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42 MusicWeek 04.05.12 TERRITORYREPORT CATALONIA


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“The future looks very good indeed, as long as we keep in mind that a good music market needs a healthy, independent underground scene to nurture it.


MAARTEN VAN WIJICK, LA CÚPULA MUSIC


anymore, but if I have to buy one, let it be Catalan’,” he suggests. Yet as with every other territory, the weight of


economic uncertainty looms. “Spain is suffering in the financial world crisis, so the national market is difficult,” says More Music’s Sergio Martínez (right, top). “We have lots of talented artists supported by very professional companies, but since 2009 we’ve had the biggest reduction of the market’s volume. Many minor festivals disappeared and local public administration is bankrupt so, sometimes, we don’t even get paid for performances. You could say, that Catalan companies are trying to survive first and export our music in the meantime.” Still, within those Catalan borders are points of


strength, even if territories beyond them are relatively uncharted. “The Catalan music market has experienced remarkable development during the last 10 years,” says Richard Robles (right, second), co-director of Sonar music festival and professional conference. “Despite the recent economic downturn, the music industry has been growing consistently, particularly in the live sector.” He also points to developments with


international players: “The live scene is thriving in Catalonia and covers everything from small capacity venues to big festival events. International investors have started to recognise this potential and we have seen British entrepreneurs joining the Spanish market in recent years, with Vince Power taking over Benicàssim for example. We are sure that the fluxes will continue to increase. I believe that this territory has the perfect ingredients to continue developing a healthy live sector.” Enric Pedascoll (right, third), director of record


label and management company Bucono Music, pays tribute to the strong foundations and support music sees in Catalonia. “The creative force and the artistic level of musicians here are the territory’s strongest aspect,” he says. “There are also very good music schools and the support from the Catalan government is also strong.” Not everyone in the market is quick to


congratulate the government, however. Outstanding Artists’ Davyd gives a contrasting assessment, saying that the industry has suffered from the removal of “support from sponsors and government”, which


ABOVE Silvia lining: Able to draw a Catalan audience of 3,000 as an independent artist, Silvia Pérez has recently signed to Universal


comes at a time when recorded music is struggling, as it is across the rest of the world. President of independent record company


Blanco y Negro Felix Budget (left, bottom) has governmental qualms that music execs around the world are likely to relate to. “The market for live music is very active and vital,” he tells Music Week. “Every day there is a variety of concerts and festivals. People are always ready to go out and enjoy live music of any style. “However, we can´t say the same for recorded


music,” he continues. “Thanks to the inefficiency of the government in approving hard measures


against piracy, nowadays everybody can find any music for free and obviously that makes it difficult to find people ready to pay for it.” Looking to the future, that pride in the Catalan


product is present again. “It’s difficult to assess the future when we are in the middle of an economic


storm,” says Mar Pérez Unanue of Catalan! Music, a label created by the Catalan Institute for the Cultural Companies to promote the work of local musicians and artists. “But talent is not lacking in Catalonia and many companies, with more flexible working structures, could better adapt to the new situation that will emerge once the economic crisis


is over. “They are already looking for new solutions,


such as crowd funding, so that constantly emerging talent has its proper place in the market,” she adds. Enric Pedascoll reiterates, “The key to ensuring


a positive situation in the future is to be able to go abroad, to assume the challenge of the internationalisation of the music being produced


BREAKOUT SAVE THE DATE


Breakout’s monthly showcase for new and breaking acts returns on


Wednesday, May 9 at Proud Galleries in Camden. Breakout teams


up with Institut Ramon Llull and The Great Escape to host ‘Catalan Sounds on Tour’ in London. Featured acts


include Amics del Bosc, Maika Makovski (pictured right)


and Seward. “I’ve been spending a bit of


time in Barcelona over recent years and have seen some great shows from some of the bigger bands out of there like Pinker Tones, Muchachito,” said organiser All Night


Long Productions’ Gary Prosser (inset).


“The city is bursting with music, a lot of it unheard and innovative. It's easy to do business there, and they are keen to work.”


“There is a real market opportunity in the Catalan music industry and a real chance of finding the best and as yet unknown musicians and companies right here in Catalonia.” MARIA LLADÓ, INSTITUT RAMON LLULL


here. I would ask the UK music industry and other territories to be receptive with our music, which have very interesting values and quality.” Blanco y Negro’s Budget is similarly positive


about Catalan music going forward, even if his message is accompanied with cautious tones. “We can say that Catalan music is in a moment of transition and adaptation. We are trying to create a stable market situation with a global involvement,” he says. “That goes for everything from artist promotion to the recording of live concerts. “The future is optimistic,” Budget concludes,


“The lack of regulation on the internet and the consequent piracy problems still exist but Catalan companies have always known how to adapt to new technologies and how to get the most positive results possible.” Marc Lloret of Mercat de Música Viva de Vic –


an international music exhibition and conference for the Catalan and Spanish music scene – shares the positive outlook. “Nowadays many Catalan bands are comparable to any other international bands,” he says. “They have their own pecularities, their own thematic universe with their own languages. Maarten van Wijck of La Cúpula Music, a


company that delivers a range of digital solutions for indie labels including distribution, marketing and sales tracking, is keen to marry technology and a strong independant scene to guarentee a bright future. “Barcelona as an epicenter is going through a very interesting, new creative phase,” he says. Recently, new stages, festivals and venues are opening, and the same can be seen in surrounding cities such as Tarragona, Valencia and Girona. The future looks very good indeed, as long as we keep in mind that a good music market needs a healthy, independent underground scene to nurture it. Combine this with connectivity, interesting music business initiatives and La Cúpula Music, and the possibilities are very promising.” IRL’s Maria Llado concludes with a final message


to the UK music industry and territories worldwide: “There is a real market opportunity in the Catalan musical industry. There are plenty of opportunities to find some of the best and, as yet, undiscovered musicians and companies right here in Catalonia.”


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