NEW BROAD-BASED FINNISH EXPORT ASSOCIATION TO BOOST FINNISH MUSIC EXPORTS
The Music Export Finland export group, established in 2002 and funded by thirteen visionary Finnish companies and organisations, will broaden its organisation and actions from export group to an association. Promotion and marketing of Finnish popular music will be continued and enhanced by this new association with members on a broad front from Finnish music industry organisations: IFPI Finland; Finnish Independent Record Producers Association Indieco; Finnish Musicians Union; Finnish Composers Copyright Society Teosto/Finnish Music Information Centre (FIMIC); Finnish Composers and Lyric Writers Association ELVIS; and The Finnish Music Publishers Association. This broad base of the the member organisations ensures that the services of the associations are available for all working within the industry.
The new association will take charge of the operations commencing January 1st 2005 and it will be funded by its members as well as the Ministry of Trade and Industry (appr. 60% of annual budget). All export projects will be funded with individual budgets.
Increased public funding improves opportunities for export promotion
The association will function with along the lines of other similar European export offices. It aims to develop and enhance the export opportunities and capabilities of professionals working in the Finnish music industry, and will seek to increase knowledge of Finnish popular music in the international market place. Music Export Finland particularly supports companies and organisations working in popular music. Music Export Finland does not work directly with artists or bands, but in co-operation with the companies or other bodies representing them.
Music Export Finland will initiate and facilitate joint marketing and showcase productions at trade fairs and other pivotal music platforms, stage networking events in Finland and abroad, and conduct market research. It will also produce joint promotional campaigns and provide news about Finnish music makers and companies to international professionals.
These projects are eligible for support from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which in summer 2004 was extended to cover part of artist travel expenses and promotional compilations and other joint promotional ventures. Most export funding, however, still comes from the individual companies within the music industry.
● Further information:
Paulina Ahokas, director (appointed director of the new association)
Mobile: +358 (0)40 551 1551