Musikmesse 2017: Business Academy Inspired by SOMM

​The Business Academy inspired by SOMM will once again be a great source of expert knowledge for trade visitors to Musikmesse (April 5 to 8, 2017).

Over 20 impulse and keynote lectures by renowned speakers will present strategies and potential solutions to the challenges currently facing the musical-instrument industry. The lectures will be held on all four days of the fair in Hall 11.1 (‘Business Area & Full-range Companies’), which is open to trade visitors only. A simultaneous translation service means all lectures will be available in German and English.

“In an age of changing customer behaviour and new legal and political circumstances, we want to give participants the opportunity to get ahead in terms of knowledge. We are delighted that, together with our partners, we are able to offer an attractive programme of lectures, panel discussions and workshops”, says Michael Biwer, Group Show Director of the Entertainment, Media & Creative Industries Business Unit of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH.

“Against the background of a process of structural change, the focus of the lectures will be on practical relevance and the subjects relating to communication, sales, law, compliance and marketing oriented towards the needs of the musical-instrument sector”, adds Daniel Sebastian Knöll, Chief Executive of Society of Music Merchants (SOMM), which is organising the programme in cooperation with Messe Frankfurt. 

Subjects affecting the sector

The organisers have confirmed that the guest speakers and sources of inspiration will include Arne Stoscheck, Managing Partner of eTribes Connect GmbH, who will look at the musical-instrument sector and discuss business models with good perspectives in the digital age. Lawyer Martin Bolm will outline the legal facts and challenges posed by CITES. Matthias Dubbert, Head of the European Policy Department, Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) in Brussels, will consider the consequences, chances and risks of Brexit for the German (music) business.

Other highlights of the Business Academy include lectures by internationally renowned keynote speakers. In his talk, highly experienced consultant Hamish Taylor (Shinergise Partners Ltd.) will appeal to companies’ customer orientation and the willingness of the sector to respond actively to challenges. France’s Nelly Ben Hayoun, ‘Designer of Experience’ at the SETI Institute (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence), will discuss the importance of visions and fundamentally new ways of thinking. Also part of the Business Academy is the lecture entitled ‘No excuse – become the #1 in your niche market’ by the highly successful Wilhelm K. Weber, founder of SHS Swiss Hospitality Solutions AG.

In cooperation with the Federation of German Music Dealers (GDM), lectures aimed at specialist music retailers will be held daily at 13.00 hrs and provide participants with new impulses regarding pricing, staff motivation, customer retention, etc. Birgit Böcher, Deputy Chief Executive of the GDM emphasises the value added of the lecture programme for professionals in the musical-instrument sector: “With the Business Academy and a special offer for specialist music retailers, a visit to the most outstanding fair for our sector will be a great all-round experience. In Frankfurt, visitors can not only discover the latest products but also learn about the most important issues currently affecting the sector. We are particularly grateful to SOMM – Society of Music Merchants – for their cooperation, which has made this special offer for music stores possible.” Additionally, there will be a special best-practice event chaired by Birgit Böcher entitled ‘Worth emulating: clever ideas by colleagues’. The event begins at 17.00 hrs on 6 April and will be followed by a get-together.

All Business Academy lectures are free of charge for Musikmesse trade visitors and prior registration is not required.