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We are delighted to announce new speakers for the inaugural Dubai Sound City Conference. Joining us to debate the latest topics ruffling the feathers of the Music Industry will be Chris Cooke, Founder and Publisher of CMU, the leading online network for the UK music business. Middle East based Mike Fairburn of Flash Entertainment, responsible for staging the biggest concerts and events in Abu Dhabi including Coldplay, Andrea Bocelli, Justin Timberlake and many others. Jason Sausto, President of Onkyo China, the futurist AV technology and entertainment company. Pick and Mix Music’s Sue Crawshaw who has orchestrated music into TV Ads and films including, Gray’s Anatomy, EA Sports, CSI and numerous others. And Dubai based Steve Smith, Arabian Radio Network’s COO, responsible for the continued growth and expansion of ARN’s existing 7 radio stations.
Click here for full speaker and panel line ups
Following the previously announced line up of speakers that included South by South West’s Brent Grulke, the BPI’s Julian Wall and PRS for Music’s Myles Keller, we are pleased to announce further high-profile music industry movers and shakers who will be sharing their considerable experience with delegates at the inaugural conference held at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai on the 5th and 6th of November.
Click here to read more
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The Dubai Sound City conference will inspire and instigate debate among the international audience by discussing numerous topics including the future of the Middle East as a key market for music.
Not only is Dubai a gateway to the unique and opportunity saturated Middle East, it is the perfect setting to craft relationships with executives from the other side of the globe.
Recently voted the “World’s Leading Business Hotel” by the World Travel Awards, the Dubai Sound City conference will take place at the prestigious Jumeirah Emirates Towers.
This established landmark encompasses a fully integrated five star business hotel, paired with creative meeting and conferencing facilities.
Through standard conference panel formats interlaced with round table discussions and lengthy brunches Dubai Sound City promises to dissect the current industry and divulge the future of it. |
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NAME: Hussain Spek Yoosuf
POSITION: Managing Director
COMPANY: Fairwood Music (Arabia)
URL: www.fairwoodmusic.com
"As one of the few music publishers in the Middle East, I've always felt it's important to meet with our local and international peers to raise, discuss, debate and address the various issues related to our industry and how we can grow the regional music business, to the greater benefit of all. Dubai Sound City provides a unique platform to do that." |
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NAME: Iain Bennett
POSITION: Sector Leader for Digital & Creative Industries
COMPANY: Northwest Regional Development Agency
URL: www.nwda.co.uk
“I’m interested in participating to explore how to connect global talent to global markets!” |
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NAME: Jens-Markus Wegener
POSITION: Managing Director
COMPANY: AMV Talpa GmbH
URL: www.amv-talpa.de
“Succesful music publishing consists of creating hits and building up international relationships. We strongly believe in the hit potential of our authors and are more than happy that Dubai gives us the opportunity to add a new spice to our worldwide network. It is exciting to meet up new partners in new emerging markets – and Dubai is sure one of the most exciting places of today.“ |
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NAME: Geoff Meall
POSITION: Director
COMPANY: The Agency Group
URL: www.theagencygroup.com
”Dubai is becoming a key market for international acts to play and i’m interested to see how it develops its own industry as it changes into a fully developed touring destination” |
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NAME: Tim Riley
POSITION: Vice President, Music Affairs
COMPANY: Activision Blizzard
URL: www.activision.com
“I’m really looking forward to the conference, the artist line up is amazing and the venue is fantastic. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make contacts from all around the world and see great international talent in such a unique city.” |
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NAME: Shun Mori
POSITION: General Manager, International
COMPANY: Fujipacific Music Inc.
URL: www.fujipacific.co.jp
“Although I only started working for a publishing company from the 1st day of this year, I feel the possibility of publishing business is infinite ! I just experienced MIDEM and CMW this year but am interested to see more people in various parts of the world to keep our business stronger and...of course, more fascinating !!” |
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NAME: Brent Grulke
POSITION: SxSW Creative Director
COMPANY: SxSW (South by Southwest)
URL: http://sxsw.com
“Dubai is one of the fastest growing, most diverse, exciting and vibrant cities in the world. I'm looking forward to meeting, sharing ideas with, and learning from others from the region and throughout the world. I always relish the chance to make new friends and reconnect with old ones, hear new music, and work towards developing potentially rewarding business opportunities. Dubai should provide an ideal atmosphere for my pursuits.” |
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NAME: Michael Chugg
POSITION: Executive Chairman
COMPANY: Chugg Entertainment
URL: www.chuggentertainment.com
“The Middle East is fast becoming a central point for music markets around the world; engaging with local key players in the industry, as well as with world renowned international experts, is vital in staying relevant and allows us to stake our claim in the future of the music business.” |
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NAME: Bobby Talawar
POSITION: Founder & Director
COMPANY: Only Much Louder, Counter Culture Records, Babble Fish Productions
URL: www.oml.in
“India and the middle east can no longer be internationally ignored as serious business markets for live music and the other allied entertainment industries. Dubai being the gateway to the Middle East and Dubai Sound City providing the platform for likeminded businesses to meet and start collaborating to fully explore these new opportunities is long overdue. I hope very much to meet likeminded people with vision and entrepreneurial skill and start profitable new ventures with them through the first Dubai Sound City conference" |
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NAME: Arjun Sankalia
POSITION: Director Int’l Repertoire and Special Products
COMPANY: Sony Music Entertainment INDIA PVT LTD
URL: www.sonymusic.com
“I’m really looking forward to the conference, and being in Dubai for the first time. The venue looks awesome and it’s a great opportunity to meet music execs from around the world." |
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NAME: Rudy Chung
POSITION: Music Supervisor
COMPANY: Hit The Ground Running
URL: rudy@htgr.net
“As a music supervisor for film/tv it's part of my job to forge strong relationships with independent artists, managers, labels and publishers from all over the world so that our projects can benefit. I can't think of a more exciting and relevant place than Dubai to create these working relationships." |
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NAME: Brian Nielsen
POSITION: Founder & Director
COMPANY: Skandinavian
URL: skandinavian.dk
“always interesting expanding your business network, having had artists touring in Dubai and surrounding countries past years, I felt this was a good opportunity to meet up and meet the business face to face.” |
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NAME: Julian Wall
POSITION: Director Independent Member Services & International Events
COMPANY: BPI
URL: www.bpi.co.uk
“International meetings & networking opportunities are frequently the catalyst to better and more business. The Dubai Sound City programme has a very exciting line up and promises much for UK labels looking to expand their reach in this respect. I very much look forward to representing the UK & the BPI at this event.” |
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NAME: Myles Keller
POSITION: Membership Development Director
COMPANY: PRS for Music
URL: www.prsformusic.com
“I have spent most of my career working on the international stage but never in the Middle East. Given the very real concerns and complexities surrounding global copyright issues, I am excited to have this opportunity to meet with music industry colleagues from around the world to discuss our future and what we are going to do about it!” |
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NAME: Jake Larsen
POSITION: Head of Music, Middle East and Africa
COMPANY: Nokia
URL: www.music.nokia.com
"As illustrated by Nokia's existing music offerings in the region, including Nokia Music Stores in South Africa and the UAE, as well as the recent introduction of Comes With Music in South Africa, it is clear that the Middle East and Africa region forms an essential part our digital music and connected entertainment strategies. Dubai Sound City is a fantastic idea and has the potential of providing Nokia with the opportunity of connecting with many of our industry partners, including record labels and artists, in a convenient forum whilst also having the privilege of watching a host of great acts in concert." |
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NAME: Rob Swerdlow
POSITION: Partner
COMPANY: Starwood Management / Wonderland Records UK
URL: www.starwoodmanagement.com
“ our company is open minded to understand new formats and models ....We’re excited to explore the freshest markets for our artists...no territory in the world should be left out ! “ |
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NAME: Alan Wills
POSITION: Managing Director
COMPANY: Deltasonic Records Ltd
URL: www.deltasonicrecords.com
“Music is an ever-changing business never more so than at the moment and a country such as Dubai showing an interest in staging a music event such as Sound City shows the sort of forward thinking and innovation we need to embrace in order for our industry to take full advantage of technological advances and cultural shifts in the global market” |
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NAME: Lou Plaia
POSITION: Co-Founder
COMPANY: ReverbNation
URL: www.reverbnation.com
“Since we are a worldwide marketing platform for 500,000 artists, this gives me a great opportunity to showcase what we can do for artists, labels and managers from all parts of the world. Hopefully, I will also find some “marketing experts” who are interested in using our platform to help their existing and future clients. And what better place is there to meet and learn from international experts then Dubai” |
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NAME: Huw Williams
POSITION: Managing Director
COMPANY: Townhill Music
URL: townhillmusic@yahoo.co.uk
“I am thrilled to be invited to the inaugural Dubai Sound City. I will attempt to add some brains to what promises to be a bold and brilliant event” |
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NAME: Sue Crawshaw
POSITION: Founder
COMPANY: Pick And Mix Music
URL: www.pickandmixmusic.co.uk
“As a music film and TV consultant I am looking forward to meeting new people, sharing ideas and forging new international relationships” |
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NAME: Mike Fairburn
POSITION: Director of Planning & Marketing
COMPANY: Flash Entertainment
URL: www.thinkflash.ae
“It’s fantastic that we have a credible trade and consumer music festival land on our shores. I’m here to meet fellow promoters and professionals, to share ideas and catch-up on the changes and developments affecting our industry” |
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NAME: Steve Smith
POSITION: Chief Operating Officer
COMPANY: Arabian Radio Network
URL: www.arnonline.com
“We’re excited to be part of this event because music is an essential part of what we do here at ARN. We spend our days listening to and sharing the best music for an incredibly diverse audience of listeners from around the world. Dubai Sound City captures that spirit of diversity and celebration, and we know the event is going to be a huge success.” |
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NAME: Chris Cooke
POSITION: Managing Director
COMPANY: UnLimited Media/CMU
URL: www.unlimitedmedia.co.uk
“With even the grass roots music industry increasingly focused on opportunities worldwide, we are reporting more and more on artists, companies, platforms and trends outside the American and European music markets. I'm coming to Dubai, for what is probably the most international music business convention ever to take place, to put faces to the key names in music from the emerging markets, and to see how music people from closer to (my) home are approaching the challenges and opportunities of the global music business. I'm also looking forward to networking in the sunshine, for a change!" |
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