MEDIA RELEASE COURTESY OF: SXSW

International Media figureheads in discussion areto be broadcast live via NorthernNet from the World’s largest film, music and interactive event, SxSW.

Following its successful launch event with Cultural Commissar Phil Redmond at FACT, Liverpool, the NorthernNet Connects Sound City project is delighted to announce the second in a series of groundbreaking and innovative events, which will bring the southern state of Texas to the north of England with a series of panels broadcast live from SxSW music, film and interactive festival.

International media, TV and interactive figureheads from companies including Getty Images (USA), INTEL (USA), BBC Worldwide/Commercial (UK), BSKYB (UK), Yahoo Music (USA), Endemol (UK), The Orchard (UK) and the Consumer Electronics Association, will take part in panels and virtual one to one networking sessions with Northern SMEs. The panels will be broadcast live to the NorthernNet website www.northernnet.co.uk on Tuesday 16th March from 6.30pm.

The SxSW Interactive Day virtual networking and panel sessions: Content, New Technologies and the Consumer Experience Event will be hosted by UK Trade and Investment, and digital entertainment consultants TAG Strategic, will enable Northern SMEs not attending SxSW in person to ‘meet’ with and learn from US based companies they might not otherwise have access to.

The virtual networking sessions will take place at NorthernNet Media Access Bureaux positioned at MediaCityUK – Salford, FACT – Liverpool, The Round Foundry – Leeds and Tyneside Cinema - Newcastle, with the companies involved being linked in for virtual meetings with the US attendees of the Interactive Day at SxSW via a satellite link through NorthernNet.

The first panel, titled Is Content King? How great interactive content can define the relationship between media platforms, brands and the consumer – will discuss how creative businesses can define the value of their content to the platforms or brands that want to acquire it.

This will be followed by Punk Attitude: How can we learn from the attitude of musicians/ artists will explore how adopting a ‘punk attitude’ can help an entrepreneur, executive or business – the panels and keynote will be hosted and available to view exclusively on the NorthernNet (below)

Companies can email their questions to the panellists directly to northernnet@weareboss.co.uk

Dave Pichilingi, Festival Director at Liverpool Sound City said:

“We are delighted to be able to connect businesses from the North of England with key delegates and organisations attending SXSW in Texas.

"Sound City is all about offering meaningful opportunities for ‘doing the business’ in the field of music, media and technology. NortherNet has given us the unique tools to be able to engage people in a business effective way even though they are separated by thousands of miles!”

Jeff Thompson, Manager at TuneCore and Fat Northerner, one of the companies taking part in the virtual networking sessions said:

“The NorthernNet interactive networking session is a great opportunity for us to make new contacts over in the US. We’ve travelled to SxSW a couple of times in recent years, and it’s a brilliant place for UK music businesses to introduce themselves to the American market, but unfortunately this year we haven’t been able to make the trip. The opportunity NorthernNet presents to network at such a prestigious event, and with a potentially huge market, is fantastic.”

Over the coming months NorthernNet Connects Sound City will continue to host a range of Masterclasses and high calibre networking events from locations around the North and at the world class Liverpool Sound City Festival and conference in May.

To find out more about the NorthernNet Connects Sound City programme of events, please contact northernnet@weareboss.co.uk, or visit their website here.