October 10, 2008

By By Mark Sutherland, Berlin

Popkomm will revert to a September timeslot in 2009 after attendance at this year's trade fair fell.

Preliminary figures show that around 14,000 trade delegates attended this year's confab, down around 9% on the 15,420 who went through the door in 2007. Exhibitors also fell, from 886 to 846, although organizers say the proportion of non-German visitors increased from 70% last year to 75% in 2008. Visitors from non-European countries were also on the up, according to organizers.

Popkomm 2009 will be held Sept 16-18 and will remain in Berlin. A spokeswoman declined to comment on rumors the fair will move to a city center location from its current site at Berlin's Exhibition Grounds.

"We talked to the industry and most of them said the October date was too late for them to do business," said the spokeswoman. "We're always open to suggestions from the industry."

The spokeswoman blamed the fall in attendance on the general music business decline.

"There are less people working in the industry than one year ago," she said. "But most trade visitors still see it as a must-go event."

"The music industry is experiencing a paradigm shift from products to service," said Popkomm managing director Dr. Ralf Kleinhenz, in a statement. "We can see that especially in the Popkomm panels and a high number of new exhibitors who have learned to handle the changing market situation."

Popkomm ends today (Friday) after three days of trade fair, industry conference and a live program featuring over 400 artists.

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