Amsterdam Dance Event Review, DJ's,Parties and for the love of Tech!

Amsterdam Dance Event - 17-21st October 2012 

What a fabulous week in Amsterdam last week at the annual Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE). Along with the Bimbo Jones crew we talked, filmed, blogged, tweeted, created new content, DJ-ed, partied and met old friends and created new ones.

What's there not to like about Amsterdam?  Small, intimate, beautiful, with the world's best DJ's, song writers and producers all in one place for a few days in the beautiful autumnal sun (and a little rain). ADE is split into three broad categories, The Festival, The Playground and The Conference. I spent most of my time in and around the conference, listening, thinking and networking outside Felix Meritis.  And by night dancing to the best DJ's and Divas in the world.
Picture here - Fun and laughter with Marc JB, Alister Jamieson, Lee Dagger and Phil Lorraine.

The part of the conference that I found particularly inspiring was "Music and Bits".  
Music and Bits focused on trends and opportunities in the online world of music. The program featured some of the most creative and original minds in the entertainment industry. Of particular note was Billy O'Connell's US non profit model - CASH Music. Their mission is to help the increasing number of D.I.Y non-signed artists with a platform to sell and promote their music.  Aritsts will be able to sell, promote, manage fan bases, mailing lists and contacts all in one place for FREE! I wondered what the catch was and if there was a big corporate lurking in the depths of the platform code but apparently not. Their strap line " What Wordpress did for bloggers, we're doing for musicians. We're building a free and open platform that’s available to all artists, designed in partnership with artists and labels." World look out, this looks great and could revolutionise how musicians monetise their music. Check out what Billy is doing here - Cashmusic.org website

Talking of Revolutions and D.I.Y., it was good to meet up with Hessel Van Oorschott who is MD of Tribe of Noise.  Tribe of Noise connects musicians online with businesses around the globe in need of original, all rights included, music.  They help Musicians to benefit from free promotion and licensing opportunities and erase the burden of media professionals/buyers who are seeking all rights included music for their business. It's a great model and very challenging to the music business.  Anything that monetises Musicians' Music interests me and I think the Tribe of Noise Gang have a great business model - check out their review of ADE and their panel on  creating a D.I.Y. Gameplan for your music here -   Tribe of Noise ADE review

 Other highlights included BUMA hosting the "Secret sauce of the Youtube Platform" with Jelle-Jan Bruinsma from Youtube NL, Meindert Kennis from Spinnin Records and Jorrit Eringa. They looked at how to get max leverage from your tunes on Youtube and how to increase revenue streams - essential stuff for the musician. Tim Van de Rijdt from Google NL gave helpful tips about using Google Plus and streamlining all your on line activity. Also in the mix was Shamal Ranasighne from Topspin USA - a real honour to meet Shamal, I love his work.

The other stand out group of techies and creatives from ADE were the 365 Mag team pictured to the right.
Marc JB and I visited these lovely people and in a basement in Amsterdam and managed to set up the new Soul Delux page on their platform site with video/social media links, do an interview, photoshoot, film Marc DJing, have a cup of tea, beer and food all in an hour! They have a fabulous team of creatives, writing, editing, filming, laughing and enjoying what they do all in a small Amsterdam basement. Thank you 365 Mag -My kind of Digital Marketing!

These are a few conference highlights of many at ADE 2012.
I loved the emphasis on Tech matching the music and facilitating it's promotion - an essential process to monetise it.
I would have loved to have seen more women in the tech seminars. If I missed any of you, leave a message or get in contact with me through my twitter account - @LoveLiveMusicUK.
It was great to meet old friends and new and big shout outs go to my dear friend DJ Ron Slomowicz who interviewed DJ's tirelessly, the gang of Divas especially great to meet the wonderful Victoria Aitken, gorgeous Inaya Day and creative Ashleigh K and the other divas I had met in Miami last year, Crystal Waters, Barbara Tucker and all at the DEF party. Great to meet Darude and Randy Boyer again at the 7stars and Enmass Label showcase.



We also had a lovely meal with the wonderful Lainie Copicotto and super talented Ineabell from NYC having fun talking about English Christmas puddings and lighting them each year with Brandy - a strange tradition we have! Lainie yours is in the post minus the flames!

My last picture is of the talented Chris Cox and I at the Mn2s's Def celebrations with David Morales, Frankie Knuckles and Hector Romero with the "Divas"! What a great night and my look of excitement pretty much sums it all up. Such incredible talent all in one room, all in one city. 





Thank you ADE 2012 until next year!

Sally Jackson Freeman - Love Live Music UK