December 2003:
- Features:
1) Finns taking over Midem 2004
- Awards
- Live news
- Behind the numbers / Behind the scenes
Rapidly growing Finnish music exports reflected in the number of Finnish companies attending Midem 2004 in Cannes
Despite the current downturn in global music sales, the jolly Finns can be proud. Domestic sales are reassuringly on the rise: Total music sales in the third quarter of 2003 were up by 9,7% (units sold) and 7,3% (value) compared to last years figures: Total domestic music sales stand at 54% (units). The industry on the whole is certainly on the move according to the recently published report on the total market value of Finnish music exports. Music exports quadrupled between 1999 and 2001 and the industry is confident that this increase will continue.
A growing confidence in Finnish exports is also evident by the doubled number of Finnish companies due to attend the forthcoming Midem trade fair in Cannes January 25-29. Twenty participating companies will be attending the Music Export Finland stand representing a broad range of Finnish music: labels and publishers from rock and pop, hip-hop, electronic, classical, world music and jazz; club organisers, managers and web-shops; listening-point station developers - and Nokia. The product line-up is likewise varied and of high-quality. Indeed, the Finnish stand will create an exciting and versatile business forum!
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Make sure you don´t miss the coolest party of the event: The Infamous Finnish Black Monday Party will be celebrated on Monday, 26 January from 5pm.
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Confirmed delegates at Music Export Finland stand R35.11.
Alba Records
Exogenic Records/Exogenic Breaks Records
Hoedown
Johanna Kustannus/Megamania
Kool Kat Records
Love Music Publishing
Nokia
Ondine
Poplandia Music/Gaga Goodies
P.V. Supa
Rockadillo Records/Zen Master Publishing
Rubato Music
Stupido Records
Thirteen Productions
Wolfgang Records
Copyright Information and Anti-Piracy Centre Finland
Finnish Music Information Centre
Finnish Music Publishers’ Association
IFPI Finland
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BUSINESS
POKO REKORD´s gothic noblemen The 69 Eyes recently released both a fabulous collection, Framed in Blood - the Very Blessed of the 69 Eyes, covering 10 fruitful years of the band and a hefty DVD Helsinki Vampires. Riot punk trio Bitch Alert finalised a representation deal with the Dutch Paperclip Agency and are in negotiations for a significant sub publishing contract for the GSA area. Forthcoming Poko releases include: the girl pop sensation Nerdee single Cold alongside the video featuring a brief snapshot of the eagerly awaited film Addiction; singles charts climber Diablo‘s single Read My Scars from their debut album Eternium (January).
The excitingly insane Eläkeläiset (STUPIDO RECORDS) DVD is selling like crazy in its home territory, which is suitable for the group renowned for their mad arctic antics. The DVD will be released in Scandinavia and Germany early next year. Other forthcoming Stupido releases include The strange twighlight band Kumikameli album Kinahmo (January), pop band Treeball album National Treasure (Feburary) and groovey vibe masters Hypnomen album Crystal Skies (March 13). The techminimalistic melancholic Giant Robot will release their new album in April with video Public Shopping out in Feburary.
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AWARDS
The Finnish Composers’ Copyright Society Teosto has announced the recipients of the first annual Teosto Prize. The award worth 40 000 euros was divided equally between Kimmo Hakola’s orchestral piece Le Sacrifice, Kimmo Pohjonen’s experimental work Kalmuk and Maija Vilkkumaa’s singer/songwriter album Ei. The inaugural Teosto Prize has been founded to advance Finnish music, and is not bound to any musical genre or style.
Funded by the Finnish Composer’s Copyright Society Teosto, Finnish Music Information Centre FIMIC celebrates 40th anniversary. Since 1963 FIMIC has worked for advancing Finnish music both abroad and in Finland.
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LIVE
The lively Don Johnson Big Band performs in Eurosonic 2004 showcase festival delegated by the Finnish Broadcasting Company. Eurosonic takes place simultaneously with Noorderslag music industry seminar in Groningen, Netherlands, on January 810.
These girls are pure whisky! Retro rockers Thee Ultra Bimboos are touring in Europe on December 320. The Bimboo Wizard tour covers Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France.
La Lune des Pirates club in Amiens, France, hosts three nights of Finnish music on December 1719. Staged are Desert Planet, Aavikko, The Flaming Sideburns, Thee Ultra Bimboos, Jori Hulkkonen and Matsa DJ.
The garage-groovin’ Boomhauer will spread their good mood with a spring tour: England in February, and together with Kometa and Disgrace in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech republic for three weeks in March.
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Behind the scenes: Heavy metal magnets Stratovarius signed a three album deal with Sanctuary Records for 3 million euros in November. Songwriter Timo Tolkki followed the news by saying he was unhappy with the chemistry of the current line-up. After a round of talks between band members, Stratovarius announced singer Timo Kotipelto and drummer Jörg Michael will leave the group. So if you can hit the high notes classic heavy requires, give the band a call.
Behind the numbers: Some cruel Midem figures: You will be surrounded by at least 50 Finnish delegates from 20 companies (as opposed to 13 last year) in the infamous Finnish black Monday Party at Midem. Get to grips with the business before the Finns entice you into trying the black drink offered: it might not taste like it, but the alcohol percentage surely is 38.