International music conventions have always been a great source of identifying myriad brands of instruments , audio systems , artists and manufacturers all under one roof . It has also been a massive resource for business-to-business and business-to-customer marketing , interaction and comparison . We recently visited two such expos in China , as exhibitors and visitors .
&
International music conventions have always been a great source of identifying myriad brands of instruments , audio systems , artists and manufacturers all under one roof . It has also been a massive resource for business-to-business and business-to-customer marketing , interaction and comparison . We recently visited two such expos in China , as exhibitors and visitors .
Music China 2015
Music China was Asia ’ s largest music exhibition , with a total visitor ’ s count of 80,468 , an appreciation of 12 % as of last year . With a range of 1782 exhibitors from 30 different countries ( as opposed to 1775 in 2014 ) and pavilions including Belgium , Czech Republic , France , Germany , Italy , Japan , the Netherlands , Spain , Taiwan and the UK , the exhibition turned out to be a brilliant success for businesses as well as visitors and exhibitors . Apart from bringing in the up-andcoming products , diversified fringe programs were held to cater to specific interests .
Music education was one of their highlights , with renowned speakers sharing their insights on a variety of topics and tips on growing businesses . Master classes , industry forums , traditional music appreciation , and never-ending live shows .
We found that China truly promotes their youth ’ s music and performing talents , with a major line-up for the gigs coming from local as well as young international artists and bands . Other highlights included exhibitor events from major brands like Tama and Yamaha , orchestral performances and product demonstrations / presentations .
As for Prolight and Sound Shanghai , the visitor count came up to 25,455 , 6 % more than its predecessor , from more than 80 countries and regions . Around 500 different brands exhibited their products from across 17 different countries . Although Taiwan was their only pavilion , major brands such as AKG , Harman , JBL , Samson , Adam Hall , TW Audio , DB Technologies , Proel , Audio-Technica , BMB , Funktion-One , Midas , KV2 Audio , Maquinas , NEXO , Global Truss , PHONIC , Beta 3 , Soundking had set up stalls and displays .
Looking at a larger , more global picture , we realized how little India has been impacting their music scene . With massive amounts of talent and the resources to back them up , there appears to be a lot of scope for our country on the international front , which we hope will flourish in the years to come .
Musikmesse 2016
As for next year , this international trade fair is going to take place in Frankfurt , Germany . Even with the introduction of a new concept , Musikmesse continues to put the focus on trade visitors . In fact , the coming edition of the world ’ s leading fair for the musical-instrument sector will offer even more facilities and services for retailers , distributors and the industry , and thus underscore its importance as the international business platform for the musical-instrument industry . For example , the ‘ Musikmesse Insider ’ VIP program will make visiting the fair more attractive than ever before for buyers . New opportunities will promote the exchange of expert and business information , as well as specialist education in the sector . Excerpts from the press release include :
Musikmesse Insider – exclusive benefits for MI retailers
The Musikmesse Insider customer program offers numerous VIP services and facilities to make visiting the fair as efficient and pleasant as possible for buyers . Program participants will be welcomed at a special reception counter and enjoy free admission to the event , free soft drinks and a cloakroom service , as well as a variety of additional extras for a successful visit to the fair . Musikmesse Insider is aimed at European retailers from all segments of the musical instrument sector with max . 50 employees . The programme was a complete success earlier this year and attracted over 1,700 registrations . For 2016 , the range of facilities and services is being expanded again .
Comprehensive training opportunities at the Business Academy
What are the challenges facing bricks-and-mortar trade retailers in this digital age ? In what ways have the expectations of customers on the music trade changed ? What are tomorrow ’ s trends likely to be in the musical-instrument sector ? For trade visitors and exhibitors , the lectures of the Business Academy not only offer the chance to get a step ahead of the competition in terms of knowledge but also help to
The Score Magazine
38 www . thescoremagazine . com