Promoting young pop talent in Basel for 20 years

The Rockförderverein der Region Basel was founded in May 1994 and changed its name around two years ago to RFV Basel - Promotion of pop music and music network in the Basel region. Managing Director Tobit Schäfer cites the realization that the umbrella term "rock" was no longer suitable for musicians from the hip hop or electronic genres as the reason for the renaming. Originally, the association, which was initiated by musicians and scene representatives, primarily offered help for self-help. "Before the RFV, there was zero support for pop or rock in the region," adds Chrigel Fisch, Head of Communications and former manager of alternative rockers Navel. Things are different today, even if you still have to fight for support.

Those responsible at the RFV recognized early on that political lobbying is also indispensable in pop. A realization that some places in Switzerland still struggle with. In any case, the RFV's strategy ultimately bore fruit: in 2008, the Basel-Stadt government decided that the association was a "highly professional organization" and the "appropriate institution" to provide the desired promotional services in the field of popular music. And granted higher subsidies. Since then, the RFV's mission has been not only to promote the pop scene in the Basel region, but also to establish pop as a genre in the cultural scene.

The RFV now receives annual subsidies totaling CHF 610,000. The significant increase in funding was not used to develop countless band competitions. Instead, it has been invested in networking and establishing contacts with Swiss Music Export, to the festival m4music or to the online platform Helvetiarockt strengthened. Thanks to the new financial possibilities, in 2009 the Basel Pop Prize was launched. Previous winners of the 15,000 Swiss franc award include the art-pop formation The bianca Story and singer/songwriter Anna Aaron, who has recently been on the road with experimental pop.

In 2010, the RFV launched the funding module Basel Music Export and made its presence felt at the Reeperbahn Festival. With the three times a year advertised RegioSoundCredit is aimed at experienced musicians who can already demonstrate an "artistically committed, expert activity in the field of pop music". The current winner of the competition is soul singer Ira May, whose debut The Spell reached the top of the Swiss charts. The 26-year-old used the funding to perform in Germany for the first time at the beginning of April.

Consolidation and new ideas

"We are currently in a consolidation phase," says Schäfer. However, the negotiations for the next subsidy period from 2016 to 2019 are in the back of his mind. "We are particularly concerned with the topic of exports," he explains. In the visual arts, we are familiar with work years, and Schäfer would also like to see something similar for popular music. "A branch abroad would make sense," he says. Then bands could also work on a project over the longer term.

It is important to him and Fisch to emphasize that their work is focused on the concerns of the association's members. They must be behind the strategy of the office, which currently has 210 full-time equivalents, and the voluntary board. This is another reason why proximity to the scene is essential for the RFV. "One of our strengths," emphasizes Fisch. When asked about possible weaknesses of the model, Schäfer explains: "At the moment, we have a very diverse, but also very resource-intensive offering. As a result, the development of new visions tends to fall by the wayside." In the past, the RFV's national and international networking also left a lot to be desired. "But in the last four years, this has become one of our strengths."

Now it's time to focus more on newcomers again, explains Schäfer, "although we have the feeling that less is happening in this area than a few years ago." Fisch cites the emergence of casting shows and formats such as The Voice of Switzerland. Because of this, many young people might have the feeling that these kinds of events are the only way to a career in music. This is one of the reasons why the RFV is considering new ideas on how to make young people more aware of the club and its activities. One possible approach: a kind of scouting system.

Schäfer and Fisch counter the criticism sometimes voiced that the RFV's work goes unnoticed outside of Basel with the argument that never before have so many musicians with Basel roots made a name for themselves outside of their homeland. For example Anna Aaron, The bianca Story or the pop eclectics We Invented Paris. Coincidence or not, they all are or were supported by RFV. "Of course we could try to organize a management or a label in Berlin for one of our bands," says Chrigel Fisch, "but we'd rather they do it on their own. That proves that they really have the drive to make a career for themselves."

This article was published on May 7, 2014 in the German magazine Music market