THE big names of music are out in force this Sunday to debate the rock journalism and ask the question is rock journalism dead.
The questions are what makes a great rock book? Can musicians and writers ever agree? Should they? Can rock writing aspire to be an art form?
Guests include Bob Dickinson, the chair of BBC music producer; Elliot Rashman manager of Happy Mondays/Simply Red; Sarah Champion NME/author/editor; Mike Hayes, Waterstones Manchester events manager; Simon Spence journalist/author; Si Wolstencroft musician, The Stone Roses, The Smiths, The Fall & Ian Brown; John Nuttall former manager of Reni 1995-2012, Thin Line Records manager; Paula Greenwood, Playtime Records/Piccadilly Radio/International club/Piccadilly Records/Muze; Helen Mead NME/i-D; Ro Newton NME/The Old Grey Whistle Test.
The questions are what makes a great rock book? Can musicians and writers ever agree? Should they? Can rock writing aspire to be an art form? Or is it just an easy route out of serious journalism? Is it dead? Or reborn in a new world online? And, eternally, are all rock writers just frustrated musicians?
The discussion will centre around game changers such as the erosion of traditional publishing revenues, industry trends including subscription and distribution models.Questions that need answering include: What will next generation E Books look like? How will fibre to the home impact Print and Audio? Where will value shift in the Music Publishing Industry? Is technology a threat or an opportunity?
The format of the discussion is deliberately informal, with a chance for everyone to put forward their views in an open online discussion via twitter.For further information contact events@wordsonmusic.co.uk
