ITC Panels - a sneak peek...

OK, to whet your appetite here's a little look at three of the key panels we'll be hosting at ITC this year - live, A&R and publishing, with more to follow over the next couple of days.

1: This town’s a different town today: a modern guide to A&R

Muff Winwood, one of the most respected and successful A&R executives of the past thirty years, moderates a panel of the new breed out there making their mark. With A&R budgets shrinking, more options for acts and more ways to discover new talent what does this mean for the modern A&R? And how are they rising to the challenge? Confirmed panellists include: James Roberts of Brightside Recordings, Jo Charrington of Epic Records, Alex Gilbert of 14th Floor Recordings and Matthew Rumbold of EMI.

2: Leaders of the free world: the publishers panel

Music publishers are taking an increasingly proactive role in signing, developing and breaking acts. But in a world where publishing advances cannot be measured purely against records sales and publishers have to do more, financing finished masters rather than demos and sometimes bank-rolling quasi-labels, how can publishers sign acts in a way that makes sense - both in terms of breaking new acts and making money? And how do the bands themselves cope in with this new world order? Confirmed panellists include Kenny McGoff of EMI, Mike McCormack of Universal, Richard Holley of Peer Music, Andy McQueen of Notting Hill Music, Caroline Elleray of BMG Music, Simon Aldridge of Sony ATV and Alan Pell of Stage Three Music.

3: After the gold rush: the changing face of agents

The music business is changing and the live business is booming, but how can the live agent keep pace with these changes and fend off those looking to muscle in on their territory? Sony BMG have set up a live agency, Universal has bought Helter Skelter through their purchase of Sanctuary, experiential marketing agencies are putting together live events for brands and sponsorship is becoming more integral to live performance all round. How does a savvy live agent stay one step ahead? Legendary live agent Carl Leighton-Pope poses the questions to a new generation of live agents. Confirmed panellists include: Steve Hogan of William Morris, Steve Zapp of ITB, Emma Banks of CAA and Angus Baskerville of 13 Artists.

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