The British Council is presenting the International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year (IYMEY) award for the fourth 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:

			Record companies; Artists and 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 and management.
			Music marketing; public and media relations.
			Music retail and distribution; online (including digital) and high street outlets.
			Consultants providing specialist services in any of the areas outlined

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 will the winner be chosen?

We will select and invite the successful candidates for an interview on the week beginning 23 February 2009.

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 three members of Lithuania’s music industry and two members of the British Council staff. The presentation should include:

			background of national music industry and understanding of current situation/issues within it
			description of your own work as a music entrepreneur and 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 of your work, and understanding of business with the creative ability to drive your company forward.

We will announce the national finalist by 1 March 2009.

What is the award?

The finalist will:

			Attend The Great Escape (14–16 May 2009), where he/she will have the opportunity to attend all activities within the conference (talks, seminars, networking events), as well as a wide variety of gigs throughout the three days.
			Get an opportunity to travel to the UK (London and Manchester) on a visit programme tailored to one’s business needs which includes group and individual meetings to introduce them to fellow entrepreneurs and exemplary initiatives, to give them an overview of the music sector in the UK.
			Take part in a judging procedure where they make a presentation to an experienced UK industry jury about their work and their understanding of and vision for their creative sector in Lithuania.
			Select one track from their country that they feel could have a wider UK and international appeal. All tracks will be collated onto a CD which the British Council will promote and distribute at The Great Escape and through its wider network. In addition, work selected for the CD will also be featured on our Creative Economy webpage for visitors to vote for their favourite.

The jury selects the overall international winner of the IYMEY 2009 award. The winner will receive a YCE bowl designed by acclaimed glass designers Gillies Jones Glass.

In addition to the award title, the winner receives a financial prize (£5000) to be spent on a collaborative project with the British Council that builds the relationship between the winning country and the UK.

How to apply?

Send us the completed and signed application form by
18 Feburary 2009 to:

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

or

Vilma.Backiute@britishcouncil.lt

The Great Escape
14–16 May 2009

The Great Escape has established itself as the leading event in Europe for showcasing new talent from around the world, aimed at ‘export ready’ bands and Industry Professionals. The Great Escape takes place in Brighton, UK over three days and nights every May with a total attendance of over 10,000 people. An industry convention includes a variety of insightful industry talks, panel debates, keynote interviews, and networking sessions. This runs alongside a live music festival which includes performances from 200 new local and international artists, themed parties and club nights in over 25 different venues.