On August 18th, 22 Tango Music Group, in collaboration with the British Council in the Philippines and Sonik Philippines, will present Sonik Sessions: Music Export 101. This unique event combines a boutique conference with an artist showcase, aiming to unite international music experts, Filipino artists, and creators for discussions on music and strategies to elevate Filipino talents on the global stage. The event will take place at Making Space in Cebu City, marking the first Sonik event to venture beyond Metro Manila.
In this second edition of Sonik Sessions, Filipino creators will gain insights into how artists and the music industry can capitalize on enhanced visibility, expanded market reach, diverse revenue sources, and enriched cultural exchange. The conference will extensively explore the concept of ‘music export,’ which involves promoting and distributing music to international markets, spotlighting and promoting artists to audiences beyond their native country.
The theme was drawn from the insights of Filipino music experts and the personal encounters of the organizers as representatives of the British Council at the recently concluded Great Escape Music Festival in Brighton, England.
Guided by the accomplished singer-songwriter and founder of 22 Tango Music Group, Cattski Espina, in collaboration with musician-entrepreneur and founder of Homonym, Mike Constantino, Sonik Sessions: Music Export 101 has been developed. Following their participation in the Great Escape delegation, Cattski and Mike initiated this event with the aim of imparting their insights and expertise to the Filipino artist community.
“I came home re-energized by what I saw and the people I met. After not being able to attend live conferences due to the pandemic, it reminded us that we can do so much more with the EU, especially the UK. We are excited to finally take Sonik outside of Manila and are raring to share what we’ve learned [in the Great Escape] through Sonik Sessions in Cebu,” Mike shares.
Cattski adds, “I’m on a mission to learn more about Music Export to pivot my vision towards learning from other cultures and eventually becoming an ambassador in bringing Filipino music to the UK and the world. I am thrilled to have Sonik Session as an opportunity to kick off our work in music export and bring more Filipino artists to the global stage.”
Mich Dulce, the Head of Arts at the British Council, further elaborates on how the organization champions collaborative growth and artistic exchange between the United Kingdom and the Philippines. “There is so much talent and potential in the Philippines that deserves to be shared with the entire world. We look forward to the exciting future of Filipino artists as we continue to work together and share what the UK has to offer and vice versa,” she says.
Sonik Sessions will provide a platform for both seasoned and emerging musicians, artists, and creators to come together and discuss their varied inspirations and innovations. The event will showcase four prominent and internationally recognized figures from the industry, who will share insights into industry trends and global best practices:
- Fil-Brit publicist, consultant, and international music marketeer from EMPIRE Cat Lazarra will elaborate on what music export is;
- Another Fil-Brit – singer and producer, RJ Belo of State is Flow London, will share his experiences and dreams of bridging UK Asian artists with other cultures
- Founder of SRM Booking and Services and co-founder of AXEAN Music Showcase Festival Satria Ramadhan will share how to grow music and fanbase in foreign markets;
- FOCUS Wales’ co-founder and music programmer Andy Jones will talk about applying and participating in music festivals and conferences; and
- Primavera Pro’s head of partnerships and programming, Camila Anino, will discuss how government support fuels the exploration of Filipino music.
The event will wrap up with a singer-songwriter and artist showcase, highlighting some of the finest talents from the Cebu-based artist community.
Sonik Session: Music Export 101 is a free event and will be simultaneously streamed on the official Facebook pages of 22 Tango Music Group, Sonik Philippines, and Homonym.
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