BIME will return to Bilbao from October 29 to November 1 with a packed agenda addressing key questions about the current state of the global music industry.
Leading professional and artists, including Scott Cohen, Alexandra Lioutikoff, Albert Pla, Maria José Llergo, Toni Segarra, Tamsy McLarty, Elijah, and Fermin Muguruza will be featured in the BIME Pro program.
Discounted pre-sale tickets are now available for both in-person and online attendance, with reduced prices for students. For more information, visit the official website at www.bime.org.
Following its successful event in Bogotá last spring, BIME, the world-renowned international music industry event, reveals the first names and new features for its fifteenth edition. From October 29 to November 1, professionals, artists, students, institutions, brands, and agents from around the world will gather in Bilbao, transforming the city into a hub for collaboratively shaping the future of the music industry. In this new edition of BIME, the central theme will be “Territories,” a concept that will explore the opportunities and challenges of the music industry in a “glocalized” context. In response to changes driven by artificial intelligence, ticketing, and digital distribution, BIME will promote deep dialogue on musical diversity, international collaborations, and the preservation of traditions. Additionally, critical topics such as entrepreneurship, personal growth, legal challenges, and trends in live and recorded music will be addressed, all of which are essential at this pivotal moment for the industry’s evolution.
Euskalduna Bilbao will once again host the professional activities of BIME Pro. The program, curated by prominent industry figures, will kick off on Tuesday, October 29, and conclude on Thursday, October 31. Among the first confirmed names are renowned artists and professionals such as Scott Cohen, CEO of JKVX and a key pioneer in the evolution of the music industry; the multifaceted Catalan artist Albert Pla; the award-winning British composer Errollyn Wallen; the innovative flamenco artist and Goya winner Maria José Llergo; Andreas Katsambas, president of Chartmetric; Elijah, a marketing expert, DJ, and creative director of Make The Tings; Tamsi McLarty, writer and founder of Music Industry Therapist Collective (MITC); Alexandra Lioutikoff, president of LATAM and US Latin at Universal Music Publishing; and Toni Segarra, creative director and co-founder of Alegre Roca, considered one of Spain’s top creatives of the 20th century.
BIME will also feature the renowned Basque artist Fermin Muguruza, who, celebrating 40 years of his career, continues to promote the Basque language and his people’s identity worldwide. Muguruza will participate in a conversation titled “Muguruza FM 40 Internazionala” alongside the journalist Garbiñe Ubeda from Tolosa, and two international artists: Palestinian rapper, actor, and activist Tamer Nafar, and Argentine rapper, activist, and songwriter Malena D’Alessio, who will also be part of the BIME Live showcase program. This dialogue, conducted in Basque, English, and Spanish with simultaneous translation, will explore Muguruza’s career, the role of music as a political tool, and the cultural identities of peoples in a globalized world.
BIME will be the space to rethink the future and direction of the music industry, with discussions on the challenges and opportunities the sector faces in all its facets. Topics will include the current state of live music, covering the evolution and management of festivals, venues, and large arenas, as well as programming and emerging trends. In the realm of recorded music, discussions will delve into distribution, the use of digital platforms, creativity and music production, and music synchronization and supervision. Additionally, the universe of the artist will be explored in terms of internationalization, collaborations, promotion, and career development, along with phenomena such as superfans. Future-focused sessions will highlight applications of artificial intelligence, the role of research and education, and the latest technological advancements and innovations in the sector. The synergy between music and brands will be examined, showcasing successful case studies and collaboration strategies that blend brands with musical culture. Entrepreneurship, innovation, and education will also be key topics, featuring inspirational talks and dedicated spaces like BIME Startup! and the BIME Campus program.
As part of its firm commitment to the 2030 Agenda and as an active participant in Keychange, BIME continues to promote a fair and equitable music industry through the Music Equality Forum program. This initiative is supported by associations such as MIM and initiatives like Digital Fems. Additionally, BIME will feature conversations focused on the environment and mental health, aiming to achieve a positive impact on the community, society, and the ecosystem of cultural and creative industries.
A program designed by and for the industry, where institutions and associations will also have their space, featuring talks such as “Public-Private Collaboration for a Strong Music Industry,” with the participation of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) alongside ES_MUSICA and the Spanish Ministry of Culture. Additionally, BIME continues its collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Culture, initiated in 2022, through Conexiones i, a training and support itinerary aimed at the internationalization of music companies and professionals within the BIME agenda. Among the new features of this edition are the industry recognition awards, which will take place on Thursday, October 31, at Euskalduna Bilbao. This representative event will publicly honor various agents for their contributions to the advancement of the music industry through innovative, daring, and creative projects that collectively push the industry forward.
BIME Live, the showcase festival dedicated to discovering future talent with the highest international projection, will expand its program with educational activities, events related to other artistic disciplines such as literature, photography, and the audiovisual sector, and current conversations about the music industry with key personalities. This program is open not only to industry professionals but also to music enthusiasts and the general public, providing educational and reflective opportunities on current industry trends. The agenda, starting on October 24 and ending on November 2, will take place in various locations around Bilbao. It will include the first edition of the BIME Luthier Show, from October 31 to November 2, as well as the 22nd International Record Fair, which will be integrated into the BIME program. The complete program will be unveiled in September, promising an enriching cultural experience.
After fourteen editions, BIME has established itself as an international reference point, becoming the compass that bridges Europe and America, creating pathways for meeting and collaboration between both sides of the ocean. Regarded as one of the major platforms and visibility spaces for professionals worldwide, BIME is an unmissable event for the cultural and creative industries. It enjoys the support of key institutions such as the Spanish Ministry of Culture, Acción Cultural Española, ICEX, Bilbao City Council, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, the Basque Government, the Ministry of Culture of Colombia, the Ministry of Culture of Chile, Ibermúsicas, and Factor Canada, among others. Furthermore, BIME will host professional delegations and institutions from various countries, including Germany, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Portugal. These delegations will come together to continue generating new business opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic. Dialogue and networking are always accessible through bime.org and its online platform, which is active 365 days a year. This platform enables participation from anywhere in the world and offers continuous networking opportunities. It serves as a virtual meeting place where you can connect with music professionals globally and rewatch debates and presentations from past editions.
Bilbao – October 29 – November 1 2024
Bogotá – may 2025
+info www.bime.org
@bimenet_ #bime
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