The British Council is presenting the International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year (IYMEY) award for the third time.

WHAT IS OUR AIM?

			to champion and celebrate the importance of creative entrepreneurs working in the field of music,
			to help to sustain the development of the next generation of leaders within the creative sector,
			to promote the UK as a centre of creative thinking and entrepreneurship, a vital nexus of international networking and a place where you can always do business.

WHY PARTICIPATE?

			to showcase your individual achievement and potential,
			to win and promote Lithuania’s music sector that you believe deserve to reach an international market,
			to win and take part in a wide range of business networking opportunities during the UK Tour,
			to win and attend a number of receptions, including IYMEY Award Ceremony.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Candidates must already be active professionally in Lithuania’s music sector, as defined below:

Music sector definition

			Record companies; Artists & Repertoire (A&R); producing, recording, engineering; music licensing, and distribution
			Venue and/or festival programming and management
			Artists management and agents
			Music broadcasting
			Music journalism and publishing
			Music development & management
			Music marketing; public and media relations
			Music retail; online (including digital) and high street outlets

We recognise that a participant may be active as a musician or DJ, however their work as an artist should be secondary to their focus as an entrepreneur in the promotion of music in their country.

You must:

			Be aged between 25 and 35
			Already work in the music sector (as defined above)
			Be entrepreneurial and have shown your ability and innovative approach to the promotion of music in Lithuania, particularly in a commercial context
			Through your character, drive and abilities demonstrate your potential to be a leader of the music sector in Lithuania
			Have English language skills to IELTS 6 or above (competent user)

HOW TO APPLY?

Send us the completed and signed application form by 21 March 2008.

HOW WILL THE WINNER BE CHOSEN?

			We will select and invite the successful candidates for an interview on the week beginning 24 March 2008.
			During the interview the candidates will be interviewed and asked to make a fifteen-minute presentation in English about their vision for Lithuania’s music industry to a judging panel of four members of Lithuania’s music industry and two members of the British Council staff. The presentation should include: Background of national music industry& understanding of current situation/issues within it; description of your own work as a music entrepreneur; how your own work sits in context in the national industry/situation; your wider vision for your own work and domestic music industry – demonstrating how your are a leader within it; how the IYMEY prize would benefit you and your work; inherent within this should be a demonstration of how you successfully marry the commercial and creative aspects or your work – and understanding of business with the creative ability to drive your company forward – to qualify as an ‘international young creative entrepreneur’.
			We will announce the national finalist by 4 April 2008.
			In June 2008 the finalists from ten participating countries will participate in ten-day UK tour of music industry, including Glastonbury Festival, London Calling Trade Exhibition and showcasing event where you will promote your national music scene.
			In London the selection of the winner of IYMEY 2008 will be based on a 20 minute presentation, followed by a Q&A session, made by each candidate to an elite panel of representatives of the UK music sector.
			The winner of the award of International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year will be announced at an awards ceremony.

WHAT IS THE AWARD?

A financial award (£7,500 GBP), which will be linked to the UK and tailored to the winner’s specific needs. Ideas include for him/her to take a course in the UK, fund a placement in UK industry, bring over UK specialists to run workshops in-country, buy rights, or work on collaborative projects with contacts from their visit to the UK. The winner will be encouraged to come up with their own proposal, and both the local British Council office and the specialist art from departments in London will be involved in the process of agreeing how the prize money should be spent.

Please return the signed form by 21 March 2008 to:

Vilma Backiute
British Council Lithuania
Jogailos 4, LT-01116 Vilnius
Lithuania

or

Vilma.Backiute@britishcouncil.lt