EXCHANGING MARKET RESEARCH
European Export Offices Networking Meeting
WOMEX 2014
Saturday October 25, 11.00 to 11.45 hrs
Key-note: Rob Boonzajer Flaes, Presentation: Stan Rijven
Summary Session at Womex 2014
World Music Forum NL (WMFNL) presented a model for a European World Music Index (EWMI) in order to empower the world music industry in general and the European world music industry in particular.
World music has developed into a flourishing scene in many European countries. Despite the development of multi-cultural societies it is dominated by pop, jazz and classical music when it comes to airplay, media reach and funding. Besides providing compelling cultural and political arguments, economic data are necessary to effectively convince policymakers and funders. European exchange of world music research data offers a solid tool to gain a stronger strategic positioning within the music field and aid in influencing cultural policy.
The development and establishment of national indicescan make a difference in drawing up policy and creating a better position for World Music.Common issues and goals in different countries can be identified using this method. The next step during this meeting is to construct a coherent agenda, as the basis of a European grant for pan-European research. To this end World Music Forum NL is seeking peers and partnerships with EU countries willing and able to support this initiative locally.
Historical account
In 2012 World Music Forum NL (WMFNL), supported by Performing Arts Fund NL and Music Centre Netherlands, published research on World Music in the Netherlands that charted the extent, potency and boundaries of World Music in the Netherlands. The need to do so was fuelled by the lack of facts and figures compared to other forms of musical output such as Classical, Pop, Urban, Electronic Dance Music and Jazz & Blues. Decision makers at all levels did not have the necessary comparative figures to build a sound policy.
A major step was taken in the further empowerment of World Music in the Netherlands when it published its research report entitled: ‘A World of Sounds & Opportunities’ (‘Klankrijk en Kansrijk’).
Howerver, this is not enough, as music does not stop at physical, economic, social and geopolitical borders. To truly empower the World Music industry the next step is to set out to join forces on a larger scale with European countries.
Followed by conference- and networking sessions at Womex 2013 and Babel Med 2014 our team was convinced of similar needs by other countries that exchanging and comparing data on World Music and its development are imperative.
In so doing, knowledge of one’s national market can function as a gateway to opportunities within the greater European market. In view of the EU interest in cultural data, forms of funding on a European basis could be viable once enough partners decide to form an agreement. Now is the time to act.
European Indices Model
In order to arrive at a comparative and comprehensible research method WMFNL has come to the conclusion that this can be achieved best by establishing a (bi?) annual European World Music Index.
This is a relatively easy method to gather information and data, which will chart the development of the World Music industry in Europe and therefore indicate opportunities in the European market. WMFNL proposes gathering the necessary data by establishing four key performance indices, on which all partners should agree.
WMFNL proposes to have these data gathered and presented in an Indexformat, eventually leading to a European World Music Index (EWMI). In our view, this index should be based on data gathered on a per country basis by local partners. The yearly WOMEX and Babel Med conventions may serve as rallying points where data can be presented in network meetings. In this way both participating countries and those wishing to join can discuss matters and take decisions on technical and policy matters.
We propose that we follow the model generally used in many other types of indexes: by data gathered over the years we can see developments and trends rather than absolute figures. We want to concentrate on data that can serve as performance indicators – such as numbers of bands, or turnover, or any other data where more means better.
It is a common practice to first group related performance indicators in batches. We propose to use the following five: creators, consumers, locations, facilitators and educators. These give an idea as to who makes music, who listens to it, where supply and demand meet, who supervises the process, and how knowledge reproduction is organized. We see these five batches being ´fed´ by (a selection of) the following data.
Creators Genres, employment, numbers of performances (gigs),
Consumers Live audiences, media audiences
Locations Venues, festivals, other locations
Facilitators Bookers, planners, management, transport etc.
Educators Music schools, universities incl. research, informal teaching,
In all cases, it is possible to concentrate on numbers (like numbers of bands, or MB of downloads) or on financial data (such as turnover, or income, or any other figure). This depends on what type of data are available. Since we use the index form, it is not important which route we take as long as the same data are used from one year to another. Naturally, in the long run, the index would prove increasingly effective if we could agree to to standardize performance indicators in all countries, but in the start-up phase it would make sense to utilize what is currently available.
FAQ – European World Music Index
- Why?
In order to empower the world music industry in general, and the European world music industry in particular, it is paramount to rely on facts and figures. At present the European situation is diffuse and not comparative as far as the latter is concerned. By developing and establishing national indices as a tool, the world music industry would enable itself to develop policies based upon current trends within the common European market.
- For who?
The indices are meant to be a useful tool for all those working in the European world music industry: NGO’s, governmental, promoters, agents, managers, media and other decision makers.
- Why an index?
The content of an index is generally easy to collect from public resources. An index is never a means to an end but always indicative, leaving sufficient margins for interpretation. Therefore always indicating trends and tendencies.
- What are we looking for?
WMFNL is looking for peers and partnerships with EU countries willing and able to support this initiative locally. We ask commitment and access to local financial funding from these potential founding partners to start the process and to eventually match the necessary funding in order to obtain a grant or subsidy from the EU.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) describing the multilateral agreement between the parties would be an integral part of the process. The MoU would express a meeting of the minds (the convergence of will) between the parties indicating both the intended common line of action responsibilities of the participants
- Initial results
By starting the process of obtaining a grant by the EU in 2015 we expect to present the first result of the European index on World Music in 2017.
- Entry partner countries
Interested parties are requested to contact World Music Forum NL
Details
The European Grant – short term program
Duration 24 months maximum
Partners 3 – 5 European Countries
Budget 60% EU, 40% by partner
EU grant Minimum 50.000 / Maximum 200.000
EU Partners Minimum 20.000 / Maximum 80.000
Project leader EU Grant:
World Music Forum NL, The Netherlands
Guidelines
Partnership countries
- EU Member States
- Other states with special EU-agreements
Partners
- Active in cultural and creative sectors defined by European Parliament /Creative Europe
- Existence as legal person for at least 2 years or more
- Sufficient financial capacity throughout the period
- Sufficient required professional competencies and qualifications
New Planning country partnerships
Febuary 2015 Intention commitment partners
March 2015 Confirmation partnerships (MoU)
26-28 March 2015 First draft grant application,
Meeting Babel Med Marseille
Planning Application EU grant
October 7 2015 First opportunitiy Submission grant application (next oportunity October 2016)
October 2015 Network Meeting EWMI Womex, Budapest
March 2016 Information on grant application by EU
March 2016 Network Meeting EWMI, Babel Med Marseille
May 2016 Start of action research
October 2016 Network Meeting European Market Research Womex, Warsaw
March 2017 First results / Network meeting Babel Med Marseille
Follow-up policy 2017 tbd
European Market Research Team
Rob Boonzajer Flaes, Researcher, QRA
Emiel Barendsen, President Advisory Council World Music Forum NL
Sonja Heimann, Director World Music Forum NL
Stan Rijven, Programmer World Music Forum NL
Contact information and application partnership:
World Music Forum NL Sonja Heimann, info@worldmusicforum.nl + 31 6 12532987
www.worldmusicforum.nl/english
© World Music Forum NL October 2014
