TIME TO MEET DA FAMILY … countdown to The ILMC: Part 19.
	STRICTLY OFF THE RECORD … new ILMC showcases added.
	CASING DA JOINT … event updates and reminders.
	RTC NEWS ROUND UP … recent business news headlines.
	CONTACT … how to reach us and get involved in e.News.

TIME TO MEET DA FAMILY

So, the holidays are over and another year of scams, stings and capers stretches ahead. There is one light on the horizon though: there are now only six weeks to go before concert industry goodfellas and Family heads from over 50 countries gather for another weekend of mayhem and cutting-edge debate at 'The ILMC: Part 19'. And with registrations coming in faster than hot lead from a hatchet man's bean-shooter – around 25% more than last year's record-breaking rate – this year's edition could not only be 'The Godfather of Music Conferences' but the great grand-daddy of all ILMC meetings too.

As you should all know by now, however, the ILMC venue is not a bottomless pit, and at some point the 'sold out' signs will have to be posted. So, if you want to ensure that you’re in with the wiseguys and girls, and not left outside looking like a sap, dig out the registration form we sent you with the November issue of IQ magazine (or check in at www.ilmc19.com) and book your place now.

One person who has no chance whatsoever of missing out is seasoned conference veteran, Derek Nicol of the Flying Music Company, who this year scooped the legendary 'ILMC Mug Award' for being the first ILMC mug to register. Wear it with pride, Derek...

The February issue of IQ and e.News will give you all the dope you need on the latest conference schedule – including the finalised meeting agenda, which is currently being pieced together from your suggestions and the input of a wide selection of professionals who've been hounded for ideas during the last few months. Also included in IQ will be a duplicate invitation brochure and registration form, and a ballot paper to register your vote for the ILMC Arthur Awards 2007. Be a goodfella and make sure you use it. You might just make some punk's day...

STRICTLY OFF THE RECORD…

One development to note now, however, is the addition to the schedule of our special ‘Strictly Off The Record’ showcases on the nights leading up to the conference weekend. Sparked by demand from the rest of the industry, these mark a significant expansion to our plan to provide platforms for new talent outside of the conference hotel – and may well justify changing your travel plans.

Set up in addition to the usual schedule of 'Access All Areas' shows, these exclusive ILMC showcases will be hosted by Family Heads; Live Nation, Blujay, AEG, Metropolis and ESR, and run across the nights of Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th and Friday 9th of March. A selection of top London club venues will be involved, along with the private Gibson Guitar Studios in W1, which – thanks to the co-operation of our chums at Gibson – will provide us with a very special location on all three nights.

Boasting some of the hottest new talent around, entrance to all events will be free to ILMC delegates (along with a smattering of other VIP guests and industry talent spotters) and complimentary drinks will be available at the Gibson studios each night. An offer you can’t refuse, eh..?

Friday night will also see the first offering for our ‘young and young-at-heart delegates’ when the Gibson venue plays host to our ‘Club 18-30something’ from 6.30 – 7.30pm. Meeting at 5.30pm at the Park Terrace Bar, a Berryhurst coach will whisk our ‘new bosses’ away from the Royal Garden at 6pm. A second coach will ferry other delegates to the venue in time for the show to start at 7.30pm. The maximum capacity is 175, so make sure you’re in early to avoid disappointment.

To ensure that the brightest of the new stars are on show, the final line-ups are still being confirmed - so keep an eye out for an e.Newsflash in the very near future with all of the final details including bills, locations, timings and opportunities for additional showcase passes.

CASING DA JOINT...

With ‘The ILMC: Part 19’ being possibly one of the biggest Family gatherings ever, it’s going to be hard for a button to decide what to do next. Updates and full details will be published on www.ilmc19.com as they get confirmed, but here’s a quick low-down to help plan your weekend.

First, a small amendment: for those of you whose swinging isn’t restricted to clip-joints, PRG’s ‘Rider’ Cup Golf Tournament will tee off at 10.30am on Thursday – and not 11am as previously announced. Breakfast will be available at the Clubhouse from 9am. Prizes will be awarded on the day, but as this event is open to 'friends of ours' and not just ILMC delegates, The ILMC 'Rider' Cup itself can only be awarded to teams that contain at least 3 registered ILMC delegates. Golfers and other early-birds are reminded that tables have been specially reserved in the conference hotel’s Park Terrace Restaurant on Thursday night, so you can treat yourself after a hard day on the links.

Friday night sees an assortment of capers for you to indulge in. After ESR’s 'Strictly Off The Record' showcase and Club 18-30something at the Gibson Guitar studio, avail yourself of the complimentary Berryhurst coach provided and get back to the Royal Garden Hotel for The World Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tourney. Pit your wits and poker face against the best (or at least the rest) in the business and win yourself a £100 bar tab to help you through the weekend - and a trophy to prove it when the last of the bar tab is just a bad memory... Any profits from the £20 entrance fee go straight to The Nikos Fund and Oxfam. If you think you’re good enough, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and book your seat at the table now. Players will be drawn on March 1st and announced shortly thereafter.

And, as ever, Saturday night gives you the chance to put on the Ritz and get yourself down to Claridge’s Ballroom for Da Family Gala Dinner and Arthur Awards. Those stand up guys at Mirage Promotions - in collaboration with Harley Davidson and the Dubai Annual Bike Week - are generously stepping forward to make sure this night is more stunning than Al Capone's tax bill. It looks like another sell out, so to take your place among the Young Turks and Mustache Petes you’d better book now if you don’t want to end up like an empty suit. If high society isn’t your thing, and you’d rather get down and dirty with da boys on Saturday night, then Peter Aiken has excelled himself this year by securing The David Beckham Academy for his mob of tough guys to kick it around in the cold at Match of the Year. Contact Peter to secure your place on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Of course, our old favourites still feature – with Access All Areas ensuring all ILMC delegates admission to gigs around London, and at the other end of the musical proficiency scale, Rock-It Cargo and American Talent Agency will be unleashing a musical massacre in the form of the Goodfellas Jam. Rumour has it that the brass section didn’t learn its lesson last year, and will be back to provide much needed support.

To mark the end of the meetings, the Iberian Grogfather, Gay Mercader, presides over Gay’s Champagne Getaway to wish all Family members a safe and trouble-free journey home. But it doesn’t all end there, as Sunday evening sees the ILMC ‘making a marriage’ between Independente, Barley Arts and Dellasandro Galli - who join together to bring you The Italian Job II. With the Royal Garden’s exclusive Tenth Restaurant appropriately transformed this year into a little piece of the ‘Old Country’, and some of the finest food and drink north of The Alps on the menu, this one looks set to make sure that the toughest tough-guy goes home with a smile on his face.

RTC NEWS ROUND UP

To get the wire on industry news headlines from the past couple of months, just go to www.ilmc.com and click the News button.

CONTACT

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