Oslo, August 2009
Busy at Øya International
by Webmaster, 01.09.2009
A busy Øya festival is over. This year's Øya International, organized by the festival and Music Export Norway together, was characterized by great vibes, networking, grilled salmon and a generous Norwegian minister.
For the sixth consecutive year, Music Export Norway and Øyafestivalen arranged the Øya International program during the festival. The aim of the event is to encourage networking between the Norwegian and international music industry, as well as providing professional input during the four days of the event.
A total of nearly 200 people took part in Øya International, 130 of which were representatives from the international press, record industry, festivals and other institutions.
Speed meetings and Norwegian salmon
Just like last year the first part of the event took place in the Opera House, where participants had the opportunity to conduct a series of speed meetings. These are short introductory meetings between Norwegian and foreign participants, based on a wish lists from the Norwegians. All in all, the participants conducted ten meetings each.
After the speed meetings, the delegates went on to the international area, an area within the actual Øya festival area. Here, participants were able to relax in informal surroundings, with a good view of the festival's main stage. Many took the opportunity to follow up the speed meetings from earlier that day.
- I am as always very happy to come to Norway to meet the industry and see the great Norwegian bands. Music Export Norway and Øyafestivalen are doing a fantastic job with the festival and the program put together for international participants, commented Cecilia Ancker, Senior Creative & Exploitation Manager at Universal Publishing Scandinavia.
New this year was a collaboration with the Norwegian Seafood Export Council (EFF), who participated with their own cooks every day during the festival. They served freshly grilled salmon, which seemed to appeal to both foreign and Norwegian participants.
More money for export
Thursday morning there was a trip to Bleikøya in the Oslo Fjord, where a treasure hunt, insiders guide and barbecue took place. There was also an opportunity to go for a refreshing swim, which some took advantage of despite the varying weather conditions.
Later on that day the Norwegian Minister of Church and Culture, Trond Giske, joined the program to visit and meet a selection of the international delegates. He also had important news for Norwegian music exporters. Giske announced that the Ministry would double the Government grants to music export, from three to six million next year.
- This was positive news. The money comes very handy, and helps us so that we now can implement measures we have not previously been able to afford, said Inger Dirdal from Music Export Norway.
Revealed Eurosonic band
Friday was devoted to a presentation of the Norwegian focus at next year's Eurosonic festival in Groningen, Netherlands. Eurosonic was represented by a number of participants at Øya International, and spoke warmly of Norwegian music during the presentation.
Peter Smidt (creative director at Eurosonic) stated that a number of Norwegian artists have received international attention as a result of having played at Eurosonic, and highlighted Casiokids, Kaizers Orchestra, Katzenjammer and Datarock as good examples.
In connection with Eurosonic's EBU project (European Broadcasting Union) the Norwegian partner P3 will have the opportunity to send two bands or artists to Groningen to showcase. Music Director of P3, Mats Borch Bugge, presented the first of the two artists who will travel to the Netherlands. The choice was the winners of the Urørt competition - Pony the Pirate.
(All photos: Music Export Norway, except EFF Photo: Inger Johanne Krogn © Norwegian Seafood Export Council)
