); and film and television licensing experts, Chris Jackson, NBCUniversal (CA); John Bissell, Mothlight Music (CA) and Leigh Henrich, Razor & Tie (NY) to name a few.

 

Some of the European delegation includes: booking agent Alan Bearman, Alan Bearman Music and producer of Sidmouth Folk Week; Rob Gibbs, Live It Out Agency; Pip Martin, Midnight Mango; Rob McGee, Electric Harmony Music; Terry O’Brien, Playpen Management & Agency; Phil Simpson, Regent Music; Dick Dixon, Warwick Folk Festival and the Bromyard Folk Festival; Silas Kendall, FolkEast Festival; Donald Shaw, Celtic Connections; Andy Shearer, Southern Fried America Festival and Perth Concert Hall; Craig Corse, TwentyTwo Promotions; Lisa Whytock, Active Events; Ronnie Gurr, Burnsong; Charles Gardier, Les Francofolies de Spa; Ulrich Schuwey, Pas Mal Bien Agency and more.

 

The Australian delegates include: booking agent Harry Moore, 123 Agency; Jon Howell, Rhythm Sections; and Chloe Goodyear, Head of Programming for the Woodford Folk Festival and Australia’s Festival of Small Halls.

 

A few of the Canadian presenters include: Chris Frayer, Winnipeg Folk Festival; Julien Desaulniers, Festival du Voyageur; Sue Panning, Canmore Folk Festival; Linda Tanaka, Vancouver Folk Festival; Ben Pearlman and Jeff & Tara Cohen, Toronto Urban Roots Festival/Lee's Palace/The Horseshoe/Collective Concerts; TK Gesner, Toronto Pride; Jenny Thibault, Festival de musique émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue; Andre Guerette, The Agency Group; Ryan Heerschap, I Book Shows and music supervisors; Marco DiFelice, Indie Joe; and Michael Perlmutter, Instinct Entertainment. ECMA also welcomes many local presenters, festival programmers, and members of the Atlantic Presenters Association. 

 

"The ECMA’s Export Buyers program sets the benchmark for music business growth initiatives across Canada and around the world,” says ECMA Executive Director Andy McLean. “This program offers our members an unparalleled opportunity to further their careers by showcasing for influential international buyers. Congratulations to Shelley and the whole ECMA team for creating such a valuable platform, and good luck to all the participants."

 

A complete list of the 2015 Export Buyers Program delegates and the industry conference schedule is available at www.ecma.com.

 

The 2015 ECMA Export Buyers Program highlights include a wide variety of Interactive Export Business Development sessions, pre-scheduled One-on-One Business Meetings, Networking Mixers and the hugely popular Canadian Music East Coast Style Export Buyers Showcases, and ‘Two for the Show’ - Live Performance Pitch Sessions.

 

The 2015 Industry Conference features some of the music industry’s biggest and best minds, who will lead four days of seminars, forums, workshops, showcases and business meetings.

 

The 2015 Export Buyers Program and Eastlink East Coast Music Week have received financial support from the Government of Canada through the International Business Development Agreement, IBDA (represented by Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and Industry Canada) and the four provincial governments in Atlantic Canada. The East Coast Music Association would also like to acknowledge the financial support from the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the City of St. John's, MUSICACTION, FACTOR and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters.