COVID-19: AIM Sync conference in UK to go virtual

The 20th edition of the event, which will be streamed on the AIM Sync website, will be presented as a live interactive conference.

The virtual conference will feature speakers from the BBC, Believe Sync, Domino Publishing, 2WEI Music, Air Edel, Hospital Records, Mute Song, Trailer Park Group, Warp Records and Xbox Game Studios, among others.

Most of the programming that was planned for the original event will still take place in the virtual environment, including panel discussions, interactive workshops, listening sessions, more than 100 meetings and face-to-face speed networking sessions.

Participants will be able to choose between a number of online 'arenas', each hosting different content and reflecting the format of a physical event.

AIM says the need to secure sync revenue has become more important during the COVID-19 crisis.

"Sync has become a crucial revenue stream for music rightsholders at a time when other areas have been reduced or nullified by coronavirus, such as live and touring,” AIM CEO Paul Pacifico said. “For this reason, AIM committed to ensuring that AIM Sync went ahead, free to access for the benefit of our members and the wider independent and sync communities.

"Going virtual is a technological step forward for this global conference, which relies on bringing together international experts from around the world. With speakers from Europe, North America and Australasia, the format will allow us to host this deal-making conference not only safely but with a minimal carbon footprint.”

The conference will be the first major music trade market to be transformed into a virtual event and will be free to existing ticketholders, members of AIM, event partners, the Guild of Music Supervisors and key industry figures from the sync landscape.

Anyone who has purchased a ticket previously will receive a refund.