The BPI Innovation Hub is a forum harnessing the potential of creativity and innovation, by matching innovative tech companies with record labels.
Relaunched in November 2016, the BPI Innovation Hub is a forum that seeks to harness the full potential of creativity by matching innovative tech companies with UK record labels and music companies that are looking to utilise new technology in their business. It is based on an earlier BPI Innovation Panel that worked to achieve similar aims but operated in a less structured way.
The BPI Innovation Hub on average meets between every four to six months, with selected companies invited to present to each other with a view to developing productive business partnerships that will generate long-term commercial opportunities. The premise is simple: Record companies are always looking to develop new, exciting artists and ways to build a fanbase around them. Tech companies have amazing tools to distribute content and connect it and talent to undiscovered audiences. And by doing so, also position themselves to scale up and grow.
Previous events have been hosted by the BPI and Runway East in Shoreditch. The impetus for the relaunched Hub came from Vanessa Higgins, who runs her own record label – Regent Street Records – and serves on the BPI’s Council as an independent label representative. Charles Fitzgerald, Anthony David King, Seth Jackson and Stephen O'Reiley provide valued support, and BPI Director of Independent Member Services, Chris Tams, is responsible for its general administration.
Working alongside the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Innovation Hub has taken place in BPI HQ, Runway East and at 7Digital. All major record labels have taken part, as well as a host of indie labels of all shapes and sizes. Tech companies have represented all kinds of areas of innovation, from Blockchain (Blokur) to sheet music (Jelly Note), software copyright protection (Traccks) to digital artwork (Werble), vinyl production (Qrates) to geolocation (Landmrk).
Speaking ahead of its inaugural meeting in November 2016 Vanessa Higgins, BPI Innovation Hub Director, said: "The relationship between technology and record labels has always been important, and never more so than right now in today's rapidly changing landscape. With the help of leading minds in both fields, we are bringing together forward-thinking labels of all sizes with emerging technology companies, developing ideas across a plethora of areas. We want to shape the future of the music industry, not react to the rules thrust upon us. The BPI Innovation Hub is here to facilitate and foster these exciting potential partnerships."
Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI & BRIT Awards, added: “The music business lives at the nexus of creativity, innovation and technology. Labels continually reinvent themselves to take advantage of new possibilities. So I’m delighted that Vanessa has taken on the key role of leading the BPI’s Innovation Hub. It is clear from the first Hub session that there are many exciting opportunities to collaborate with start-ups to create new experiences for fans and to find new, more efficient ways of doing business. The BPI is committed to helping member labels grow through innovation and collaboration.”
"The relationship between technology and record labels has always been important, and never more so than right now in today's rapidly changing landscape. With the help of leading minds in both fields, we are bringing together forward-thinking labels of all sizes with emerging technology companies, developing ideas across a plethora of areas. We want to shape the future of the music industry, not react to the rules thrust upon us. The BPI Innovation Hub is here to facilitate and foster these exciting potential partnerships."
Vanessa Higgins, BPI Innovation Hub Director
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