By José Gandue @Gandour
February 24th and 25th The Independent Music Association of the United Kingdom (AIM) and the British Council, They will present the virtual edition of Pro Selector, a series of talks and conferences with professional music actors, to bring the independent scenes of the United Kingdom and Latin America closer together, thus promoting cultural exchange and collaboration. In these activities they join together as partners Biche (Colombia), New Bands Foundation (Venezuela) and Niceto Club (Argentina), who will contribute their experience to exchange stories about what is happening in a sector truly affected by the effects of the pandemic.
The program will feature a schedule of talks, panels, and artist presentations aimed at the general public., and in addition, 45 professionals will be selected to participate in discussion sessions and networking opportunities., which will lay the groundwork for new international working relationships. The topics of this year's panels will include, among others: live streaming; Maximizing revenue from online music; creative strategies and digital marketing tricks; Climate change; international collaboration between the United Kingdom and Latin America; and ways in which music can be a driver of social change.
To understand the importance of the event, we have contacted Luis González, British Council arts manager, who has allowed us to ask him a series of questions on the subject:
What is the interest of the UK Independent Music Association in carrying out these types of activities in Latin America?
They have been looking to expand their networks for some time, and Latin America is a region of great interest to their members. This was evident at their latest annual conference in 2020, held as part of the festival. The Great Escape in Brighton, called AIM HouseAnd, since this last edition was held virtually due to the pandemic, there was a focus on Latin America, seeking to generate those initial contacts and provide entry-level information on the Latin American music market and industry. This focus on Latin America was done in partnership with us, and it had more than 15,000 virtual attendees, which confirmed the growing interest of the UK independent music sector in Latin America and led them to be very interested in partnering with us for the new edition of Selector Pro.
What do you expect to happen in this edition, considering the current circumstances we are experiencing?
As the music world continues to grapple with the various consequences of Covid-19, the opportunity to connect the independent music scenes of the UK and Latin America is more important than ever. I believe this will be a unique opportunity to forge valuable connections between independent music industry professionals in the UK and Latin America, as well as to experience music from a wide range of countries and styles, all at the same time, without having to travel anywhere. In particular, it will be wonderful to see artists representing the diversity and emerging musical power of Colombia, such as Conjunto Media Luna and LoMásBello, as well as promising British artists like Penelope Isles and Balimaya Project. With this virtual edition, we hope to continue building on Selector PRO's legacy by strengthening the cultural and knowledge exchange so vital in these times.
What should we expect from the State in these circumstances so that the music industry and its members have better prospects?
I believe there could be greater investment in the sector, especially during this time of crisis, which could leverage the reactivation and, in many cases, the very survival of numerous initiatives that have been severely impacted by the pandemic. Just consider one of the hardest-hit subsectors of the music industry, such as festivals and live music events, which have so greatly promoted independent music and made our vibrant music scene possible. These are spaces, people, and initiatives that, if lost, represent a loss for society as a whole. Therefore, in these kinds of cases, government support is crucial, with larger and more accessible subsidies, funds, and grants to promote the creation, employment, and livelihood of a sector that has been severely affected and that, under normal circumstances, generates significant value for both cultural diversity and local economies.
A somewhat tricky question: Does the United Kingdom in Latin America only look for "exotic products" in musical material?
Not necessarily. The UK, like Colombia, has a very diverse music scene, and there are punk initiatives that want to connect with similar initiatives in Colombia, without seeking any kind of... exoticization but rather to have international relationships and connections with peers who are working in similar and related ways. There are also metal scenes that want to come and learn about what's happening in Latin America, which has a huge metal audience. But I also think there are spaces for those who want to learn about traditional and folk music, not only under the guidelines of, let's say, extractivism not cultural, but from respectful approaches to understanding other cultures, sharing knowledge, and collaborating. However, there are certainly some organizations seeking original musical material from other regions, like our own, which they can then share with new audiences in European countries. I believe this phenomenon is related to North-South relations, which in many cases are being undermined. We, for example, are interested in fostering collaboration and more horizontal work environments. This is something we aim to promote by bringing together organizations that share this mutual interest and willingness to work collaboratively.
Finally, what other plans does the British Council have to develop in the field of music in Latin America this year?
We are developing programs to provide opportunities, spaces for collaboration and knowledge exchange, and to promote international connections, such as Mestizo in Colombia, which will have a new phase focused on consolidating the musical co-creation process initiated in 2019 between a selection of musicians from the London jazz scene and a group of musicians from the Colombian independent scene. We will also be working on a new program in partnership with the Petronio Álvarez Festival to facilitate a pan-African dialogue between musical organizations from the Colombian Pacific region and the global Afro diaspora (including not only the United Kingdom, but also other countries in Africa and Latin America such as Brazil and Cuba). Additionally, a similar program will be developed in Argentina and Brazil. ASA – Amplified Sonic Art, Focused on building a music scene with a greater female presence throughout the value chain. Finally, the continuation of Selector Pro, which will seek to support the relationships developed at this new edition taking place from February 24th to 25th. These are some of the programs coming up this year.
For registration and more information, please visit https://www.selector-pro.com/inicio.
