BERLIN (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Popkomm, the international trade show aimed at the entertainment business is set for 2010 return after a year hiatus. This year's event will be held from September 8-10 at Berlin's Tempelhof Airport.
Popkomm is expanding their focus to make the conference more fan-friendly and will be including a day that's open to the public and take part in Music City at Tempelhof Airport. Inside the area where passengers used to wait for their flights, over a period of three days there will be concerts, meet & greets, acoustic sessions, film screenings and lectures. rbb's Radio Eins programme will broadcast live from the stage, the international music film festival IN-EDIT will screen music films and documentaries, and at the Popview photo exhibition young pop photographers will showcase their work.
Numerous companies will be presenting business models which will they hope will impact the industry's future. They include digital marketing platforms (Finetunes, Zimbalam, Recordjet), an online platform for distributing music (Soundcloud), internet music television (tape.tv), a web network that streams live music at clubs and venues around the world in realtime (Awdio), personalised music television (Putpat), and a portal for reviewing bands (GIGSWIZ).
This year Canada and the Netherlands will occupy the largest national pavilions. Russia, India, South Africa, Estonia and Cameroon are at Popkomm for the first time. India is not only hosting a big lounge at Popkomm but will also make an important contribution music-wise at the Popkomm Showcase Festival. The artist Vasuda Sharma won Music2deal India's internet casting contest and will represent India's wide-ranging spectrum of music at the fair.
This year's Popkomm showcase will feature more than 60 bands and solo artists who will perform at 11 venues on the airport grounds and at neighbouring locations in Kreuzberg. Bands include Cast of Cheers, De Staat, Jesse, Rich Aucoin, Spleen United, The Megaphonic Thrift, Therese Aune and Yes Cadets. The music will also be playing at the C-Club & Chrystal Room, Silverwings, La vie en rose, Wasserturm, SchwuZ, Passionskirche, Privatclub, Ecksteck, Lido and Comet Club. The line-up comprises acts from 20 countries and will represent all music genres.
Organizers for Popkomm pulled the plug on the event in 2009, citing a 50% drop in expected attendance for the conference.
"This is a rapidly changing industry and we are meeting the challenge with new ideas", said Dr. Ralf Kleinhenz, Managing Director of Popkomm GmbH. "As part of the Berlin Music Week Popkomm now no longer only gathers members of the industry, but networks increasingly with music fans, who after all form the basis of the music industry." – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
