The annual kick off event for the music conventions is without doubt the Noorderslag / Eurosonic Seminar in Groningen / Netherlands on January 8-10, 2004. The count down continues while the agenda grows. The next deadline to register for the industry event is December 15. Prices range from 115 to 145 Euro. For more info please call +31-35-621 87 48 or check the website www.noorderslag.nl

Registrants of the Noorderslag/Eurosonic Seminar also benefit from a Vip-Booking.com trial subscription for the first quarter (until April 1, 2004) for just 118 Euro. This offer includes free access to the online music industry information service of Vip-Booking.com and the Vip News –Newsletter. Please call +45 –70- 25 07 27 or send a mail to Peter Briggs to pb@vip-booking.com.

The organizers report that more European radio stations than ever before will attend and report on the acts and annual meetings that will take place on this first music conference of the New Year. Radio legend John Peel will make a personal appearance on January 8 at one of the Euro sonic Showcases in the Venue De Vera as part of a live broadcast on BBC’s Radio One, on the same day RTE Dublin will also broadcast live shows by The Frames and Bell X1, WDR’s teenie bumper station EinsLive will also broadcast the next day from De Vera, WDR Rockpalast will be on site to record an 80 minute TV-Special about the gathering, MTV Networks will also cover the event and Radio 3FM will cover EuroSonic on 8 and 9 January as well as Noorderslag on Saturday 10 January. Additionally more than 40 music magazines and online media ‘zines are registered for the event.

Conference themes will feature the Export of domestic Music. Besides special presentations on the music market in England and Hungary, Germany is featured with several guest speakers such as Michael Bisping, A.S.S. Concerts, Frank Stroebele of Eye Sound, Matthias Fricke of Intro Magazine, Emiel Govaert Manager of Krezip. The Chairmen team for the presentation will be Corne Bos of Veel Promo and Wally van Middendorp of Jupiton.

As previously reported the The Network Europe, the European Broadcasting Union and the festival association Yourope will hold their meetings as part of the convention. New on the agenda are topics like Bands & Brands, a panel of the marketing for venues and a roundtable discussion on label matters with among other Alison Wenhem of AIM, Peter James of VUT and music lobbyist Philip Kern of Kern European Affairs in Brussels. Vip-News Chief Editor Allan McGowan will moderate the final panel which will refer to the conclusions and possible actions arising from the various meetings that are held during the conference.
Please check the website www.noorderslag.nl for the latest updates, especially for the concert program.