In 2010, the city of Nice initiated a “current music” roundtable aimed at surveying the field. On this occasion, certain organizations met and developed joint projects, such as the first edition of the Crossover Festival produced jointly by Panda06 Production, Image Publique, and Fonétiq.
This successful experience led seven professional organizations to come together around this philosophy of pooling resources, ideas, and experiences. Thus, in 2011, Image Publique, Imago Production, Label Note, Olodum, Panda06 Production, Fonetiq, and S4Co decided to unite under “La Coopérative,” an association of which they form the Artistic and Technical Council.
Artistic, logistical, and promotional management of Nikaïa Live
Their diverse activities and recognized specialties in their respective fields provide the Cooperative with solid and broad expertise, enabling it to win the 2011 contract from the City of Nice aimed at revitalizing Nikaïa Live (formerly Salle 700) through the organization of 20 concerts, artist promotion, and the development of the local scene.
For the fulfillment of this contract, the Cooperative ensured access to this system for all local organizations that made the request and mandated the inclusion of local opening acts at each concert.
Buoyed by this performance, the Cooperative obtained a renewal of the contract for the development of Salle 700 in 2012.
Operation Esprit Musique
Finally, as a response to its development project and mutualist philosophy, the Cooperative was selected by Caisse d’Epargne & Fnac as part of their Esprit Musique operation. This arrangement allows the Cooperative to go even further in its revitalization mission by integrating Nikaïa Live into a national network of over 50 venues and presenting developing Azurean artists Hannah and Ma Saïsara in the Jeunes Talents program.
Massena Nice Jazz Off 2011
Additionally, the Cooperative was entrusted with the artistic and logistical organization of the Nice Jazz Festival 2011 Off. In this capacity, the association presented nine groups to the Nice public during five free evenings at Masséna Square.
Nikaïa Live
The Cooperative is in charge of energizing, managing, and programming the first “independent” medium-capacity concert hall (800 seats) in the Alpes Maritimes department. The west of Nice finally has its local venue, young promoters have a testing ground, the local scene has a springboard (since all concerts include Azurean opening acts), and the public has a space for discovery.
Since early 2011, Nikaïa Live has received a true makeover: new name, new sound and lighting systems, new visual identity, creation of exterior signage… A website is also under development.
A new member: Marc Toesca has intervened many times in the life of the Cooperative (programming his talents as opening acts for our concerts…) and is also one of the few labels to occupy a Parisian outpost from which he has drawn an analysis that the Cooperative shares: it is difficult to work in the Southeast in the field of current music even when well-known there… Thus, his expertise will aid many Azurean initiatives in this field.
Esprit Musique Program
Caisse d’Epargne, in partnership with FNAC, created the “Scènes en Régions” program to support contemporary music venues, essential relays of the French music scene. The Cooperative / Nikaïa Live is an unavoidable regional actor in the promotion of current music. It was therefore only natural that Caisse d’Épargne turned to the Cooperative / Nikaïa Live to develop an active partnership.
Scènes en Région: The Scènes en Régions program notably includes dedicated financial support for the promotional actions of member venues. More than 50 venues across the territories of the seventeen regional Caisse d’Epargne have agreed to join Scènes en Régions.
Jeunes Talents: Each venue in the program chooses 1 or 2 developing groups in its region to produce live, as the opening act for a renowned artist. These concerts and the audio and video recordings are funded by Caisse d’Epargne. The selected groups will participate in a public vote to elect one winner per region. These winners will then be presented to a jury which will determine three national winners.
At the end of the competition, numerous rewards (financial support, national tour…) will help these young groups to emerge. The top 100 groups of the moment have been selected. The public is invited to vote for the regional winner on the www.espritmusique.fr site.
The rewards: each region’s winner will receive a check for €1,000, and a track of their choice will be on the “Jeunes Talents Caisse d’Epargne” compilation.
In 2011, the Cooperative selected two highly developing Azurean musical groups: Ma Saïsara (chanson) and Hannah (folk):
The Cooperative’s projects in 2012:
Creation of a web radio: Under the initiative of Marc Toesca, the creation of a web radio is one of the Cooperative’s flagship projects. Indeed, our region needs to shine musically, and this tool is more than necessary for current music. The objective of this web radio will clearly be to program, support local creation, and promote Azurean cultural news.
Artist residency: The Cooperative includes within it Imago Production, creator of La Ruche, but also many local actors pushing for the emergence of new talents. Thus, residencies and efforts in diffusion (mandatory local opening acts during Nikaïa Live concerts, springboards) are necessary to develop the local scene. In 2011, Ma Saïsara and Little d Big B benefited from 5 days of residency within Nikaïa Live. Other residencies are currently being considered for 2012.
Professional training (in collaboration with Prodiss): Show business professions are the worst off in terms of certificate-bearing internships. An interview with a member of the PRODISS executive committee indicates that this employer union is ready to support such internships and grant its label so that initially, the content is recognized by most French companies, even without a diploma.
Prevention & awareness of auditory risks (in collaboration with Prodiss). This is a mission this professional union has taken on: protecting the hearing apparatus of the young and old alike…
Project to launch an economic activity hub: The Cooperative, a legitimate and representative actor of the cultural economic sector, wishes to develop and encourage cooperative functioning in other disciplines (image, multimedia, dance, etc.).
There is also talk of giving back their rightful place to cultural enterprises in our region, which are one of the main drivers of the economy and are always considered as residual. Indeed, a region where tourism, whether business or leisure, is nourished by events and culture should place on equal footing hospitality, service, and companies creating culture or events. According to the Cooperative, the latter are true economic levers.
