ITALY AT WOMEX 2024: EMILIA-ROMAGNA WILL BE THERE!

There is only one week left until the start of WOMEX, the most important global event dedicated to world music that this year will take place from 23 to 27 October in Manchester, the capital of English music and nightlife.
For the second year, Italy presents itself united thanks to the support of ICE – Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalization of Italian companies, which has promoted collective participation with the setting up of the ITALY AT WOMEX 24 pavilion that will bring together associations and institutions and operators who work, in particular, in the field of world music and for the internationalization of the system.
The collaboration between Assomusica, the association of organizers and producers of live music shows, Regione Puglia, as part of the Puglia Sounds regional music system development project, Regione Emilia-Romagna, as part of the music export project for the internationalization of the Emilia-Romagna musical movement conceived by Emilia-Romagna Music Commission and ATER Fondazione, and the festival networks Italian World Beat and Rete Italiana World Music, is thus renewed.

A large delegation of operators from Emilia-Romagna will be present and music will also be a protagonist!
We are proud that Godblesscomputers, a project by the bolognese producer Lorenzo Nada, has been selected for the Club Summit by the artistic direction of WOMEX. The only Italian, together with Mauro Durante from Puglia who will perform in a duo with the English Justin Adams (October 26, 10.30pm – 11.15pm, c/o Warehouse Stage A, Aviva Studios, Manchester).

The Godblesscomputers live is scheduled for the night of October 25, from 01:00 to 02:30, at the O2 Ritz Manchester.

Another unmissable event is scheduled for Thursday, October 24. Starting at 4:00 pm, join us for an aperitif in the Italian Pavilion (R21-V25), a special opportunity to network with our professionals and taste Italian specialties (great food and wine!).

THE DELEGATION OF EMILIA-ROMAGNA

ARCI EMILIA-ROMAGNA APS | SUNER – Bologna (club live events)
Delegate: Marco Pignatiello
Marco is a qualified cultural operator working for ARCI, the main Italian non-profit network that promotes and facilitates universal access to culture – it counts 4000 affiliated associations and more than one million members. Marco is engaged into designing and implementing cultural projects and festivals, he creates connections and establishes partnerships with clubs and cultural organisations within the urban network of Bologna, he is a member of the National Committee for Culture of ARCI.
Since 2019, he has managed the project SUNER, a well-known festival that involves 24 ARCI music clubs in Emilia-Romagna.
He coordinates the Montagnola Republic Festival, which brings in Bologna more than 80 live music concerts yearly, from April to October.
He is the artistic director of the Concerto del Primo Maggio in Bologna, a music event of regional relevance which is organised on the 1st of May each year. Since 2024, he has been a member of the Bologna City Council Night Advisory Commission.

ANTENNA MUSIC FACTORY – Montecavolo (booking)
Delegate: Alessio Perucci
Alessio works for Antenna Music Factory, an agency specializing in booking, management and music PR for a diverse roster of artists, bands and DJs/producers. As a booking agent, he secures performance opportunities to expand the reach of his artists. In his role as an artist manager, he develops career strategies for their growth and success. He creates campaigns to raise the profiles of his artists, ensuring recognition on both national and international stages. He is also involved in the artistic direction of the GoGoBo Festival in Bologna.
Antenna Music Factory is a reality born from the union of two historic agencies that have always stood out for the care and attention in the management and development of the projects they follow. These are Lorenzo Bedini’s Cyc Promotions and Sergio delle Cese’s NoMusic, united by a history of over ten years of management, booking and record production that today flows into Antenna Music Factory, a real laboratory that includes all the skills necessary to follow an artist’s career in its entirety, with particular attention to management, booking, discography, publishing and the digital world in continuous evolution. With the ambition of creating new paths for quality Italian music, but without genre preclusions, Antenna Music Factory is ready to receive and transmit ideas, projects and solutions keeping the artist at the center of everything.

AUDIOCOOP – Faenza (rights)
Delegate: Francesca Mercury
AudioCoop is an association that brings together record companies, publishers, independent producers and self-producing artists, with the aim of promoting and spreading the work of its members and protecting their interests by collaborating with subjects and Institutions, in order to enhance their value from a cultural, artistic, economic, creative and social point of view. Furthermore, it deals with the collection of related rights for its members.

BRUTTURE MODERNE | DUNA STUDIO – Russi (label, publisher, recording studio)
Delegates: Andrea Scardovi e Giulia Torelli
Brutture Moderne is an independent label born to create connections.
It believes in the importance of uniting people and artists from all over the world.
It has always intercepted foreign music and artists by bringing them to Italy, and vice versa, and would like to make its world music known in all countries.
Duna Studio is a professional recording studio that boasts meticulously designed acoustics, top-notch technical specifications and experienced professionals.

Brutture Moderne and Duna Studio offer: recording, mixing and mastering; studio residencies; recording of classical and symphonic orchestras; artistic production; executive production; distribution in Italy.
Brutture Moderne and Duna Studio are looking for: booking for the bands of their label; participation in festivals and events; distributors in countries other than Italy; exchange of concert dates; possibility of featuring between our bands and others.

CASADEI SONORA EDIZIONI MUSICALI – Savignano sul Rubicone (music publishing)
Delegate: Enrico Garattoni
Casadei Sonora preserves the artistic heritage of Secondo Casadei, the author of Romagna Mia, father of Italian “Liscio” phenomenon. Over 1000 songs carried forward by numerous Italian orchestras who play them with enthusiasm and involvement of an audience of all ages.
Among these, the unmistakable waltzes, polkas and mazurkas with the typical Romagna sound, with the characteristic C clarinet (clarinetto in do) and the E flat sax, and many songs by Raoul Casadei, Secondo’s nephew, who became the orchestra leader upon his death.
Important vehicles for Secondo Casadei’s music are orchestras, musicians, bands and many dance schools throughout Italy.
The latest releases embrace new influences, innovating the smooth genre through pop dances and contributions from the great masters who still perform.
The result is a mix of music that speaks across time, reflecting people’s culture and new ideas of celebration and for meeting around this special energy.

CRINALI APS – Gaggio Montano (festival)
Delegate: Claudio Carboni
Claudio Carboni, saxophonist, born in Bologna. Since its foundation he has been a member of the Riccardo Tesi & Banditaliana group with which he participates in the most important World Music festivals around the world. A member of the SIAE management board, he has been coordinator of the Nuovo IMAIE sound committee, is production director of CCCP – Fedeli alla linea, is production director of the Festival Internacional de Musica in Cartagena, Colombia, creator and artistic director of the “Crinali” festival for the metropolitan city of Bologna, artistic director of Cuneo- Città in note, artistic director of the PNRR villages project Da Campolo l’arte fa Scola.
Administrator of the record label Egea Records one of the most important in the international cultured scene, founder and administrator of the World Music record label Visage Music.
Since 2024 he has been Assessore a Politiche Culturali del Comune di Castel San Pietro.
CRINALI APS was founded in 2020 with the desire to establish a free, cultural, apolitical and nonpartisan social promotion association.
The Association, in collaboration with the Union of Municipalities of the Bolognese Apennines, has developed, organized and directed Crinali Music Festival, a music and cultural festival that narrates the landscape, natural and cultural emergencies of the. In 2023 he collaborated on the educational part of the Spaesaggi Festival by coordinating teachers from the G. B. Martini Conservatory of Bologna with International musicians.
Crinali APS was born from the desire of Claudio Carboni, a musician and entrepreneur, and Carlo Maver, a musician and traveler, to think about the dissemination of music through festivals and reviews that take place in nature and with respect for the environment.

DJANGO MUSIC – Bologna e Bari (booking, management and publishing)
Delegate: Amedeo Sole
Amedeo Sole is an artistic director and manager with experience in managing innovative artists and producing major music festivals. Passionate about trends in the international music industry, he is committed to promoting the artistic quality.

DJANGO CONCERTI was born in 2017 between Bologna and Bari from the meeting of professionals already active in the music circuit who have combined their experiences in national and international entertainment.
Django’s roster includes Claver Gold, Murubutu, Davide Shorty, Johnny Marsiglia, Bassi Maestro, Godblesscomputers, Paolo Baldini, Forelock, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, La Yegros, Frente Cumbiero, Chico Trujillo, Nickodemus, Dov’è Liana, Mellow Mood, Alborosie and many others.
In 2021, DJANGO MUSIC SRL was established with the goal and growth of developing other areas of the music business by interweaving the activity of event booking and production with the activity of management, discography, and publishing.
In 2022 DJANGO MUSIC takes over the historic RELIEF Records EU label that contains more than twenty titles including albums, singles and EPs by key artists of the Italian rap scene including works Clementino, Ty1, Fear.
DJANGO MUSIC today is a consolidated reality that promotes Italian and foreign artists in the most important Italian and international clubs and festivals, dealing with both artistic consulting, communication and promotion in the various sectors and networks of the Italian and international music business.

ESTRAGON – Bologna (festival)
Delegates: Katia Giampaolo e Lele Roveri
Katia Giampaolo, Estragon Director
Katia proudly manages the band JoyCut, who have toured extensively across North America, Europe and Asia. Katia is director of Bologna’s famous Estragon club and BOtanique Festival. Estragon is the Italian arm of the Europavox Project. Katia is chair of MMF Italy. She has been a jury member of Music Moves Europe Talent Awards between 2019 and 2021. She is a music lover, a sportswoman and a dreamer. Her favorite quote is as follows: “I hope that one day you will have the experience of doing something you do not understand for someone you love.”
(Jonathan Safran Foer)

Lele Roveri, Estragon President
Manuele Roveri, renamed “Lele” from everyone, is president of Coop Estragon and founder of Estragon Club in 1992. In more than 30 years of cultural activity he has always held the role of artistic director of the club and over the years has created important international festivals: DiMondi Festival (from 2022) in Bologna,  Irlanda in Festa (from 2006), the most important event of Irish culture in Europe, held simultaneously in 10 Italian cities.
Since the early 2000s he has regularly participated in the main international music fairs and main world music festival and organizes and produces world tour for Italian bands.
In the two-year period 2013/2014 he was artistic director of Bologna Fiere.
Since 2020 he has been a founding member and member of the board of PER – Promoter Emilia Romagna, the association that brings together the main cultural operators of live music in the region.

EUFONICA BY BOLOGNAFIERE | GUITAR SHOW – Bologna (music fair)
Delegates: Elena Pasoli and Barbara Laurini
Bologna, UNESCO Creative City of Music, presents three important events in the sector in spring 2025: Eufonica, Guitar Show and MEI – Meeting delle Etichette Indipendenti that will animate pavilions 31, 32 and 33 of BolognaFiere on the weekend of 10 and 11 May.
Eufonica is an international event that aims to shorten the distance between the world of education and that of the music market, promoting the school-work transition and acting as a point of reference for professional orientation in the sector. The third edition of Eufonica will host a special area curated by Kemuzike, a brand designed to connect promoters, record labels, organizers and professionals, in a place where musical creativity meets business. An event that aims to promote meetings and debates between training bodies, institutions, entrepreneurs and professionals in the music sector.
From 2025, in conjunction with Eufonica, the Guitar Show will take place. Among the largest European events dedicated to the world of six strings, it is a market exhibition open to industry, distribution, artisans, makers, luthiers, modders, shops, private individuals and collectors, with a focus on guitars, basses, amplification and effects.
MEI – Meeting delle Etichette Indipendenti represents the most important Italian independent music event, now in its thirtieth edition. The main objective is to promote artists not tied to the market laws of the majors and to enhance local musical cultures.

FONDAZIONE ENTROTERRE – Bologna (festival)
Delegate: Lune Magrini
Fondazione Entroterre ETS is a nonprofit organization committed to fostering cultural sustainability through a variety of artistic and educational initiatives. Every summer, it hosts the Entroterre Festival, featuring more than 100 music and multidisciplinary events across Italy. The Foundation also creates music projects that celebrate traditional musical heritage by blending it with innovative musical fusion.

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC AND ARTS – Carpi (booking)
Delegate: Rita Zappador
International Music and Arts was founded in 1988 by classical musicians, including Rita, all friends. They started the company as italian agents and managers in the area of classic artistic management and classic cultural event promotion as she has herself a degree in classical piano and Italian literature. She then started an international dept with non classical artists, and she has worked with some of the most significant artists of our time, such as Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Philip Glass, Diamanda Galas, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Laurie Anderson, Ornette Coleman, David Byrne, Anohni (fka Antony and the Johnsons), Joan as Policewoman, Asaf Avidan, Sinead O’Connor, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, Kronos Quartet and many others.
Rita usually works with all classical and non classical institutions all over Europe and the world, covering every segment of the music business: jazz clubs and festivals, rock presenters, electronic festivals, public institutions and classical opera houses and orchestras.
Her company has 5 departments: classical music, dance, theatre, local artists, export/international artists.
They have a very effective promo division made by a social media manager, a press office, a marketing specialist for the widest degree of service on branding growth of all our artists.

LAME DA BARBA – Bologna (musician)
Delegate: Francesco Paolino
Lame da Barba is a project that evolves from the need to create hypnotic cycles of sounds with a Mediterranean flavor, which arise from a combination of composition and improvisation.
The quartet creates soundscapes by mixing arab-andalusian rhythms and sounds with their roots in southern Italy, creating earthly atmospheres with an archaic sound.
A concert to listen to and savor.

MORENO IL BIONDO – Gatteo a Mare (music production)
Delegate: Giovanni Amighetti
Giovanni Amighetti, born in 1971 in Parma, Italy, is an acclaimed music producer known for blending world music with contemporary and multimedia elements. He has collaborated with global world music artists like Ayub Ogada, Mari Boine, David Rhodes, Fred Frith, Guo Yue, Wu Fei, and many others, producing notable works such as No, Russia Cannot Be Perceived by Wit (Terem Quartet) and Mississippi to Sahara (Faris Amine). Amighetti’s innovative productions bridge cultural traditions, often integrating interactive digital media into his projects.
At WOMEX he represents Moreno Il Biondo and his recording project Viaggio nella musica popolare.
Moreno il Biondo & E-Wired Empathy on virtual WOMEX

PANICO CONCERTI – Bologna (booking)
Delegata: Matilde Cavalli
Panico Concerti is a dynamic Italian booking and management agency, representing a wide range of forward-thinking artists across various genres. With a focus on innovation and artistic excellence, Panico Concerti has established itself as a key player in the music industry. The agency provides tailored services to foster the growth of emerging talents and established acts alike, supporting their journey from local stages to international platforms while staying true to each artist’s unique vision.

EMILIA-ROMAGNA MUSIC COMMISSION E ATER FONDAZIONE
Delegati: Simona Giuliano e Laura Di Salvo (Emilia-Romagna Music Commission)
Antonio Volpone e Gianluca Giusti (Ater Fondazione)

Emilia-Romagna is a region that can be seen as one vast stage, stretching along the Roman road from which it takes its name, the Via Aemilia. This route is lined with live music clubs, theaters, parks, courtyards, squares, beaches, and auditoriums that host events and festivals of all genres.
Land of great musicians, of passion for opera and capital of “indie music” in the 70s and 80s, Emilia-Romagna is the second Italian region for the number of concerts and the fourth for the number of spectators and public expenditure.
Since 2018, the Emilia-Romagna Region has decided to create a program for strengthening music education and professional training, as well as production systems and distribution and promotion of music focusing on innovation and the internationalization of what was for the first time conceived as a real industrial district. Through the Emilia-Romagna Music Commission, the Region supports and promotes talent and professional and entrepreneurial resources and aims to create favorable conditions for the development of new artistic forces, production, exchange and circulation, even at an international level. Through the Emilia-Romagna Music Commission, the region supports and promotes talent, professional and entrepreneurial resources, aiming to create favorable conditions for the development of new artistic forces, production, exchange, and circulation, even on an international scale.
Since 2022, in close collaboration with Ater Fondazione, the regional government has established a Music Export Office to provide economic and logistical support, as well as ongoing consultancy aimed at offering solutions for implementing internationalization strategies for local music operators. The goal is to promote synergies and exchanges with music export offices across Europe and the world.
In addition to participating in trade fairs, showcase festivals, and industry conferences, the Emilia-Romagna Region launched the SUONO GRASSO format in 2022. Now in its third year, this event introduces key figures from Emilia-Romagna’s experimental and avant-garde music scene to audiences at Cafe OTO, a historic venue for free jazz, experimental music, and improvisation located in Dalston, London.

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