Wadsworth plans a Great Escape

BPI Chairman and Generator Board member Tony Wadsworth has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the Great Escape.

The former EMI Chairman will draw upon his 26 years of experience in the industry as part of a keynote address presented by MusicTank that will focus on the future of the British recording industry.

Wadsworth joins an impressive line-up of speakers at the programme, including HMV’s Simon Fox, PRS for Music’s Will Page and Producer Paul Epworth. The convention side of the festival has been programmed by CMU Daily and will take place at the Brighton Dome from Thursday 12– Saturday 14 May.

Following the keynote, Wadsworth will join Cooking Vinyl Group Chairman Martin Goldschmidt, BMG Chrysalis A&R Director Alan Pell and artist manager Catherine Haridy to discuss what the music companies of the future.

Tony Wadsworth said: “The debate about what the future might hold for the record industry has been raging for over a decade now, ever since the opportunities and threats of the internet first became apparent”.

He continued: “Now, as new business patterns start to emerge, I believe we are able to make more considered and constructive observations about where our industry is heading, and about what record companies are doing to secure their long term survival”. Over 300 acts are now confirmed to play the Great Escape this year, including DJ Shadow, Sufjan Stevens, The Vaccines and YUCK. To find out more and get tickets, go to their website.