This week saw a fresh innovation in the fast-growing entertainment world, a Northern Ireland Music Industry Conference - entitled, 'The Way Forward'.

The event hosted by the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission (NIMIC) addressed the challenges and the new opportunities opening up for the industry in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the launch in the Whitla Hall, Queen's University, (pictured) the Northern Ireland Arts Minister Gregory Campbell said: "The event was about developing opportunities for creative individuals to take the step to making a career in the music industry whether they be composers, producers, managers, music publishers, artists, concert promoters, record companies and online music entrepreneurs.

"The music industry has become very important for Northern Ireland as over the last three years our artists have secured record and publishing deals bringing inward investment of over £2million," he continued, noting that the music industry is changing, not just in how music is produced but in how it is marketed and sold across the globe.

"Globalisation and digitisation have brought new challenges in the form of increased competition but also immense opportunities," he said.

See: Music Conference To Hit A High Note

(BMcC)