COPENHAGEN ON A BUDGET

Surf a Couch during WOMEX

One frequent comment in last year's WOMEX survey was that Copenhagen is a rather pricey place to visit. So, we've been asking ourselves: How can we make spending time in the Danish capital easier and more personal for you; music professionals from around the globe? We believe that CouchSurfing.org could be a good solution.

CouchSurfing is an international non-profit network that connects travellers with locals in over 230 countries and territories around the world. Since 2004, members have been using the system to come together for cultural exchange, friendship, and learning experiences. More...

WOMEX CONFERENCE

Premiere! International Matchmaking for Publishers

(Eric van Nieuwland) WOMEX will be offering Matchmaking Sessions for publishers attending the 2010 edition. This new service aims to promote networking opportunities at WOMEX and connect interested business partners from around the world - free of charge.

WOMEX Matchmaking will orientate itself towards music publishers who want to offer their services as a sub-publisher and/or are looking for a sub- publisher in other areas of the world. WOMEX provides a perfect platform to host this new feature due to its high proportion of international delegates. Last year at WOMEX 09, there were over 200 music publishers alone, representing around 50 different countries.

Birgit Böcher, deputy managing director of the German Music... More...

AWARDS

WOMEX Award for Professional Excellence to Ian Anderson

(Photo: Judith Burrows) WOMEX is proud to announce the winner of the WOMEX 10 Award for Professional Excellence: Ian Anderson (UK), founder and editor-in-chief of the magazine fRoots, on behalf of the independent press.

He will receive his Award on Sunday morning, 31 October 2010, at the Awards Ceremony accompanied by a WOMEX Networking Breakfast, both open to WOMEX delegates only. The laudation will be offered by the leading journalist Robin Denselow (UK), known for his work with the BBC and The Guardian among others.

Since 1999 we have given the WOMEX Award to extraordinary artists and professionals from our community deserving of special praise but we have never ever awarded the media. More...

CURRENT ISSUES

Music Fund Project

(Photo by Jacky Walraet of Music Fund training sessions in Kinshasa) Songlines magazine July issue featured an article by Andy Morgan on the Music Fund Project and Socklo and Almaz, two remarkable guitar makers from Kinshasa, DRC. With the most basic tools, these two luthiers create wonderful guitars, with a look and a sound all of their own. They have been responsible for keeping the guitar players of Kinshasa equipped for the last decade. Their contribution to the city's music scene, one of the most dynamic in the whole of Africa, has been incalculable. Socklo makes and supplies all the guitars of the up and coming Staff Benda Bilili.

Music Fund, a Belgian NGO, has been helping Socklo and Almaz to promote their business and sell their guitars. However, Music Fund are now actively... More...

WOMEX 10 CONFERENCE

The Live, Recorded and Digital Experience

(Photo by Jacob Crawfurd) Are you WOMEXperienced? The Conference programme is designed to serve the industry's ongoing need for education, exchange and inspiration. From professional to sensual, intellectual to emotional, from "how-to?" to "why?", we will be taking the value of the "experience" this year to guide you through the Conferences at WOMEX 10. As you would expect, not all sessions fit any one box or file but saunter between the Live, Recorded and Digital Experience extending out to the "Vision Beyond".

We would like to give a special welcome to all new speakers at WOMEX 10. Among the many new faces joining us to share their knowledge and experience will be Michele Flannery (USA) Youtube's music manager; Risto Kivelä (Finland/Belgium),... More...

WOMEX 10

First WOMEX 10 Showcases Revealed

With over 700 proposals to squeeze into a mere three dozen Showcase slots, the WOMEX Jury's work was cut out for them and many hours were spent discussing countless high quality proposals. Of course we cannot disclose the final selection without first offering our sincere thanks to the Showcase Samurai for devoting their precious time and effort to shaping this year's fresh and inspiring Showcase selection.

Once again we successfully worked together with Sonicbids' online listening platform to ease the selection process for the Jury. Samurai Peter Hvalkof, Roskilde Festival, says: "If we had no chance to listen to the stuff on Sonicbids before the Jury meeting, our job would be much harder, and it would not be fair to the artists."

See the first artists confirmed here... More...

R. I. P.

WOMEX Veteran Sten Sandahl Dies

In the early hours of June 30th 2010 Mr Sten Sandahl, after a heroic struggle with cancer, finally had to admit defeat and quietly passed on. How does one sum up a long life, what parting words best befits a sad farewell?

Sten spent most of his life in the service of music. For eight years he was a lecturer at the Department for Musicology at the University of Stockholm and then practiced what he taught for twenty five years as producer at Concerts Sweden. He was also, from his early teens to his last months, an enthusiastic musician playing in a number of different constellations of Swedish jazz groups.

Throughout his years at Concerts Sweden his commitment to promoting traditional and world music will be remembered as the most dedicated effort to connect Sweden with the rest of the... More...

In Memoriam by Hans Hjorth

WORLD MUSIC CHARTS EUROPE

Top-5 Records in July

Here come the top-5 results of the World Music Charts Europe (WMCE), a monthly poll taken by world music radio programmers in twenty-three European countries. Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars take the Nr. 1 position again this month. Here's the entire top-5, along with a link to the WMCE site.

1. RISE AND SHINE - Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars - Sierra Leone (Cumbancha)
Last month: 1

2. DJITOUMOU - Idrissa Soumaoro - Mali/France - (Lusafrica)
Last month: 8

3. ORO - Choc Quib Town (WOMEX 09 Showcase) - Colombia (World Connection)
Last Month: 2

4. MAMBO SKA - Ska Cubano - UK/Cuba - (Casino Sounds)
Last month: 9

5. ASSUME CRASH POSITION - Konono No.1 - DR Congo - (Crammed)
Last month:... More...

MAKE YOUR CONTACTS

(Photo: Heather Weimer) WOMEX 10 registration numbers are advancing every day and we now have a page on our website featuring all WOMEX 10 participants who are fully signed up and paid. Scroll down the page to see the list of companies or individuals. A click on any entry will bring up their contact details and profile information on virtualWOMEX. Use this tool to prepare for WOMEX 10 ahead of time: see who else is attending, make contacts and set up appointments. Just make sure you are logged in to your virtualWOMEX account.... More...

WOMEX 10 OPENING CONCERT

The Chaosmos of Korean Music

WOMEX is delighted to make its second major programme announcement and none other than a special, exclusive event for the Opening Concert: The Chaosmos of Korean Music: Heaven, Earth, and Human, presented in association with the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism and the Korean Arts Management Service.

The white nights in Denmark will bring a magical experience to the WOMEX 10 Opening in Copenhagen: a gathering of some of the finest bands on the contemporary Korean music scene, take to the stage on the evening of Wednesday, 27 Oct in Danish Broadcasting's Koncerthuset.... More...

A SPACE FOR BRAZILIAN MUSIC

Welcome to the Brazilian Memory Project

(Photo:Farofa by Angelica del Nery) The Brazilian Memory Project is a cultural project that charts the important musical manifestations existing within the intricacies of the country. By producing concert series, the project unites artists; weaves in historical figures with prominent personalities and musical revelations; and then documents them all in books, CDs and DVDs. Thus keeping Brazilian musical history alive by celebrating the diversity of its instruments and segments. While navigating through the site, you will find detailed information about four of the Project's seven phases: Brazilian Violeiros, A Brazilian Wind, Guitars of Brazil, Brazil of the Accordion. More...

WOMEX ROADSHOW

Come meet us in Libreville, Cologne and Medellin

Crossing Rhine, Med and Atlantic to get together with you, our partners and delegates. Come meet us at ...

- C'n'B Creative Business Convention, Köln, Germany, 24-26 June
- Festival Gabao, Libreville, Gabon, 24-26 June
- Congreso Iberoamericano de Cultura, Medellin, Colombia, 30 June - 3 July

Please write us an email to arrange a meeting.
More...