Creative content producers need to take project management seriously, according to one industry expert. Steve Stopps, from Leamington Spa-based Blitz Games Studios, says that many creative companies need to reassess how they run their operations.

Steve, who is the keynote speaker at ‘Creative Networks’ event on Thursday 25 June, believes that project management is increasingly important, given the growth of the creative industries sector. The creative industries are expected to employ 1.3 million people by 2013 – more than the financial sector – and will contribute £85 billion to the UK, up from £57 billion in 2009.

A quarter of those employed in the UK games industry are located in the West Midlands. Steve said: “This is a multi-billion dollar industry, which strongly performs even during the recession.

“The current generation of the highest quality AAA games are similar to Hollywood blockbusters. If a company is going to risk huge amounts of money on a product it needs to gets its project management right. A huge amount of skills and disciplines contribute towards the end product and it’s important that these are properly managed.

“With the possibilities offered by digital technologies there is a real opportunity for the screen and sound based sector to capitalise on the growth in demand for its products, but it has to get serious about managing content production

The Music Network meets at 4pm Thursday 25th June 2009, Birmingham TIC, Millennium Point. Steve will be speaking afterwards at 6pm.

Creative Networks and The Music Network meeting are both part of a FREE event.

Creative Networks was established in 2004 as a regular monthly hub of networking and expertise for those working or hoping to work in the creative industries. For more information call 0121 331 5400 or visit www.creativenetworksonline.com

Visit The Music Network at http://birminghammusicnetwork.com

This months talk follows the visit earlier this month by Lord David Puttnam who addressed more than 200 guests at Birmingham Hippodrome as part of an event called Platform Alteration, hosted by Screen WM in association with 4iP and Creative Networks.

The Music Network is open to all on Thursday 25th June 2009 4pm til 6pm at Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC), Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7XG.

If you have any involvement in music, come and talk about what you’re up to and meet some new people.

The Music Network organises a NETWORKING EVENT on the last Thursday of each month, for the benefit of music related businesses in the West Midlands region.

If you are a musician, work with musicians, represent musicians, have involvement with the music industry, or are looking to make new contacts the meeting will be useful.

If you have news to report, a presentation to give, an event to promote, any new points for discussion, a pitch to make, business cards or flyers to hand round, an appeal for help, advice or guidance or even if you just want the free tea and biscuits and some quality entertainment…you are all invited.

You can also post in by email any news or gig dates or press release information for inclusion on the website and for distribution through the mailing list and RSS feed. More details on the website.

There will be luxury chocolate biscuits and good coffee for all. There’s food and drink afterwards supplied by the creative networks too. Please pass this invite on to Musicians you know or anyone else who you think may benefit. Jokers and time wasters need not apply.

WARNING: THE MUSIC SCENE IS NOT THE MUSIC SCENE

If you want to join a real conversation and get ahead with your own music…..

…..You know what to do:  http://birminghammusicnetwork.com