The Association of Independent Music has announced it is opening an office in China to help independent record labels take advantage of the emerging music market there (there's an awful lot of music fans in China of course, and just as soon as they all stop buying illegal bootlegs on the black market, that'll open up considerable opportunities for Western record labels).
A joint venture with government body UK Trade & Investment, the new Beijing based facility will act as a first point of call for labels wanting the break the Chinese market. It will be run by former Zomba Records boss Stuart Watson, who is already advising V2, Beggars Group and Tommy Boy on their Chinese music strategies through is own company SWAT Enterprises.
Announcing the new office, AIM boss Alison Wenham told CMU: "UKTI and AIM are delighted to announce the opening of the first British Music Office in China. This office will be a gateway for the development of contacts, communication, understanding and business between the UK and Chinese music industries. Whilst we do not expect significant license revenues in the short term, the strategic benefits of this office cannot be underestimated in the development of close ties with a country whose growth is outperforming all other countries in the world."
Backing the venture, UK Minister For Trade, Ian Pearson, added: "The British music industry's huge talent must compete on the international stage and there is no market growing faster than China. The British music industry already employs 130,000 people and earns well over a billion pounds in exports; a mere taste of what it can achieve with the right help in a fast changing global economy."
Meanwhile Stuart Watson said: "As well as providing support services on the ground in China, our role will include helping UK music companies to maximise market opportunities by using our local knowledge to give them a better understanding of the structure and demographics of the Chinese marketplace. "At the same time, we will help to highlight the opportunities that British music offers local companies in China."