We have just been at BIME and we are heading to Alhambra Monkey Week… but does the public fully understand what exactly a Music Fair for professionals is? Are people aware that, while festivals like Primavera Sound and Sónar are held, hundreds of music industry professionals from all over the world meet in their PRO sections? Can ordinary people sneak in there? To try to shed some light on this topic, Tali Carreto, co-director of Monkey Week, visits ALGO CAMBIÓ… the podcast that JENESAISPOP makes in collaboration with Fundación SGAE.
Tali Carreto remembers the beginnings of Monkey Week 16 years ago. In the first instance, the idea was to have “7, 8, 9 artists” of an international or front-line nature, who would be both an attraction for the public and for the press outside Andalusia. This is how figures like Neneh Cherry or Faust ended up in this Fair that was first held in Puerto de Santa María and is now in Seville. However, in recent times, Monkey Week is more focused on finding “the music of tomorrow”, betting on young talents of very diverse backgrounds.
Tali Carreto remembers the moment when she opted for people like Rosalía, Ralphie Choo, Bronquio or Carolina Durante before they were famous, the latter playing in a bar on the ground floor. Also, how they have ended up developing a friendship with the artists given the closeness that the Monkey allows. This is the case of Camellos, Parquesvr, Rocío Márquez or Niño de Elche. The promoter also remembers that sometimes these “emerging artists form queues or perform in a completely full capacity. Maybe they go to Teruel and 4 go, but that is the importance of a professional fair.
Carreto also tells us how the artists are selected, such as this year Julia de Arco, who not long ago had 0 monthly listeners on Spotify, and talks to us about the importance of these fairs, more than the attendance of the public – the People can go, but it is not as massive as other events – due to its media impact and within the industry. Also for the promotion of artists who are not from the USA or UK: this year Fundación SGAE and Monkey Week promote Fulana de Val thanks to a cultural exchange with Uruguay.
Luis Gómez, Head of Partners of Fundación SGAE, who is present at Monkey Week and also at the Sónar and Primavera Sound fairs, agrees on the importance of these events. He tells us at the end of the podcast: “These fairs are very important internationally because they put Spain on the map.” He also leaves us with an anecdote about Madonna and the Alcorcón Earthquake. We remind you that Alhambra Monkey Week is celebrated this year from November 21 to 23 in Seville.
