GRONINGEN, NL (VIP-NEWS) — With 259 performing artists at its festivals and 2.650 professionals attending the conference, EuroSonic Noorderslag broke all records. Taking place 15 – 17 January in Groningen, Europe’s main music conference and showcase festival sold out in record time.
Opening ceremony
EuroSonic Noorderslag was officially opened during the conference with Jan Figel (European Commission – Commissioner responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism, SK), Mr. J. Réveillon (European Broadcasting Union – Director General Plus, FR) and Herman Schueremans (Rock Werchter, BE) speaking on the importance of the event and its influential role in Europe.
European Border Breakers Awards 2009
In its program EuroSonic Noorderslag welcomed the 2009 European Border Breaker Awards (EBBA's) event to Groningen along with a spectacular TV-show on the opening night of the event in the presence of European Commissioner Ján Figel', numerous VIP’s and 1200 visitors.
Presented by the well-known UK TV personality Jools Holland, the show featured the performance of five of the ten award winning acts: Lykke Li (SE), Cinema Bizarre (DE), Kraak & Smaak (NL), Ida Corr (DK) and AaRON (FR), as well as from some special guests: former EBBA winner Gabriel Rios (B), who performed his hit song ‘Broad Daylight’, and the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.
The conference featured several topics related to the file sharing in music. Last fall three Dutch ministries ran a large scale research program. The results of this research were presented to Dutch Minister of Education Culture and Science mr. R.H.A. Plasterk who, as a reaction to the report, emphasized the importance of payment for composers and artists for the works they make.
Focus on Belgium
During the entire event all spotlights were on Belgium, which was the official focus country of the event and presented a broad range of interesting panels during the conference, with topics about Belgium venues and festivals, the do and don’ts of doing business with Belgium and a special keynote interview with Herman Schueremans (Rock Werchter). During the festival Belgium showed their best new talent on various stages throughout the city of Groningen, with performances by Zita Swoon, Novastar and many others.
Broadcast all over Europe
EuroSonic Noorderslag receives international coverage in Europe, working closely with the largest broadcasting association of national broadcasters in the world: the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Supporting the event since 1999, the EuroSonic Noorderslag and the EBU proudly celebrated their 10 years of cooperation. The EBU offers wide exposure of live music, with 21 European radio stations relaying 380 concert recordings from Groningen in 2008. Official figures of 2009 to be announced soon.
Official numbers EuroSonic Noorderslag 2009
Total number of visitors 18.000
Nationalities 34
Professional participants 2.650
Artists 259
Radio stations 22
International festivals 123
ETEP festivals 59
Number of stages @ EuroSonic 32
Number of stages @ Noorderslag 9
Network Europe members 38
European journalists 140
