Global Music Industry Looks To Asia For Passionate Consumers And Digital Innovators

Creating a unique Asian forum for the world's creative and technology industries, Music Matters -- The Asia Pacific Music Forum is attracting an exceptional high-level collaboration of global entertainment and technology business leaders to Hong Kong in June. And here is why:
* Almost 40% of Asian youth are listening to even more music than they were a year ago (Source: Synovate Music Matters Survey*)
* By the time Music Matters kicks off on June 2nd, there will be over 300 million broadband internet users in China -- a 42% increase in only two years. (Source: China Internet Network Info Center)
* There are over 350 million mobile subscribers in India. (Source: Business Monitor International)
* In 2008 China Mobile reported US$2.4 billion in revenue from mobile music downloads and ringtones alone (Source: JLM Pacific Epoch)

Music Matters participants will be showcasing, discussing and debating the latest innovations, trends and deals taking place in Asia Pacific whilst exploring the influence and impact they have on the global entertainment economy.

"It is an incredibly vibrant market out there and there are huge business opportunities not to be missed" says Jasper Donat, co-founder of Branded & President of Music Matters. "China's digital landscape is changing. Mobile opportunities, the introduction of 3G and the incredible success of online social networking services are all characteristics representing this exciting new playground for the music industry."

The global spotlight will also be on major transactions, such as the recent Google China/top100.cn collaboration, which will be at the forefront of discussions at Music Matters as the international music industry looks to realise the region's potential.

Joining the speaker lineup is Gary Chen, the man at the center of the Google China Music deal and a pioneer of the new digitally converged Asia: "200 million people are downloading music at one time and China is the second biggest advertiser in the whole world." says Chen, Founder & CEO, Orca Digital Inc. (Top100.cn) "Last year (the industry in China) was worth US48 billion. Every company, including Chinese companies, is spending their advertising budget in China." And it makes perfect sense, as Chen says "If you have 200 million people going to a site, lots of advertisers will advertise on a legit music platform, like Pepsi, Nokia, Armani, Ford, anybody!"

Business opportunities in Japan will also take centre stage as Music Matters drills down into the world's largest mobile music market (and second largest music market behind the USA). Kei Ishizaka, CEO & Chairman, Universal Music LLC Japan, and Chairman RIAJ, will be opening the conference with a keynote address followed by panel sessions in association with the MPAJ aimed at drilling down further into this trailblazing market. "We are delighted that Ishizaka-san has agreed to open Music Matters 2009." says Donat. "He is one of Asia's most influential music men and respect for his vision and knowledge goes deep into the very fabric of the Asian entertainment business".

The industry is rallying support in the face of a global downturn. Over 250 companies have already registered with over 80 sponsors, trade associations and media partners onboard "We're absolutely blown away by the attention, interest and support we are receiving from an industry who passionately regard Music Matters as their very own" said Donat. "Clearly music matters to an awful lot of people!"

http://www.musicmatters.asia

The theme of the Music Matters programme this year is From Content to Context and all that lies in between. "From all sectors of the industry we're seeing a shift in focus from not just what people are listening to but how and where" says Donat. This shift is being examined by some of the music business's most influential names and industry heavyweights with the conference speaker line up including:

Major Record Labels:
* Kei Ishizaka, CEO & Chairman, Universal Music LLC Japan, and Chairman RIAJ
* Lachie Rutherford, President, Warner Music Asia Pacific, and Chairman of IFPI Asia Pacific Regional Board
* Richard Sanders, President of International, President of Global Marketing, Sony Music Entertainment
Michael Nash, EVP, Digital Strategy & Business Development, Warner Music Group
* Michael Paull, EVP, Global Digital Business, Sony Music Entertainment
* Rob Wells, SVP, Digital Universal Music Group International
* Sandy Monteiro, SVP (ASEAN), VP - Digital (SE Asia), Universal Music Group
* Ken Cheung, VP, New Media & Business Development, APAC, Warner Music Asia Pacific
* Kimitaka Kato, Managing Director, Universal International, Universal Music LLC
* Nobu Nakatake, SVP International Labels, BMG Japan
* Shridahr Subramaniam, Managing Director, Sony Music Entertainment India

Independents:
* Haji Taniguchi, Managing Director, International Strategy & IP Strategy, Avex Group Holdings Inc
* Anthony Tse, CEO, Cosmedia Group
* Norman Halim, President & Group CEO, KRU Studios
* Simon Wheeler, Director of Digital, Beggars Group
* Song Ke (Michael), CEO, Taihe Rye Music Co Ltd
* Stuart Watson, CEO, SWAT Enterprises Pte Ltd

Publishers/Collection Societies:
* Ken Ohtake, President, Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc, and Director & Chairman of the International Commission, MPAJ
* Susanna Ng, Regional Managing Director, EMI Music Publishing Asia
* Bryan Lam, Regional Manager, Asia Pacific, BIEM
* Brandon Bakshi, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Europe & Asia, BMI

Artists/Managers/Agents/Promoters:
* Jamie Cullum, Singer/Songwriter/Pianist
* Chris Dalston, CAA
* Scarlett Li, CEO & Co-Founder, Zebra Media
* Terry McBride, CEO, Nettwerk Music Group
* Tim Clark, Joint Managing Director, ie:music ltd, and Manager, Robbie Williams
* Jonathan Daniel, Partner, Crush Management
* Patrick Lee, CEO, alivenotdead.com
* Wei Ming, EVP, Beijing Gehua Live Nation Entertainment & Sports Co. Ltd
* Michael Hosking, Group Managing Director, Midas Promotions
* V.G. Jairam, Partner, Oranjuice Entertainment
* M.C. Jin, Artist
* Carl Choi, CEO, Catch Music Group, & Executive Producer, Plan C Group

Advertisers/Agencies:
* Mateo Eaton, Partner, Invention, Mindshare
* Umut Φzaydinli, Global Music Marketing Manager, Coca Cola Company
* Robert Campbell, Managing Partner/Creative Brand Strategist, Sunshine/M&C Saatchi
* Cheryl Calegari, Senior Marketing Director, Asia Pacific, Converse

Media/Technology:
* Bin Lin, Engineering Director, Google China
* Gary Chen, Founder & CEO, Orca Digital Inc. (top100.cn)
* Allen Guo, CEO, Yobo.com
* Elizabeth Schimel, Global Head of Music Services, Nokia
* Janice Lee, EVP, TV & New Media, PCCW Ltd
* Jay Kim, VP, Head of APAC Business, RealNetworks Asia Pacific
* Martin Blomkvist, Global Head of Content Acquisition & Management, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
* Ralph Simon, Chairman Emeritus & Founder, Mobile Entertainment Forum -- Americas, & CEO of The Mobilium Advisory Group
* Rob Lewis, CEO, Omnifone Group
* Ruuben van den Heuvel, Head of APAC, Digital Music Retail, Nokia
* CheeK, EVP, Chinese Language Programming, Satellite Television Asian Region Ltd (STAR)
* William Bao Bean, Partner, SoftBank China & India Holdings
* Alvin Liu, Chairman, CEO, Executive Director, A8 Digital Music Holdings Ltd
* Marcel Fenez, Global Entertainment & Media Practice Leader, PwC
* Paul Smith, Head of Label Relationships, Nokia
* Paul Abfalter, General Counsel, CSL
* Ian Stewart, Head of Asia, Friendster
* Ayrton Zhu, General Manager, Digital Multimedia Department, Tencent
* Abigail Wong, Head of Music, Product Development & Infotainment, Maxis Communications Berhad
* Sissel Henriette Larsen, Director, Broadband, Internet & Services, Business Development & Research, Telenor Group
* Aenil Premji, Chief Marketing Officer, CSL Limited
* Antonio Park, CEO, Mnet Media Corp.
* Stefan Rust, Director, EXICON & Chairman Emeritus, MEF
* Neeraj Roy, Managing Director & CEO, Hungama Mobile, and MEF Asia Chair
* Yoshiaki Kudo, Founder & CEO, Digz, Inc. Group

Others:
* Kelly Cha, TV/Radio Host/Artist, Zha Zha Club
* John McLellan, Partner, Haldanes
* Susanna Lam, Research Director, Synovate
* Leonard Apcar, Deputy Managing Editor & Chief Editor for Asia, The International Herald Tribune
* Normandy Madden, Asia Editor, Advertising Age
* Gabriela Kennedy, Partner, Hong Kong, Lovells
* Kristie Nickolson, Of Counsel, Shanghai, Lovells LLP

http://www.musicmatters.asia