The 8th annual Japan Trade Mission run by the BPI, MPA and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) will take place 3-5 October 2011
The BPI/MPA/UKTI trade mission to Japan provides delegates with a direct and valuable insight into the second largest music market in the world. The mission includes an invaluable chance to meet and network with some of the leading individuals in the Japanese music and entertainment industries. This is a great opportunity to learn about this most intriguing of music markets, the largest outside of N. America, and get a head start in doing business for your company and your music there.
· Programme includes a full schedule of presentations, seminars and workshops organised by the music team at UKTI, based at the British Embassy in Tokyo.
· Previous years have seen speakers from Universal Music Japan, EMI Japan, Avex, JVC, Imperial, leading independent distributor Hostess Entertainment, BMG & Sony Publishing, MySpace, mobile phone companies, live music promoters Creativeman and many more.
· Opportunity to formally present your repertoire to an enthusiastic audience of Japanese music industry movers and shakers; including licensors, labels and distributors.
2010 Delegate quotes
· “It has been amazingly eye opening and the level of quality of people seeing us is incredible” – Dan Medland, ie music.
· “The trip was informative, extremely well-organised and I could not imagine it being any more successful than it was – 10/10 from us!” – Alex Harriman, Inigo Recordings.
· “Japan is another planet in many respects and I doubt we would have survived without the BPI/UKTI’s care and assistance.” – Adam Dewhurst, Think Espionage.
Application process
If you would like to go on the mission you need to go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BPI_MPA_UKTI_JapanTradeMission2011 and complete the application form online. You will be notified at a later date as to whether your place on the mission has been confirmed or not.
Final deadline for registrations will be Friday 29 July.
There is a non-refundable UK Trade & Investment Overseas Marketing Introductory Service fee of £225 + VAT = £270 per person, which must be paid in advance by cheque or bank transfer. Email debi.blackgrove@bpi.co.uk for further details.
We will provide details of a group hotel, but delegates will be required to cover their own travel expenses and accommodation fees. There may be support for this and other export business development activity available through UKTI, please contact phil.patterson@uktispecialist.com for more information.
Japan’s music sector since the 11 March quake:
One thing that is obvious to us from our conversations with our contacts is the determination from Japan to move forward and for companies to get back to business. Although the live sector suffered in the immediate aftermath, international artists have been quick to return:
“We have had a few cancelled tours and festivals right around the actual incident date, but since mid April til end of May we have had Little Barrie, John Legend, Kylie Minogue, Cathedral, Everything Everything, The Drums, Justin Bieber, Sum 41, Katy Perry and many others tour Japan and all ended in great success. As of June onwards nothing has been cancelled.” (Layli Odamura, Creativeman)
“With demand for tickets as strong as ever, Fuji Rock is back in 2011 with a really diverse and exciting line-up. Headlined by Coldplay, The Chemical Brothers, Arctic Monkeys and The Faces… in a year in which Japan has been hit by disaster and devastation, we hope the festival will provide an opportunity for people to come together to not only enjoy the music on offer but to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings and to really celebrate life." (James Smith, Smash)
There is cautious optimism that consumer confidence is returning:
“We found sales in Japan’s Golden Week holidays in May were up compared to Golden Week last year.” (San-e Ichii, President and CEO, Representative Director, EMI Music Japan Inc)
For the latest travel advice on Japan see the FCO website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/japan
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Record of the Day coverage
For an overview of the mission take a look at Record of the Day's article: ROTD magazine 120810.pdf
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2010 Tokyo Trade Mission delegate feedback
Here is some feedback from the delegates who experienced this year's Tokyo Trade Mission first hand: Japan Delegates Feedback.doc