5 August 2004

eCOMMERCE HELP FOR THE WELSH MUSIC INDUSTRY

Opportunity Wales the eCommerce advice organisation and the Welsh Music Foundation are to launch a joint pilot project to help members of the Welsh music industry benefit from eCommerce.

The invitation-only launch of the project will take place at Oriel Mostyn on Thursday 2 September starting at 6.30pm and the organisers are urging any person or business involved in the music industry and based in the Objective 1 area of Wales to contact them if they would like to attend.

Commenting about their reason for launching such an initiative, Susan Geary, Opportunity Wales Business & Customer Services Director, said: “Wales has a wealth of music-related talent and support businesses ranging from singers, songwriters and instrumentalists through to recording studios, music publishers and music shops.  The aim of this initiative is to show these sectors how eCommerce can help them with every aspect of their business.”

Two prominent members of the north Wales music industry who have a growing interest in the benefits that eCommerce can provide their businesses, have already shown their support for the initiative.  

One is successful businessman, Kevin Cripps, owner of Kavern Records & Video which has branches in Llandudno and Rhyl.  The other is ex-Thin Lizzy keyboards player, Darren Wharton, who now has his own recording studio in the Conwy valley and whose band, Dare, is proving popular with audiences throughout the UK.

“A good Web site, properly marketed, plus the capability to make full use of the latest eCommerce techniques, can provide the Welsh music industry with a worldwide marketplace for its products and services.  Wales has tremendous musical talent and the country has all the music support services the industry needs.  Now is the time to exploit this and eCommerce is the mechanism needed to do this” Darren said.

Welcoming the initiative, Elliot Reuben, Chief Executive of the Welsh Music Foundation, said: “We are very pleased to take part in this pilot project in conjunction with Opportunity Wales.  The Welsh music industry has a world-class capability and Opportunity Wales has the know-how to help Welsh music businesses make the most of technological advances. "

The launch event will include a presentation by Paul Squires, Head of Web Services at Opportunity Wales who will share his eCommerce expertise with the audience.  Elliot Reuben, Chief Executive of the Welsh Music Foundation who will talk about Internet revenue streams.

The pilot project will provide a specialist eCommerce adviser for each business who will advise them about how they can develop their business through the use of new technologies. Music businesses participating in the project will also receive a tailor-made report on how they can develop by using eCommerce, become eligible for eCommerce implementation support and funding, and will have opportunities of recording and showcasing their progress.

Anybody involved in the Welsh music industry and based in the Objective 1 area of Wales who would like to attend can request an invitation by contacting the Welsh Music Foundation’s North Wales office on:

(01978) 314 896.

A high level of demand is anticipated for this event, and the numbers of places available are limited, so to avoid disappointment please request your invitation as soon as possible. Requests for Invitations will then be allocated on a first to request basis.

Further information on the pilot project and how eCommerce can work for businesses across Wales, is available at www.opportunitywales.co.uk and in Welsh at www.cyflecymru.co.uk or by telephone on 0845 8500 888 (local rate).