UK Trade Mission Aims to Boost British Music in China

A UK music industry trade mission to China is set to take place from 31^st March – 6^th April 2019, providing an open door for music businesses to explore commercial opportunities in the world’s second largest economy.

The Department for International Trade (DIT), in partnership with AIM (The Association of Independent Music), the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) and MPA (Music Publishers Association), are organising this music mission to China, which will visit Beijing.

The music industry is growing in China, currently the tenth-largest music market in the world, a country that is increasingly consuming international music and developing its association with the international music business.  

The week-long mission will act as a catalyst for collaboration, exploration and expansion of the British music industry in China and the opportunities this can bring. Taking place in Beijing, the mission will include a programme of education, networking, B2B meetings, conferences, showcases, music company site visits and other music related activities.

Artists, managers, record labels, publishers, digital distribution companies, and festival bookers/directors/organisers/promoters, covering all genres of music, are being invited to participate, and the mission organisers will be tailoring certain aspects of the program to suit all delegates

DIT’s “Exporting is GREAT” campaign was launched in 2011 to “get the world thinking and feeling differently about Britain, repositioning us as a vibrant, inspiring and innovative nation to visit and to do business with”.

This is a “Music is GREAT” China Music Mission with industry partners, AIM, BPI and MPA. 

Mission registration is just £100 + VAT per delegate and interested parties should note that funding may be available through DIT, details of which can be obtained through [email protected]

Paul Pacifico, CEO of AIM, said: 

“With recorded and online music revenues growing every year, added to the fact that Merlin has signed deals with the three biggest streaming-service owners in the country, China has become one of the most exciting digital music markets in the world. This year’s trade mission will provide incredible opportunities for British businesses to build relationships, gain a greater understanding of this key market and create strategic plans to tap into it. We’re delighted to be taking part alongside our British Music partners.”

Chris Tams, BPI Director of Membership and International, said:

“The BPI and its partners organise a number of international trade missions to key music markets each year by way of developing export opportunities for their members and to promote British music around the world.  This is the third mission to China we’ve been involved with and we hope to build on the success of last year’s visit.

“With a burgeoning, aspirational population that clearly has a love of all things British, improving respect for copyright and authentic quality products, and the UK needing to forge new international trading relationships, the timing of this visit couldn’t be better. Music has become Britain’s global calling card and we fully intend to use it in this exciting emerging market which has the potential to transform global music consumption.”               

Chris Butler Director UK MPA & Chairman ICMP, said:

“As music publishers with an increasingly multi-territory view, there is no stronger strategic imperative than that of conceiving and implementing a ‘China strategy’. We welcome the announcement of this trade mission and look forward to taking advantage of the opportunity it represents for our members and their writers.”