News

   Another record year for WOMEX: The 13th edition from 24 - 28 October in Sevilla, Andalusia, Spain, saw registrations up 10%; the trade fair stands up 20% with 25% more exhibiting companies, Conferences, Film Screenings and 52 Showcase acts with 350 artists from 42 countries on 5 stages.

More than 2,800 delegates from all over the world gathered for 5 days
of talk, trade, music and camaraderie. For the first time the nightly
Showcases were presented in the city centre, fully integrating this
jewel of Andalusia with the thousands of international delegates of
WOMEX. The famed Teatro Lope de Vega/Casino de la Exposición hosted 2
stages, with another 2 bright white tents right in the heart of the
Plaza de España. There, enthusiastic Sevillians and delegates mingled
and heard act after act of major and upcoming world music stars.

The 5-day event kicked off with a dynamic Opening, which set the pace
and standard for the days to come. WOMEX was especially honoured this
year to be working in partnership with the Spanish Ministry of Culture
and Fundación Tres Culturas in promoting the objectives of the United
Nations Alliance of Civilizations, a project initiated by Spanish
President José Luis Zapatero to, he said in a mission statement,
"increase awareness to the risks that a wall of misunderstanding may
arise between the West and the Arab/Islamic world." To break down that
wall and to counteract those who seem to promote a "clash of
civilizations", the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations was born,
with Spain and Turkey in the role of joint sponsors.

The musical metaphor for the breaking down of that wall was provided
by a joint presentation by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan successor Faiz Ali
Faiz and his Qawwali Group from Pakistan and the Spanish star Duquende
and his Flamenco Group, who each played separately and then joined
together in an enthralling selection of songs that seamlessly joined
the two traditions, respected each and found common musical ground.

"These are hard times in the music industry," noted Gerald Seligman,
WOMEX General Director, "and perilous times for the world at large.
There is great need to keep this multi-national, cross-cultural
community alive. We at WOMEX work hard to provide the time, the place
and the platform to help keep this community thriving. And you, all
you delegates provide the toil and dedication, you make it all happen.
Thanks to your efforts, there are more artists from more cultures
touring than ever before in history."

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Statistics WOMEX 07

- Over 2,800 delegates and 1,400 companies from 90 countries.

- Over 1,000 concert and festival bookers, arguably the highest
concentration of potential bookers in the same place at the same time
anywhere on the planet.

- Over 350 national and international journalists, including more than
150 radio broadcasters.

- A bustling Trade Fair with more than 300 stands and over 500
exhibiting companies, including numerous umbrella stands of countries,
regions, networks and other joint-venture structures.

- 52 Showcase acts with 350 artists from 42 countries on 5 stages.

- Nearly 40 speakers in two dozen Conference sessions.

- The festive Opening event, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of
Spain and Fundación Tres Culturas in Honour of the United Nations
Alliance of Civilizations presenting a special performance: the
Qawwali-Flamenco project, featuring Faiz Ali Faiz and his Qawwali
Group and Duquende and his Flamenco Group (Pakistan/Spain).

- The WOMEX Award, this year honouring Belize’s Andy Palacio and Ivan
Duran.

- The WOMEX & World Music Charts Europe Top Label Awards in
recognition of label excellence, with top three winners: Number 1 –
Stern’s, Number 2 – Cumbancha, and Number 3 – Crammed.

- The WOMEX World Music Film Market with 16 film screenings, in
cooperation with the International Music + Media Centre IMZ, Vienna.
Networking meetings, receptions and press conferences.

- The WOMEX Book Conference for WOMEX authors.

- The Radio WOMEX broadcasting studio for live interviews and
performances.

- The new WOMEX TV Studio in Trade Fair Hall 2, WOMEX TV & webcast, in
cooperation with Mondomix, Paris.

- virtualWOMEX 2.0 – the professional future of world music online.

WOMEX thanks the army of production staff, volunteers, enthusiasts,
professionals and fans, along with its production partners at ICAS,
FIBES and at the Teatro Lope de Vega/Casino de la Exposición.

WOMEX 07 was a production of WOMEX – the world music expo, in
cooperation with ICAS (the Sevilla Insituto de la Cultura y las Artes)
and FIBES.


WOMEX Sevilla / 24 - 28 October 2007
Do Business, Catch Up, and Get Ahead!

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