Digital Day Diva [The Great Escape Uncut]

Digital Day Diva

Posted on May 19, 2007 4:59 PM
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My head hurts... if you're in Brighton right now I bet yours does too.

There's no rest on the agenda - it's Music Ally Digital Day and that's the biggie for this little online music fuzz ball. I did enough speed networking last night to face an early morning 'TGE Speed Dating' session - plus, I don't want to subject the poor delegates to Sambuca breath this early in the morning. I'm sure there'll be enough opportunities for dancing the 'business card shuffle' tonight.

The Rob da Bank interview with Norman and Cook (Fat Boy Slim) is delayed by a half an hour or so. Damn it, it's now going to cut in to The AIM UK/US Radio Panel. I want to see that too. I need a mini-me. Then again. I don't think they make them that small.

Across the road, there's a Hip Hop State of the Nation panel preparing to start. As I grab a quick coffee I watch the cool people of the world Hip Hop their way across the foyer 9as only hip Hoppers can). Straight after there's a 'Japan, the market in 2007'... I spot that crowd too. I'd love to see those groups party together tonight.

People look as ratty as I feel... Brighton springs to life around us and the wind begins what will be a solid two days of what my dad refers to as "Blowing its teats off mate". Gotta love dairy farmer lingo. It’s almost a relief to escape into the next key note presentation. The founder of Pandora, Tim Westergren chats about the internet radio service and the trials and tribulations of creating such an Internet-based start up business. it's intriguing... I could drill him with questions all day and it looks like the audience could too. Instead, he's joined on the panel for a discussion: Making connections: music discovery and social networking. I've been waiting for this little gem... Atakan Cetinsoy (MyStrands), Mark Meharry (Musicglue) and Angel Gambino (Bebo) head the discussion. Martin Stiksel (Last.fm) can't be here as planned and Toby Lewis from Music Ally chairs the whole shebang. I won't go in to the whole widgit discussion... want to know the inside info? Make sure you're in the audience next year! Needless to say, I come out buzzing... I've got more questions than i went in with and my hangover is forgotten.

Right, there's an interview between Mark Howards and Shaun Ryder coming up. As much as I'd love a bite to eat, there's a set of French artists playing in the Underbelly... some things just have to come first.