Popkomm an Even More International Meeting Place for the Industry - Brazil the Partner Country in 2006.

BERLIN -- Popkomm GmbH:

--Some 800 exhibitors from 48 countries

--15,000 trade visitors from all over the world

--New: live music section, the classics and "Word up"

--Next Popkomm from 13 to 15 September 2006

With 796 exhibitors from 48 countries and 15,108 trade visitors from all over the world, Berlin's Popkomm confirmed its position even more emphatically as a major international platform for business and communication in the music and entertainment industries. According to a representative poll of exhibitors and trade visitors, 87 per cent of exhibitors and 86 per cent of trade visitors regarded the commercial results of their attendance at the fair as positive. During Popkomm, which took place from 14 to 6 September, two thirds of the exhibitors were able to sign contracts and approximately half of them are expecting good to very good follow-up business. Well over 80 per cent of all exhibitors and trade visitors are planning to attend Popkomm when it takes place again in 2006.

Dr. Ralf Kleinhenz, General Manager of Popkomm GmbH: "Expectations were high following a successful debut in 2004. Consequently we redoubled our efforts the second time around. As a result this event attracted 20 per cent more exhibitors and the numbers of trade visitors again exceeded 15,000. Popkomm has never been so international."

"In 2005 Popkomm was again a major success", stated Gerd Gebhardt, Chairman of the German Phono Associations. "The visitor structure was even more international - a good sign of the appeal of the Berlin music fair and of the German music industry as a whole, and of the contacts being sought there. Business activity was positive and confirmed the optimistic expectations of the industry. In addition the fair proved its value for promoting communication, whether it was 'Friday is music day', 'Your voice against poverty' or the other topics: this provided their forum. To sum up, a thoroughly successful event."

"It is really exciting to experience Popkomm again as a premium trade show", said Scott Cohen, founder & Vice-President International, The Orchard. "It makes sense to have an event like this. Popkomm finally provided us with an opportunity to obtain licences for our catalogues. There was no time to rest, and genuine business was conducted here. For the first time we were able to get together to work out a global strategy with our 17 subsidiaries, whose representatives had travelled from Hong Kong, Beijing, Buenos Aires and Moscow."

An effective combination of trade fair, congress and festival

As in the previous year the Berlin Popkomm was an effective combination of trade fair, congress and festival. The exhibitors included such major players Universal Music, Warner Music and Nokia along with small independent labels and many national stands, including that of the partner country, Spain. Other participant included Vodafone, Apple iTunes, Musicload, Napster and MSN Music International. Innovation and live music were the central themes of Popkomm 2005, and both of these aspects were also reflected at the Popkomm Congress.

The Popkomm-IMEA (Innovation in Music & Entertainment Award) was presented for the second time. The winner of the first prize was the US company KSolo for its interactive online karaoke system, which has already met with a considerable international response. The Popkomm-IMEA received over 1,000 entries from all over the world.

The subject of live entertainment was more strongly represented at this year's Popkomm than ever before. The section devoted to classical music addressed new target groups. Making its debut at the Festival was the new musical and literary section entitled "Word Up!" The Popkomm Festival featured 1,500 performers from 23 countries and over 400 hours of live music that filled the clubs. The Festival was centred on the KulturBrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg.

Brazil, land of music, will be Popkomm's next partner country

Following on from France in 2004 and Spain this year, the partner country for 2006 will be Brazil. Sergio Sa Leitao, State Secretary at the Brazilian Ministry of Culture with responsibility for music exports commented: "We are honoured to be chosen as the partner country for Popkomm 2006. Next year the richness and diversity of Brazilian culture will be represented in Germany by numerous events. Popkomm is an important part of this project."

And Katja Bittner, Director of Popkomm, added: "Brazil is the first non-European country to serve as a partner for Popkomm. We are looking forward with great pleasure to the presentation by this country with its incredibly varied culture. Visitors to Popkomm 2006 really have something to look forward to."

Exhibitors' views about Popkomm

Katlyn Saba, Director of Promotion and Development for Fundacion Autor from Popkomm's partner country, Spain: "We are pleased in every respect with the results our exhibitors achieved at Popkomm. We came here with 61 countries and have taken advantage of many commercial opportunities, including those presented by the showcases. Following the shows at the 'Spanish Night' we were approached by many promoters wanting to get in touch with the artists. It is gratifying that the German audiences enjoyed our music so much."

Jens Michow, President of the organisation representing the German events industry Bundesverband der Veranstaltung-swirtschaft (IDKV), "In view of the fact that Popkomm has been known until now solely as a fair for the record industry, our members were doubtful whether it was the right forum for the events industry in its efforts to make business contacts. However, the unanimous opinion of the ten member companies represented in Berlin was that their expectations had been more than fulfilled. According to Michow next year the Bundesverband will be bringing even more companies to what has been a commercially successful live music section at Popkomm.

Paulina Ahokas, Director Music Export Finland: "The Finnish stand at Popkomm received very many visitors and we were all kept busy. The companies on the national stand were able to generate a lot of business and signed many contracts during the fair. The showcases resulted in commercial success too. It was well worthwhile and, instead of the 16 firms in 2004, this year we brought 24 to Berlin for Popkomm.

"The atmosphere at this year's Popkomm is even better, with a great deal of obvious enthusiasm. And we certainly benefited, having brought 120 exhibitors with us on the British stand, 30 per cent more than in 2004", explained Phil Patterson, Expo Promoter for the government organisation UK Trade & Investment. Judith Govey, International & Membership Manager for the British Association of Independent Music (AIM) added: "We were able to be even more productive at the fair and established valuable contacts. Popkomm led to a lot of new business. The mood here in Berlin is very good."

"We had a very successful Popkomm", said Alexander Maurus, Managing Director of Warner Music Germany. "We make use of Popkomm in the same way that we do a book fair, and presented our records at a location close to the fair. The media representatives, dealers and consumers responded very well to the albums and artists on show at the Haus des Rundfunks. Popkomm makes a lot of sense for Warner and is an important event which we utilise in pursuit of specific objectives."

"GermanSounds welcomes the development of Popkomm both in terms of demand and utilisation, and because of the mood there", according to Peter F. James, Member of the Board and the Management of the German music export agency GermanSounds AG. "GermanSounds was able to initiate valuable new contacts and examine the possibilities for important new projects with foreign partners. To sum up: Popkomm is now firmly established in Berlin We are carrying on, upwards."

Referring to the introduction of a Classics section at the Berlin Popkomm, Winfried Hanuschik, publisher of the classical music magazine "crescendo" stated: "We are delighted with our participation in Popkomm. The concept of a Classics Lounge as a meeting point in Hall 18 was thoroughly successful. After some initial surprise at our presence at this fair visitors came to realise that the classics have their natural place at Popkomm too, as part of the overall music market."

Contracts signed with artists

Artists with whom contracts were signed at Popkomm included the Dutch band Stuurbaard Bakkebaard and the American singer Karen Jacobsen. Stuurbaard Bakkebaard, who were the support act for the 2004 tour by Kaizers Orchestra are now under contract to the German indie label Hazelwood Vinyl Plastics. Karen Jacobsen signed a contract with Bonza Records from Australia at Popkomm. Karen Jacobsen: "Popkomm far exceeded all my expectations. I am very happy." Geoff Weule, Director of Bonza Records, is pleased that "Popkomm has enabled the label to acquire such a successful and well-known artist".

The next Popkomm will take place from 13 to 15 September 2006 in Berlin.