“Festivals have become the physical manifestation of a digital world’’, noted Live Nation L.A.’s David O’Connor, at the second International MMOI Conference, July 28 at Hotel Opus.

In other words, through all the emailing, the downloading and the streaming, festivals help create an actual space that is much needed for today’s music industry to grow.

This opinion was shared on different levels by panelists from Germany, France, the States and Quebec, who discussed the state of affairs of the music business through issues specific to festivals.

Ontop of the cultural and social wealth of such events, strong identity and organisational sophistication were two topics that arose frequently over the two panels of the conference. (The first panel was based on what is needed for a festival to exist and survive, whereas the second one focussed on what festivals can give back to their communities on economic, social and, of course, artistic levels.)

Left to right: Sandy Boutin, Ralph Christoph and David O'Connor

For European delegates such as Jutta Unger (c/o pop) and Arnaud Monnier (EMB de Sannois, Réseau des lieux de Musiques Actuelles en Ile-de-France), logistics as well as networking and funding were key.

Makes sense as traditionally, all government levels in France are financially involved to support artists and various cultural endeavours. Similarly, the city of Cologne, host of the c/o pop festival for the past four years, has been fundamentally involved with the festival’s development, which has proven profitable for both parties.

For Ralph Christoph (also from c/o pop) as well as Sandy Boutin (Festival de musique émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue), investing in public space and rejuvinating derelict neighborhoods is a great way to give back to the city and its people, celebrating cultural diversity, and supporting local artists to boot.

Festivals have always been a place to share ideas and opportunities for agents, managers, promoters, labels, medias and trendsetters. Now, as a complement to our daily work, they are also about reinventing oneself and, most perhaps most importantly, have hands-on knowledge of what really works and what doesn’t.

All photos: Susan Moss

Because we know what it’s like to run from band to band, we invited you to relax and bask in the sun to hear a set from Parlovr, drink some Bud and Smirnoff cocktails, and eat some grilled goodies.

Thanks again to Pop Montréal as well as their sponsor McAuslan. See you next year!

Photos: Susan Moss

You better be prepared to take risks when starting up a festival these days – but offering something unique to the public is also essential. At least, that’s what this year’s MMOI conference participants think.

In 2010, the leaders of both Osheaga and MEG decided to unite. Their goal: offer professionals of the music industry from all around the world a forum to discuss major issues within their industry.

Named MEG Montreal Osheaga International (MMOI), the event takes place yearly in the midst of summer (July 27th to 31^st for this second edition) and gives the participants the opportunity to attend both festivals simultaneously, thus facilitating professional and artistic discoveries.

“Similar to what is done by South By Southwest, or more widely all around Europe, festivals must give their professional guests a space to gather and discuss after concerts”, explains Evelyne Côté, promoter for evenko, the entertainment group behind Osheaga.

Engaging Discussion

In addition to offering numerous opportunities to network as well as more than a hundred artist performances, MMOI is a place to debate different topics within the international music community.

After exploring the theme of networking with last year’s conference, MMOI opted to discuss elements that are key to the success of various festivals during Thursday’s conference.

Divided into two panels led by Steve Jordan, founder of the Polaris Prize, the discussion covered various topics such as festival financing, the social and artistic repercussions of such events and the importance of site location, relationships with sponsors and line-up.

Political Action

Six panelists took part in the conference including Sandy Boutin, President and Founder of Festival de musique émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FME), David O’Connor, artistic director and business development at Live Nation and Ralph H. Christoph, co-founder of c/o pop festival in Cologne. In fact, those were the people who had to illustrate the importance of the path chosen by an event and its instigators.

“I believe my festival is, in a way, a political action, explained Sandy Boutin. Our artistic direction is clear and sends a specific message: we do not support commercial music. Through FME, I support emerging artists and try to carry this influence in the local music industry.’’

Europe/Amérique: Quels liens cimentent les festivals?

Europe/America: What holds festivals together?

1:00PM@2:15PM

1er panel: Identité, structures, réseaux

1st panel: Identity, Structure, Networks

Avec / With

Andrew Ellis, Bamboozle + Paradigm (USA)

Arnaud Monnier, EMB Paris (France)

Jutta Unger, Europareise + c/o pop (Deutschland)

2.45PM@4:00PM

2e panel: Rôle, impact et valeur des festivals

2nd panel: Role, Impact, Value of Festivals

Avec / With

Sandy Boutin, FME + management (Canada)

Ralph Christoph, c/o pop (Deutschland)

David O’Connor, Live Nation (USA)

MMOI Cocktail présenté par la SOCAN

Osheaga Kick-Off Party

MEG presents Propofol, Boogers, GIRL

SOCAN is the Canadian copyright collective that administers the performing rights of more than 100,000 composer, author and music publisher members as well as those of hundreds of thousands of members of affiliated performing rights organizations around the world by issuing licences for the use of their music in Canada. We collect licence fees on their behalf – for the communication to the public and the public performance of their copyrighted music – and distribute royalties to them. In doing so, SOCAN administers more than 25 tariffs set by the Copyright Board of Canada in accordance with the Copyright Act.

SOCAN also maintains a comprehensive database on the musical works it administers. To help SOCAN distribute its royalties accurately and in a timely manner, SOCAN music creator members are required to register their works and complete Notification of Live Music Performance forms. This can be all done online by obtaining a User ID at 1.866.307.6226 or e-mailing SOCAN at members@socan.ca.

Emerging musicians, music users and festival promoters and organizers can learn more on our non-profit organization on www.socan.ca.

July 27-31 2011, MMOI (MEG Montréal Osheaga International) invites you to the thriving city of Montreal to reflect upon our industry as well crucial matters in live music event planning.

And see a ton of great shows, of course! Here’s what your MMOI pro pass would include:

July 27-30: All the Osheaga In the City programming

July 28-31: MEG Montreal Festival (except MEG Boat)

July 28: MMOI Conference @ Hotel Opus, Salle Godin

July 28: MMOI 5 à 7 Networking Cocktail presented by SOCAN

July 29-31: VIP access to Osheaga Music and Arts festival

This pass is offered to members of the industry only. A value of more than $800 for $300.

A conference featuring panelists from America to Europe, and more than 150 local and international acts in a dozen venues over five days: professional and artistic encounters is what MMOI is all about.

Musically-speaking, what’s the real power and reach of “banding up”? Are things done very differently elsewhere in the world, namely Europe and South America? And while we’re at it, why bother putting together festivals at all?

If ideas and artwork tend to circulate more freely during festivals, what are the particular relationships they create?

And finally, despite all the challenges of programming outside the proverbial box of artists’ tours… what’s the secret of a good lineup?

All these questions, and more, we will tackle and try to answer July 28, from 1pm to 4.30pm at Opus Hotel’s Salle Godin.

Over 60 pros have confirmed their presence to MMOI. Come reflect, discuss and speculate, but more than anything, come meet great people who believe in the same crazy projects as we do: building international networks and festivals to promote artists we love.

Favourite bands: Berlin Symphony Orchestra with Simon Rattle, Stevie Wonder, Diane Reeves,  Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jochen Distelmeyer, Jessye Norman,  Keziah Jones and many more.

Best recent live show: Symphony n. 9 of Gustav Mahler by Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Symphony Orchestra (March 2011), Gerald Clayton Trio (April 2011), Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble at c/o pop Festival Cologne (June 2011)

Favorite bands: My Heart Belongs to Cécilia Winter, Cascadeur, Camille, Feist, Syd Matters, Sly and the Family Stone, Concrete Knives, Tender Forever…

Favorite concert ever: Moby aux Eurockéennes de Belfort (sous la pluie)!!

Best live recent show: Gorillaz au Zénith de France (2011).