Thursday 13th May

Aside from operating the only nationwide chain of music stores left on the High Street, HMV is now one of the most important and interesting companies in the wider UK music business. Since Simon Fox became the company's CEO in 2006 it has diversified into running live music venues and selling gig tickets, is trialling a new cinema concept in partnership with Curzon, and acquired half of download platform 7Digital. More recently it bought the MAMA Group, expanding HMV's interests into festivals, artist management, merchandising and brand partnerships

Basically, HMV has quietly become a truly '360 degree' music and entertainment company. CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke will be talking to Simon about why HMV chose to diversify, about how the company's various divisions will work together, and what the future holds for HMV as a multi-channel retailer, and as a 360 degree enterprise.

Not so long ago, to get a career in music production meant you starting at the bottom in a recording studio pushing a broom and making the tea, slowly absorbing the skills until you eventually graduated from tape op to assistant engineer, finally reaching the rank of producer. Now there are hundreds of degree courses and thousands of graduates looking for jobs in far fewer commercial studios than existed before - has anything changed? Is it worth the investment of putting yourself through College if you then have to start at the bottom again. And are there any jobs anyway?
How do producers and DIY labels link up in the new world post-Abbey Road?

We talk to producers, engineers and studio owners to find out the truth in this panel co-sponsored by JAMES and Northbrook College www.musicatnorthbrook.com.

Practical advice and real-world tips for bands, managers and writers, whatever stage you’re at - from people who’ve been there and are doing it now. This will be a quick-fire session of practical answers to any questions you want answered – such as: What can you do to successfully market your band online? How can you build an active and career-sustaining fanbase? How can you achieve success outside a Major label structure? How can your act reach critical mass and get beyond the pub circuit? What ways are there to make money from what you’re doing now?It’s all about generating ideas that you can use in the real world.