MUMBAI: Pioneer of electronic dance music in India and founder of Submerge, Nikhil Chinappa has taken his love for music a step ahead by being a part of dance music’s new international advocacy and lobbying group the Association for Electronic Music (AFEM). Chinappa is part of the electronic music panel advisors along with 51 global stalwarts in the space.
As it completes 10 years in the industry, Submerge is now the only Indian company to join the board, attributed to the growing popularity and success of live concerts in the sub-continent.
Chinappa will share the dias with stalwarts like David Levy (WME), James Barton (Live Nation) and Patrick Moxey (Sony Music) amongst others. The group confirmed its 52 member international board of advisors at a key meeting during this week’s International Music Summit (IMS) in Ibiza.
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Following AFEM’s launch at this year’s Midem convention, intensive work has been going on behind the scenes to finalize a wide-ranging agenda embracing marketing, health and safety and the damaging effects of piracy. Organizers confirmed the names of the international advisory board which brings together representatives of artists, DJs, managers, labels, promoters, publishers, agents, retailers and broadcasters committed to advancing the cause of electronic music.
AFEM co-founder Ben Turner said, “There has been an incredible outpouring of support for the Association of Electronic Music. We set out with the objective of creating an inclusive organization with the objective of being a worldwide voice for electronic dance music. The response so far has confirmed our view that the time is right for dance music to assert its voice. The energy and passion of our advisory board is clear. It is striking to see so many people who ordinarily are fierce rivals joining together to fight for the music they love.”
The coordinators of AFEM include Turner, a partner in the International Music Summit and manager of Richie Hawtin, and entertainment industry lawyer Kurosh Nasseri, who has specialized in the electronic music genre for 20 years, and whose clients include Afrojack, Basto, Deep Dish, Lazy Jay and Paul van Dyk.
The Association for Electronic Music is stated to be a not-for-profit company with offices initially in US and UK. Membership of AFEM is open to all companies and individuals whose business is mainly in electronic music. Legendary producer and dance music pioneer Nile Rodgers who produced Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, has already agreed to serve as an AFEM Ambassador, and further high-profile ambassadors be announced soon.
