Investor Summit: a promising moment for music business

This Wednesday, LeanSquare was hosting the “investor summit” segment of Wallifornia Music Tech. More than thirty investors and ecosystems actors of the music world, coming from Belgium, but also from the USA, Israel, Scandinavia, Canada, … converged to Liège to discuss the future of music.

Among the sharpest minds in the music business, like Scott Cohen (The Orchard, pionneer in digital music), Benji Rogers (visionary in blockchain and music), Ted Cohen (ex-EMI Digital), Trond Tornes (Phonophile), Richard Burgess (CEO A2IM), Pieter van Rijn (CEO of FUGA)…

After some reassuring words (“music business is still huge, and growing”), they had a debate on key issues for every entrepreneur & investor in the field, such as changing business models, rights management, or the “value gap” (the huge difference in artist earnings depending on the platform, and the streaming mode between YouTube, Spotify, Apple, others,… ).

An interactive debate was held as a “World Café”, allowing everyone to meet, and every voice to be heard.
As a conclusion, Pascale Delcomminette (CEO of Wallonia Foreign Trade & Investment agency) came to explain the attractiveness of Wallonia for innovative projects, especially digital (Digital Wallonia plan).

A wonderful afternoon of interactions, ahead of WMT’s Pro convention, starting this Thursday on the grounds of Les Ardentes, and looking even more promising.