Hong Kong is set to play host to the biggest names in the entertainment business as they gather at the inaugural Music Matters Conference to plot the roadmap for the music industry’s future.

Supported and managed by EMI, SONY BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music and Warner Music, together with the industry governing body the International Federation of Phonographic Industries (IFPI), Music Matters – the first-ever Asia Pacific Music Forum (APMF) –will take place at the luxury Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong on May 10-11, 2006.

Music Matters is an annual two-day symposium featuring keynote speeches from leading entertainment industry figureheads. The inaugural guest-speaker line-up includes John Kennedy, IFPI Worldwide Chairman and CEO, as well as the Asia regional heads of the world’s major record labels: Paul Robinson (President and COO, EMI Music South East Asia), Kelvin Wadsworth (Senior VP, SONY BMG Music Entertainment), Harry Hui, (President, Universal Music South East Asia), and Lachie Rutherford (President, Warner Music Asia Pacific). They will be joined by a host of senior representatives from the leading corporations in the mobile, advertising, media, online and gaming industries.

The main topics to be covered at Music Matters include:
• new and emerging technologies
• the digital future
• A&R and the new role of media in breaking new talent
• music to mobile
• balancing Asian and international acts
• the business relationship between music, brands and advertising.

The forums will range from keynote speeches to one-on-one interviews, panel sessions and multi-media presentations. Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in interactive workshops, join speed-meetings and network at dedicated breakfasts, lunch sessions and parties. And Music Matters will host exclusive artist showcases, presenting exciting new talent from across the region.

Paul Robinson, President and COO of EMI Music South East Asia, said: “There has never been a better time than now to come together to debate, discuss and do business.”

Kelvin Wadsworth, Senior Vice President, SONY BMG Music Entertainment Asia said: “Music Matters serves to ensure that creativity can continue to flourish as a result of new business models.”

Harry Hui, President of Universal Music South East Asia, said: “Asia’s music market is undergoing enormous changes which offer both threats and opportunities. I believe that Music Matters is an excellent chance for industry leaders to come together to collectively harness the potential from discussing all the essential and critical issues.”

Lachie Rutherford, Chairman of IFPI Asia Pacific and President of Warner Music Asia Pacific, said: "If there is one ‘must-do’ event this year, then it’s Music Matters because it gives anyone associated with music the opportunity to help shape the future of the business."

John Kennedy, IFPI Chairman and CEO, said from London: “Asia has in many ways become the ‘coal face’ of the digital environment, and many of the amazing advances in the digital and mobile business are being fuelled by the Asian region. Music Matters is a tremendous opportunity to share some of our successes and debate the future of the industry in the Asian region.”

Event Website: www.musicmattersasia.com & www.ifpi.org. Delegate & Registration Information: konst@brandedasia.com.