‘ITALY AT WOMEX’ CELEBRATES THE BREADTH AND VITALITY
OF THE ITALIAN MUSICAL SCENE
WOMEX 24, Manchester
October 23 – 27
14 October 2024
A major highlight of WOMEX 24 will be the specially commissioned Italian Pavilion, ITALY AT WOMEX. Presented by the Italian Trade Agency, the Italian Pavilion has six Partners: Assomusica, Emilia-Romagna Music Commission, Italia Music Export, Italian World Beat, Puglia Sounds and Italian World Music, as well as over 40 participants representing all areas of the Italian music industry.
An additional integral element of ITALY AT WOMEX is two live performances showcasing Godblesscomputers, and Justin Adams and Mauro Durante.
The Italian music industry is a crucial part of the wider Italian culture sector which in 2023 contributed 255 billion euros to the country’s economy and employs more than 1.5 million people. A report from KPMG in 2012 found that ‘Made in Italy’ is the third most recognised brand after Coca Cola and Visa.
Within the Italian cultural sector, the music industry is one of the most dynamic and fast-growing: in 2023 there were 23.7 million attendees at live music events, a 13.6% increase on 2022 and a near doubling of its 2019 figures. A report in 2023 from Siae (the Italian equivalent of the UK’s PRS) found that there had been an increase of 15% of musical events presented compared to the previous year, with a combined audience of 265 million people, a 30% increase on the previous year. It also found that there were over 116,000 venues dedicated to live entertainment in Italy, 14% more than the previous year.
Giovanni Sacchi, Director of the Italian Trade Agency in London, said: “The Italian Trade Agency office in London, as the promotional arm of the Italian Embassy, aims to highlight the rich diversity and exceptional quality of Made in Italy across sectors including music and entertainment. The United Kingdom is a key player in the international music scene, making WOMEX 2024 an excellent opportunity for visitors to explore Italy's offerings. The UK is a vibrant market for the global music industry considering the role it plays both as an international stage for artists and the home of iconic recording studios and recording companies. It is also the home of some of the most world-class catalysts such as Glastonbury. The importance of the UK market and, therefore, the Italian representation at Womex 2024 is further supported by the latest market data according to which live performances in the UK have reached an all-time high in 2023 in terms of turnout, with a whopping 37 million people. Moreover, the revenues from musical recordings recorded an increase of 8.1% between 2022 and 2023 reaching £1.43 billion." WOMEX, Worldwide Music Expo, is the most international and culturally diverse music meeting in the world and the biggest conference of the global music scene, featuring a trade fair, talks, films and showcase concerts.
All press enquiries to Simon Millward, Premier PR, simon.millward@premiercomms.com, +447990507310.
Editor’s Notes
PARTNERS
Italian Trade Agency
The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) is the Governmental agency that supports the business development of our companies abroad and promotes the attraction of foreign investment in
Italy.
With a motivated and modern organisation and a widespread network of overseas offices, ITA provides information, assistance, consulting, promotion and training to Italian small and medium-sized businesses.
Using the most modern multi-channel promotion and communication tools, it acts to assert the excellence of Made in Italy in the world.
www.madeinitaly.gov.it
Assomusica
Assomusica is the association of Italian producers and organisers of live music shows and is the Italian representative of the sector for the European Union. Since 1996 it has brought together cultural and creative organisations in the industry across Italy, with an emphasis on supporting small and medium sized enterprises.
Assomusica promotes the cultural, social and financial value of live music and is the main point of contact for Italian institutions, collecting societies, universities, and public and private organisations.
www.assomusica.org
Italia Music Export
Italia Music Export is Italy’s first music export office, powered by SIAE and launched in November 2017 to put Italy back on the music business world map. Italia Music Export is a resource centre for exporters of Italian music, but it also gives advice and assistance to
international professionals interested in working with Italian artists and companies.
www.italiamusicexport.com
Italian World Beat
Italian World Beat represents and promotes abroad artists, festivals, agencies and cultural
associations, operating through active participation in the major music fairs worldwide.
Since 2021 it has been the organizer of an annual showcase festival MusiConnect Italy
www.musiconnect-italy.com
Puglia Sounds
Puglia Sounds was the first public initiative in Italy to recognise music as a productive sector that generates value and employment.
Over the past 15 years, Puglia Sounds has worked to increase the international profile and recognition for Puglia’s music sector, supporting many Puglian music projects appearing in festivals, music events and charts around the world.
Puglia Sounds also offers opportunities for the growth and international promotion of music professionals across the industry - artists, labels, festivals and agencies.
To date, it has supported over 2,000 concerts and tours worldwide, 399 new recordings, over 900 concerts and tours in Italy, 109 new digital productions and the participation of more than 500 regional operators in major international music fairs and conferences.
Every year Puglia Sounds organizes Medimex, the International Festival and Music Conference.
www.pugliasounds.it/en/
Emilia-Romagna Music Commission and ATER Fondazione
Emilia-Romagna Music Commission promotes and supports the music industry and the development of artists in the region. Emilia-Romagna has the second largest number of concerts in Italy and is fourth for the number of spectators and public expenditure.
Emilia-Romagna Music Commission supports and promotes talent, creates professional and entrepreneurial resources and aims to create favourable conditions for the development of new artistic forces, production, exchange and circulation. It also runs programmes strengthening music education, professional training and those promoting innovation, locally and the internationally.
Since 2022, Emilia-Romagna Music Commission in close collaboration with ATER Fondazione, through the Music Export Office promotes synergies and exchanges with music export offices in Europe and around the world, providing economic and logistical support and consultancy services to help music organizations and musicians expand internationally. The Emilia-Romagna Music Export Office supports participation in trade fairs, showcase festivals and industry conferences.
https://musicommission.emiliaromagnacultura.it/
The Italian World Music Network
The Italian World Music Network is a non-profit association based in Rome promoted by some of the most important Italian world music, folk and popular music festivals.
The associative project networks and promotes the activities of associations and cultural operators who, through the organisation of events and music festivals with a high social and environmental impact, carry out an important job of protecting, disseminating and enhancing the cultural heritage of our country.
www.italiaworldmusic.it
PARTICIPANTS
Aida Music: www.aidamusic.net
Alkantara Festival: www.associazione-darshan.it
Antenna Music Factory: www.antennamusicfactory.com
Appennino Festival: www.appenninofestival.eu
Arra Produzioni Mediterranee: www.arraproduzioni.com
Mezzotono: www.mezzotono.it
Audiocoop: www.audiocoop-italia.it
Arci Emilia-Romagna: www.arcier.it
Bandadriatica: www.manigold.it
Brutture Moderne: www.brutturemoderne.it
Calabria Sona: www.calabriasona.com
Casadei Sonora: www.casadeisonora.it
Circular Music: www.circularmusic.eu
Costruire Con La Musica: www.agapeforfuture.org
Crinali: www.crinalibologna.it
Django Music: www.djangomusic.it
Duna Studio: www.dunastudio.com
Estragon: www.estragon.it
Eufonica: www.eufonica.it & www.guitarshow.it
Fast Forward: www.fastforwardlive.com
Festival Adriatico Mediterraneo: www.adriaticomediterraneo.eu
Festival Ethnos: www.festivaethnos.it
Finisterre di Treglia Erasmo
Flowers Festival: www.hiroshimamonamour.org
Fondazione Entroterre: www.entroterre.org
Ikona Concerti: www.ikonaconcerti.it
International Music and Arts: www.internationalmusic.it
IPE Music: www.ipeipe.com
La Media Activities: www.facebook.com/Ja.LaMediaActivities
Kido Music: www.kidomusic.com
Lame da Barba: www.lamedabarbamusic.com
Le Ragazze Terribili: www.leragazzeterribili.com
Moreno Il Biondo: www.arvmusic.org
Node: www.no-de.org
Panico Concerti: www.panicoconcerti.com
Ponderosa Music & Art: www.ponderosa.it
Redi Hasa / Ura Teatro: www.facebook.com/redihasaofficial
Sei Festival: www.seifestival.it
Show Biz: giampaologrotta@hotmail.com
Sicily Music Conference: www.sicilymusicconference.com
Tourbilion: www.tourbilion.com
Zero Nove Nove: www.zeronovenove.com
ITALIAN SHOWCASE
25 October
Godblesscomputers
01.00 – 02.00, Club Summit, O2 Ritz Manchester
Bologna-based producer Lorenzo Nada, aka Godblesscomputers, is a collector of sounds who explores, catalogues, dissects and recomposes them into synthesis elements, advancing into electronic territories while maintaining the original groove and warmth of his sources.
26 October
Justin Adams & Mauro Durante
22:30 - 23:15, Warehouse Stage A, Aviva Studios, Manchester
Justin Adams and Mauro Durante share a fascination for trance rhythms and their manifestation from the Mediterranean to Mississippi. Sweet Release is the second
album from Justin Adams & Mauro Durante, following on from 2021’s award winning Still Moving. 3 years of worldwide touring have turned what was originally a fusion project into a fully realised and unique unit, drawing on Durante’s Taranta background, but with a palette that ranges from raw Rockabilly to Sufi ecstasy via Minimalism, exploring themes of musical healing and catharsis. With an almost telepathic level of interplay, the duo recorded the album live, allowing for magical improvised moments.
Guitarist Justin Adams – Robert Plant collaborator and producer of trademark albums for Tinariwen and Rachid Taha – paints broad strokes with his post-punk guitar approach enriched by his passion for Arabic music and African trance blues, while Mauro Durante – violinist, singer, percussionist and leader of Puglian ensemble Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino – is a master exponent of songs, rhythms and dances of Southern Italy’s pizzica style.
