AIM team up with the LDA to give London a £650,000 boost into the digital sector

The London Development Agency (LDA) announced today that their latest proposal is to throw bags of money at the capital’s music business. Managed by the Association of Independent Music (AIM), the grant is intended to help London’s small music companies in exploiting opportunities and meeting challenges of the digital music sector.

Kicking off in April, and running until September 2009, the scheme will provide a number of opportunities for free or subsidized business advice, access to research, information and work experience and skills training for London’s music corporations.The plan was developed by the AIM general manager, Remi Harris, and board member, Rosie Bryant, and will be made available to eligible minor music businesses in London – from artists to venues, publishers, managers, labels and more. The project also aims to target support at under-represented groups in the industry including companies led by women, black and ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

Miss Remi said: “It was clear from our research that there is huge untapped potential in the exploitation of digital technologies for London’s small music companies. I hope that this service is able to have a wide-reach into all aspects of the music industry in London, and at all levels of expertise.”

For background info on AIM and LDA click below…

Association of Independent Music (AIM) 
AIM is a non-profit body established in 1998 by UK record labels to represent them in the industry and be the voice of British independent music. Now with 800 members, AIM has approved collective licensing deals with eMusic, Musicnet, Tunetribe and Playlouder MSP among others through its new AIM Digital branch. In 2006 the independent sector accounted for 30 per cent of all UK albums that went silver, gold, platinum or multi-platinum and artists on record labels under AIM claimed four Mercury Music Prizes in a row between 2003 and 2006, and earned two thirds of nominations.Some of the biggest artists signed to AIM associate labels include Arctic Monkeys, Bjork, Basement Jaxx, The Strokes, The Prodigy and Super Furry Animals. www.musicindie.com

London Development Agency (LDA) 
The LDA sets out to improve the quality of life for Londoners and propel a sustainable growth in the economy. It tries to respond to the needs and ambitions of communities and businesses by bringing together people with the right skills and resources to constantly deliver good results. The LDA invest more than £400 million a year to create jobs and build thriving districts. It also supports the capital as a financial, educational and research centre – tackling the barriers to employment for certain groups, encouraging businesses and cultural activities. The LDA takes on major projects and difficult issues and is constantly looking for fresh ways of doing things. In this way, they can ensure all Londoners can gain from, and contribute, to the capital’s economic success.
ww.lda.gov.uk