A2A Conference To Go Ahead

The new international music convention, Access To Amsterdam (A2), is to take place next week starting on Wednesday the 17th and running through Saturday the 20th. Organized by a group of people headed by SXSW co-founder Louis Jay Meyers, the conference will distinguish itself from other trade fairs such as MIDEM and PopKomm by putting more emphasis on the music, as well as including daytime seminars there will include many live concerts during the event. A2A has been set up by the Dutch Rock and Pop Institute (NPI) and funds are already intact for the first four years from governmental subsidies. Other partners include Local Promoter Mojo Concerts/Clear Channel Entertainment.

Despite the recent tragedy that hit New York and the effect this has had on the rest of the world, the organizers have decided to go ahead with the event, although on a slightly smaller scale than originally planned.

– “We will proceed with the conference as a show of solidarity to the people who have experienced loss and in the hope that life will continue in peaceful existence. We all wish to express, from the bottom of our hearts, deep sympathy for those who have suffered due to the recent events. We understand that there will be those who will not want to travel due to the political and military darkness in the world at this time, and especially to our American friends – we want to encourage you to take care of yourselves and your families in whichever way you can and please know we support your decisions.

– Though we have had few cancellations, which proves the bold and adventurous spirit of the Music Business, we are planning, at this time, to scale our event in a way to accept the choices made by Artists, Panelists and Registrants during this difficult and confusing time. There will be a few less venues and a few less panel rooms than our original plans, but that will only make the event more positive for those that attend. The website will note these changes as they happen. (www.a2amusic.com)

– We want to finish what we have begun and start to look forward to the next A2A which we will announce during the event for those of you who cannot be with us this year.”

During the daytime the conference will focus on networking and education offering support and information to all levels of the music industry including music business basics, current trends in live music, recording and new technology.

By night A2A will be focusing on live music with showcases on many stages around the heart of Amsterdam featuring all styles of music with a combination of established artists and hot up-and-coming acts from around the world. Artists will perform to an audience made up of music industry professionals, media and music fans from the general public.

One of the main goals behind the event is to connect people across borders and to create better opportunities for artists to make contacts in and discover the rest of the world. A large percentage of people within the music industry are still not working outside their own national borders – something which the A2A organizers hope to change.