The Association of Independent Music (AIM) has announced the final wave of speakers and sessions for its global sync licensing conference AIM Sync, as well as the full details of panels, listening sessions, and networking taking place virtually on 10th February 2022.
AIM Sync is the UK’s global sync conference and marketplace. The newly announced speakers complete the international lineup of experts from the sync worlds of film, TV, gaming, advertising and brands, as well as leading independent music rightsholders. They join the conference from companies including: Louis Vuitton, Beggars Group, Warp Records, Partisan Records, Bucks Music Group, Water & Music, Too Young, Reactional Music, Theodore Music, Feel For Music, and Lickd, as well as many accomplished freelance music supervisors.
New sessions include a keynote interview with Miriam Westercappel, Co-founder of IDM Music Publishing International and Founder, President & Creative Director of Bixio Music Group, in conversation with Paula J Durán, Creative Director of Soundway Publishing.
One of the most influential entrepreneurs in the world of sync, Miriam has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry including Quentin Tarantino and legendary Italian composers in film, Ennio Morricone and the rock band Goblin. Her success connecting Italian music to Hollywood has reshaped its perception in the market, helping to create a trend known as ‘The Italian Connection’. Under her leadership, Bixio Music’s catalogue has celebrated Grammy-nominated songs, music licensed to Oscar-nominated films and the award-winning Netflix TV series Master of None.
The interview will cover Miriam’s career in sync, bringing out key practical advice from her years of experience such as the best ways to pitch UK music in the US and non-English language territories, the changes in film licensing over Miriam’s career, and how she has built a sync business from the ground up and created a sustainable career.
From the world of TV, a case study will feature the music team behind ‘Industry’, HBO’s hit drama following a group of young bankers making their way in the financial world in the aftermath of the 2008 collapse. The case study will look at the show’s pioneering use of independent music, and how its original soundtrack came together, with composer Nathan Micay discussing the experience of scoring his first major television series coming from a background in electronic music. He’ll be joined by music supervisor Oliver White (Theodore Music), and Lucy James (Warp Records).
‘Luxury Fashion and Independent Music’ will delve into the increasing number of collaborative opportunities between these two cutting-edge areas of the creative industries, looking across fashion shows, brand partnerships, and ads. Representing the worlds of both fashion and music, panellists include Vincent Tajan (Louis Vuitton), Emma Lomas (Beggars Group), Fred Schindler (Too Young) and Guillame Chassé (Warp Publishing).
With over 42 million games sold in the UK in 2020, there’s no doubt that video games are one of the fastest expanding sync markets. ‘Gaming the System – The Evolving World of Games’ will look at how music rightsholders can best tap into this space with insight into recent developments and new trends. Expert panellists include music supervisor Ben Sumner (Feel For Music), Catie Ginsburg (Partisan Records) and Harry Rutherford (Lickd), and tech-meets-music business journalist Cherie Hu (Music & Water).
David Knox, Founder and CEO of Reactional Music, a platform which allows music to be generated in games and react to the gamer and gameplay, will deliver one of the event’s ‘Tools for Sync’ sessions. Any library of music can be used on Reactional, unlocking value for both music rightsholders and games companies.
Jonathan Tester and Robyn Sumner from leading independent publisher Bucks Music Group will kick off AIM Sync with a Market Overview, providing an in-depth round-up of the sync market in 2021 and setting out their vision of the key opportunities and challenges ahead.
The Department for International Trade returns as an event partner to power up AIM Sync’s suite of one-to-one meetings, bringing together international buyers and music supervisors with UK music rightsholders in over 200 individual meetings. One-to-one meetings are an opportunity for delegates to make connections and create new business, with networkers confirmed from key companies operating in sync including 2WEI, Air Edel, BT Sport, CBS Studios, Dream Studio, Soho Music Group, SyncLodge and many more. The deadline for delegates to register their interest in one-to-one meetings is coming up on 31st January. The event will also host open networking sessions available to all delegates.
