Global Music Match 2021. Following the colossal success of the debut Global Music Match in 2020, the worldwide matchmaking programme returns. This year it features 78 artists from 17 countries and four continents.
Artists from Australia, Brittany in France, Canada, Catalonia in Spain, Chile, Denmark, England, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Scotland, Taiwan, USA, and Wales will collaborate over the coming months in what is thought to be the world’s largest online musical matchmaking programme.
Eädyth, Eve Goodman and N’Famady Kouyaté
This year’s iteration follows 2020’s world-first collaboration, which founding partners Sounds Australia, Showcase Scotland Expo and Canada’s East Coast Music Association created in a bid to continue developing profiles for artists in international music markets within the parameters of Covid-19.
Representing Wales in this year’s edition of the project are electro-soul artist Eädyth, Snowdonia based folk singer Eve Goodman (main image), and Cardiff based Guinean multi-instrumentalist N’Famady Kouyaté.
Artists from around the world participate in international teams of six. Over the coming weeks, the teams will collaborate across social media. Each act has an assigned two-week “Featured Artist” period, during which time their five teammates will introduce them to five new audiences around the globe.
Developing International Fanbases
With 78 artists, 13 teams of six will operate simultaneously across borders, countries and timezones, introducing audiences to new music while artists largely remain unable to tour internationally.
Global Music Match seeks to enhance and develop artists’ international fanbases, presence and peer connections in global markets. Developing out of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is a unique and direct response to the sudden limitations imposed on the worldwide music industry and, in particular, international showcasing.
Not only that, but the 2020 edition established working partnerships, market development, enhanced international networks and collaborations across the globe. And all this happened during the most challenging year the live music industry has ever known.
Folk Unlocked
Global Music Match 2020 ran throughout August to October 2020. It officially wrapped with a four-hour showcase of the project and its collaborations at Folk Unlocked in February 2021. Folk Unlocked is the acclaimed digital edition of the Folk Alliance International (USA)
Folk Alliance International returns in an export capacity in 2021, fielding artists from the USA. They join the three founding partners along with returning export music offices (EMOs). These are Spectacle Vivante Bretagne (Brittany), Catalan Arts (Spain), English Folk Expo, Music Finland, Iceland Music, Music Norway, LUCfest (Taiwan) and FOCUS Wales.
Additionally, six new export organisations have joined Global Music Match in 2021. These are the Canadian Independent Music Association, Tempi (Denmark), Chile Musica, Culture Ireland, Italia Music Export and Export Music Sweden.
Global Music Match runs until August 29th.
For further information, head to globalmusicmatch.com. Additionally, search for the hashtag #GlobalMusicMatch to check out the worldwide introductions to new artists.
FOCUS Wales 2021!
While the broader digital conference will be free to access, a limited number of spaces on the inaugural artist development programme are also available. Accordingly, FOCUS Wales invites Welsh artists to apply to participate via their website.
FOCUS Wales recently announced the postponement of the 2020 edition of the festival. This will now take place in the autumn of 2021. The 10th edition will correspondingly see over 250+ acts from Wales and beyond performing in Wrexham from 7th-9th October 2021.
Amongst the acts announced for the 2021 festival are:
Richard Hawley | The Twilight Sad | Gruff Rhys | The Joy Formidable | Tim Burgess | Stealing Sheep | Flamingods | JOHN | Lucy Spraggan | Georgia Ruth | Catrin Finch | Gallops | HENGE | Adwaith | The Breath | Nik Colk Void (Factory Floor) | God Damn | The Trials of Cato | Ynys | The Membranes | Karima Francis | Graeme Park | Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard | Seazoo | Art School Girlfriend | Band Pres Llareggub | Kidsmoke | Bronnie | Chroma | HMS Morris | Panic Shack | Clwb Fuzz | Lewys | Alffa | Yr Ods | Jack Found | Casi | MOJA | Das Koolies’ Immersive Audio- Visual Installation | Sŵnami | Worldcub | Melin Melyn | Hilang Child | Cotton Wolf | Kim Hon | Thumper | Accü | Red Telephone | + MORE
Tickets are available now at focuswales.com/tickets
FOCUS Wales is supported by The Arts Council of Wales and The Welsh Government. FOCUS Wales was the winner of Best Festival for Emerging Talent at the UK Festival Awards. It is also on the shortlist for a European Festival Award.
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Main image: Eve Goodman
