Over 40 Italian music organisations are showcasing the country's live music sector this week at WOMEX, Manchester's big trade fair.
The Italian music industry last year contributed 255 billion euros to the country's economy. It employs 1.5 million+ people. The Italian Pavilion at WOMEX has six partners: Assomusica, Emilia-Romagna Music Commission, Italia Music Export, Italian World Beat,
Puglia Sounds and Italian World Music, as well as over 40 participants representing all areas of Italian music.
Or so we are told. Not a single opera house or orchestra is represented.