Altogether 16 Finnish companies are attending the Popkomm 2003 trade fair in Cologne, Germany, to promote their latest products and services, reach important international contacts and to present themselves to the international media. This active attendance shows that music exports have gained more ground in the Finnish music business. It also indicates a notable extension in the total amount of Finnish music exports. The participants represent Finnish record and publishing industry, managements and production companies that are actively selling to the foreign markets.
Popkomm delegates will have a chance to check out a strong showcasing entity on the Popkomm Saturday at Underground II: a Finnish action rock showcase will be organized presenting three of the genres top artists: the raunchy garage rockers Boomhauer, the hellcat rocksters with buring hearts Thee Ultra Bimboos and the explosive live act Screamin´Stukas.
Active participation indicates an increase in Finnish music exports
Finnish companies have regularly participated in Popkomm since the beginning of the nineties. During the years many artists have been successfully promoted at the trade fair and a handful of valuable international contracts have emerged. The Popkomm fair is a very important market place for the Finnish music industry. A substantial amount of the international successes among Finnish music business has taken place at the GSA market and in the last year alone, four Finnish bands, HIM, Apocalyptica, The 69 Eyes and Nightwish made it to the German charts.
Finnish actionrock showcase
Alongside with Popkomm trade fair participation Finnish music will be presented in an explosive action rock showcase. On Saturday 16 August, the last evening of the fair, Underground II venue will stage the top of the European action rock:
Boomhauer (Stupido Records) on stage 8.30pm
- The debut album Wild Human Condition immediately received rave reviews describing them as wild redneck country punk, pelvis-cracking burning soul, post Generation X white boy blues and raunchy garage rock. La Bruta
- Promotional shows worked together with the German Tug Records will be preceding the Popkomm show
Thee Ultra Bimboos (Spinefarm Records) on stage 9.45pm
- 2003 has been a turning point for the gorgeous foursome in many ways. They signed a new record deal with Finnish Spinefarm Records sublabel Ranch and decided to do their new album with totally new crew and in a different country. The plan turned into reality and in January 2003 Bimboo Wizard took its magical form in intense recording sessions and a mixing period in Stockholm with the long-term musician and studio superpro Ronald Bood sitting behind the mixing desk.
- Bimboo Wizard will be released in Germany just before the event through Universal Records German sub-label Motor Records.
- Before and after Popkomm the band will tour Germany on a joint Raw Vintage tour together with the Swedish Whyte Seeds and the German Monochords.
Screamin Stukas (Levy-yhtiö Records) on stage 11.00pm
- This Finnish platinum selling super combo have already built a reputation as an explosive live band abroad as well. During the year, their tongue-in-cheek c’mon-let’s-have-fun attitude has captured audiences in Scandinavia, Great Britain and Germany, and the word is spreading.
- Debut album A Lotta Rhythm proved that they’ve managed to capture their live energy uncut on record: the album has attracted praise from Britain and Germany, even though it is not even officially released outside Scandinavia as yet.
- Screamin Stukas will finish their German tour with the Popkomm performance.
Finnish music exports expanding
Finnish music exports have been in strong rise in the past five years. As a result of this, the industry established an export trade association, Music Export Finland, that was started up in December 2002 to assist and initiate promotion, marketing and sales of Finnish music export. This years projects include coordinating the Finnish participation at the Popkomm fair: this will be the launch of the trade association in the German market.
*** Finnish export activities in the near future ***
- A research report on the total market value of Finnish music exports will be announced in the beginning of September
- Helsinki Export Showcase 4-5 September 2003 in Tavastia Club, Helsinki: presenting the finest export bands in Finland at the moment, including both exciting newcomers and already internationally rated talents
Further information:
Music Export Finland, Paulina Ahokas, Director
Email: paulina.ahokas@musexfinland.fi
Mobile: +358 (0)40 5511 551
A RECORD NUMBER OF FINNISH COMPANIES ATTENDING THE POPKOMM 2003 TRADE FAIR IN COLOGNE
on 2003-07-04