Remezcla’s Director of Artist & Talent Relations Joel Moya writes about his personal experience attending BIME Bogotá, the annual music conference building a reputation as one of the new coveted international stages to showcase the best and brightest in music, tech, innovation, startups, and more. With over 2,000 thousand attendees from 30 different countries, the Basque Country-born music conference, Bogotá served as the host of the second edition of BIME on Latin American soil, setting precedents for years to come.
I had to wait a few weeks until the dust settled to share a few words about my experience at BIME Bogotá 2023. The days were long but filled with excitement. It was a time to catch up with industry peers, strategize our next moves after the lights dimmed, and even find a healthy bite to eat without missing out on the action.
My time in Bogotá reaffirmed my choice of career path, offering reassurance when needed. Each morning, the hotel restaurant became the bustling meeting point where we gathered to discuss our agendas for the day. As the clock struck 8 am, we eagerly hopped on the shuttle that transported us to EAN University, the hub of daytime activities.
I had the honor of moderating two-panel discussions. The first panel showcased renowned talent bookers Denvin Landau (TBA Agency) and Viviana Suarez (CMN), who shed light on the realities of Latin artists touring in the United States and Europe. They outlined the path from being an opening act to becoming a festival or tour headliner.
On Thursday morning, I raised the bar even higher with a conversation on the presence of Latin music in the global music industry, featuring veterans Toy Selectah (Worldwide Records), Polo Montalvo (La Buena Fortuna), and Diana Rodriguez (Criteria Entertainment). While Latin music continues to grow as a dominant force, the numbers reveal that representation in the mainstream is still lagging behind or merely meeting quotas. Additionally, I had the opportunity to attend other panels that tackled crucial topics such as the underrepresentation of Afro-Latino artists, the role of the new generation of managers and creatives in transforming the music industry, and the current state of the media landscape in the United States.
Evenings meant one thing: setting aside the business face and immersing myself in live music. For five nights, various venues across the San Felipe Art District opened their doors, showcasing emerging Colombian and international talent. When attending music conferences, I adopt an unconventional approach of not listening to the music of the showcasing artists beforehand. This method allows me to experience the music as a fan rather than a critical industry insider expecting perfection on stage. From an early rave with local producer Cero39 to the captivating performances of Delfina Dib, Irepelusa, and Briela Ojeda, and finally connecting with Juliana, it was yet another instance of attending a music conference and discovering a new favorite artist who was only a click away in my mailbox.
I won’t delve into the details of #BIMEAfterHours, but let’s say that when a group of friends gathers at a karaoke bar in Bogotá, the resulting experience is beyond imagination. However, great news: you can create your BIME experience in Bilbao from October 16th to 20th. Registration for showcasing bands is now open as well.
In a serendipitous turn of events, the night before my departure, I sang Wilfrido Vargas’ “El Jardinero,” and to my surprise, the universe put him on the same flight back home. I wasted no time confessing that I had butchered his song, sparking a memorable encounter.
Learn more about BIME here.
