XpoNorth announces latest batch of speakers
Taking place at Eden Court on July 3 and 4, this year’s XpoNorth promises to again bring together a host of regional, national and international voices to discuss the hottest topics shaping and influencing the sector.
The festival is delighted to welcome Michela Magas, the founder of Music Tech Fest, a global community platform of more than 5,000 creative innovators and scientific researchers.
Magas is innovation advisor to the European Commission and the G7 leaders, the creator of the Industry Commons and in 2017 was the recipient of the European Woman Innovator of the Year. Her work has received the ‘Art Meets Science’ NEM art award twice and has been included in the Future of British Innovation at The Science Museum during the London 2012 Olympics.
Magas will deliver a keynote address on Innovation and the Industry Commons which will look at why some of the world’s largest technology companies have creativity as part of their business. The combination of creativity and tech is a powerful one for innovators, early adopters and start-up communities – and it has been at the forefront of innovation in the cloud, data, IP, distributed technologies and AI.
Music and creativity are a phenomenal social glue that brings together diverse people from all backgrounds and perspectives, and it’s also led the way for policy recommendations and new methods for all industries.
Epiphany Story Lab: Routes Into Documentary Screen will see the welcome return of Micheal Flaherty. Micheal co-founded Walden Media in 1999 which co-financed and produced nearly two dozen films grossing more than $3 billion at the global box office including The Chronicles of Narnia, Bridge to Terabithia and Charlotte’s Web. He is joined in this session by his Epiphany Story Lab co-founder Valerie McGowan.
Micheal and Valerie will look at the access points for writers looking to transition their work into the documentary arena.
The festival will also be looking at film tourism in a session called The Outlander Effect. 2017 saw a record number of tourists to Scotland with a 17 per cent rise in visitors and 23 per cent rise in spend. The phenomenal growth in visitors can be connected to the hit TV series and book, Outlander. From Local Hero, Highlander, Harry Potter and Skyfall through to The Outlaw King, Scotland has a track record of successful screen tourism. This panel session will discuss the benefits and opportunities, and how to maximise the Outlander effect.
There will also be a very special keynote speaker, with Mandar Thakur (COO, Times Music India) in conversation with Domhnall Caimbeul (chief executive, MG Alba) to offer a broad overview of the music and media sector in India.
A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO Founder Sat Bisla will sit with iconic executive Dougie Bruce (A&R consultant, Universal Music Publishing) as part of a not-to-be-missed A&R Worldwide Global Keynote.
Dougie started his career at Slice PR in 1999 before working at Epic Records as an A&R scout. In 2004 he joined Universal Music Publishing where he went on to sign the likes of Adele, Lily Allen, MGMT and Kate Nash. In 2008 Dougie started with the most successful manager of the decade, Simon Fuller, and his company, 19, which at that time controlled the most successful TV show in America – American Idol. At 19, Dougie worked on various projects, including managing Aloe Blacc (I Need A Dollar) and co-wrote and featured on Avicci’s No.1 record, Wake Me Up.
In 2018 Dougie rejoined Universal Publishing and has signed artists such as the hugely tipped Fenne Lily, Easy Life and more recently a resurgent Dido. Dougie has also set up a new label, Sign Of The Times, through Universal’s label services division, Caroline, to help launch new artists.
There will also be a dedicated seminar on Doing Business in Canada, where attendees will hear from a broad range of voices on how to access and do business in Canada.
For more information on the festival, speakers and sessions, visit xponorth.co.uk