Other music conferences and events 2023

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In early December 2023, Head of Music Export Ukraine Alona Dmukhovska participated in Networking Mission to Mexico, organized by EMEE and local partner themalfico 20+ export offices from around the continent shared experience, exchanged contacts with mexican experts, and learned how to build cooperations between such remote markets.
Almost the whole week was filled with meetings, insights, market presentations, and even with the first earthquake between the sessions. We had the pleasure to have a super diverse program, which included:
  • Networking reception at Casa de Francia, co-hosted by EEME and the French Embassy in Mexico
  • “Cartoon concert” by Pénélope Bagieu and musician Waxx at Casa de Francia
  • Introduction to the Mexican music market by Sergio Arbelaez - FIMPRO Guadalajara
  • Marketing & PR with: Nicolas Gomez Ospina - D Music Marketing, Pablo Borchi - Music Cities Events, Jonathan Villicaña - Marvin, Marla Bernal Vargas - BAM
  • Visit of YouTube office and learning about new priorities of the DSP
  • Round table Labels: Streaming & Recording with: Guztavo Chávez - EMPO, Robbie Lear
  • Publishing & Sync with: Jennifer Storbeck - BMG, Pamela Nuñez - BMG
  • Round table Venues & Booking with: Lucía Anaya - UCHI, Paco Barba - Grupo Indie Rocks! / Hipnosis / Pitchfork Music Festival
  • Discussion about collaborations: Fabrizio Onetto - Seitrack, José Contreras Memije - ONErpm, Malfi Dorantes - MalfiCo
Key concepts: Promote the music first, not just the show, create a community with the audience, don't mess with Mexican food (again, it can ruin your career!), show Mexicans what you love about their country! Super happy to spread the word about Ukraine, build a global presence of our artists and expand internationally. See you next time!
Pro Weekend Festival was truly one of the most exciting highlights of our busy October 2023! Organized in the beautiful Castellón de la Plana, 8th edition of this boutique conference gathered an amazing selection of delegates and music acts from all over Europe and the UK, providing such an enjoyable sea-inspired space for professional networking.
 
Our project manager Inna Lytovka joined the panel “How to Make the Most Out of a Showcase Festival” revealing fundamental tips and tricks for the local music managers and bands who’re preparing to conquer the international stages. We want to thank all the people and organizations who helped to put this year's Pro Weekend Festival together, including Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte, Ajuntament de Castelló, Institut Valencià de Cultura GVA, and many more. Excited to come back next year with new collaborations! Photos by Batiste Safont Roca
We're thrilled to share that Music Export Ukraine was invited to this year's English Folk Expo in Manchester! As part of a delegation, we had the incredible opportunity to immerse ourselves in the world of folk and roots music, and it was a truly inspiring experience. The quality of music we encountered was nothing short of outstanding, and we can't wait to see how this newfound inspiration will resonate in our work.
 
The event exposed us to a plethora of incredible English and international acts, opening our hearts and ears to a world of musical wonders. What's even more exciting is that many Ukrainian export-oriented acts draw inspiration from folk music, and this experience has undoubtedly widened our perspective on the possibilities of collaboration and cultural exchange in the world of music. We're looking forward to the potential opportunities that next year may bring!
We cherish a lot our enduring collaboration with Waves Vienna as every year for 5 years already, our cooperation deepens with a great feelings of partnership and community. This year, our project managers Marianna Tanska and Diana Dadonova were participating in the event as delegates. They delved into enlightening conference schedule and enjoyed thoughtfully curated artist showcases.
 
Marianna participated in the listening feedback session alongside fellow speakers Malte Tabeling (NEUBAU Music / Humming Records), Raphael Pleschounig (Acoustic Lakeside), Sarah Natalie Amirfallah (Hamburg Music), with a great moderation by Bettina Schöll (Austrian Music Export). In addition to all the great music and discussion they unexpectedly evaluated a track from our EEMA 2020 alumnus, Zsüd. What were our surprise the following day, when Marianna and Diana met one more our EEMA 2020 alumnus Mari Meentalo on board of the amazingly organized Waves Vienna delegates tour!
 
All three days of the Festival has been filled up with wonderful meetings, hugs and cheers such as with European Radio Plugging, who supports Ukraine and its music by constantly pitching it to the European radio stations! Cheers to Waves Vienna for bringing together outstanding people!
Warm memories from the Inne Brzmienia panel, which took place in Lublin on July 9! Our project manager Diana Dadonova joined by incredible colleagues from Music Saves UA, The Lazy Jesus and Anna Klimczak from Stowarzyszenie Autorów ZAiKS, discussed the current state of the Ukrainian music industry, skillfully moderated by Jędrzej Słodkowski. 
 
Due to the war, the Ukrainian music industry faced immense struggles in the past year, but artists and music industry professionals showcased their resilience. During the meaningful talk, we shared views on the industry situation, insights, challenges we have faced and explored ways to support Ukraine. It’s really important to keep raising awareness about Ukrainian culture and music nowadays. Thanks to the organizers Inne Brzmienia & Warsztaty Kultury for the invitation!
From 8 to 10 June 2023, over 150 representatives from more than 20 European countries gathered at the House of Music Hungary in Budapest for the 11th edition of the European Forum on Music (EFM). Over the three days in Budapest, music professionals and art enthusiasts from across Europe and beyond, gathered to get to know relevant case studies, learn about exciting music projects, and meet their peers who share the same aim: to Sustain Music.
 
It was an honor to be part of the panel "Sustaining Music in Ukraine and beyond", sharing the highlights of Music Export Ukraine's work. We were glad to have such a powerful voice together with our colleagues, such as Mariana Bondarenko from Ukrainian Institute - Український інститут, sharing the details of the work of the government institution, Olga Bekenshtein from Am I Jazz? Festival telling about her international projects from over the last year and Dmytro Savkiv from gorgeous Kyiv-based venue 32JazzClub / Old Fashioned Bar, telling about their culture and volunteering activities and even bringing part of the kamikaze drone that was found on the roof of the club after numerous russian attacks. Culture is a powerful tool for defense and we will keep working to support our creatives at any cost.
Late May, we participated in a forum of the European export offices, organized by EMEE. It was a great opportunity to learn from foreign colleagues from 30+ countries, meet prospective professional contacts and brainstorm together about new solutions. The topic of this meeting was how a European professional community can better export underrepresented music, in a sense of genre limitations, but also due to cross-sectoral nature, such as Music for Games or Films as well as metal or electronic music.
 
We would like to say a huge thank you to Music Export Poland and Polish collecting society Stowarzyszenie Autorów ZAiKS for being such great hosts and for introducing us to the Polish music market and its experts. Also thank you Artist in Bloom for structuring our ideas and colleagues for the openness in sharing your experience. We're pretty sure this meeting will have frightful results in the years to come.
There can be no Spring without Tallinn Music Week! Together with colleagues from Liveurope, Stowarzyszenie Autorów ZAiKS, Mastering the Music Business, UAME / Music Saves UA we were happy to speak about rebuilding Ukraine and how to build long-term partnerships in the current situation. Besides, as a special guest, we had Kaimo Kuusk, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to Ukraine, who shared valuable details on how Estonia works with Ukraine right now and how we can improve connections between our countries even more. 
 
The evening program was devoted to the best fresh music from around the world. Big up to Dumai Dunai, Komisiia, Nikolaenko, Tangerinecat and others for the great sets! See you next year, same time, same place! Photo: Sulev Lange, Laura Palling, Tanel Tero, Benjamin Demelemester
We could have never dreamed of the opportunity to present Ukrainian music on the Europe Day in the center of Brussels in front of well-respected guests from the European Commission, EACEA, Embassies, and civil society and enjoy concerts of our artists in one of the most legendary venues on the continent! Thank you to Liveurope for this great event and your invitation. We were very happy to congratulate Atlas Venue from Ukraine for putting together a great lineup yesterday and being part of the gang from now on!
 
Big support for your great initiative Music Saves UA for such a hard and devoted work you do over the last 1+ years! Big thank you to both Ukrainian acts, Ragapop and The Lazy Jesus for the great shows and important messages delivered to the full venue of European fans.
May started off as a UK marathon with an amazing time at FOCUS Wales in Wrexham. This was our first time in Wales and our co-founder Dartsya Tarkovska had a blast discovering the local music scene, new acts and opportunities for cooperation. Also, can we just say that Tangerinecat rocked the stage and won a lot of hearts that night?
 
Next stop was The Great Escape, where Dartsya joined a British Council delegation. Music conference, mixers, networking, dozens of showcases - we've had it all in the past 4 days! The scale of the event was truly impressive and helped to get acquainted both with British and international music industry stakeholders. It was amazing to reconnect with existing colleagues and friends, and make some new connections. Thank you for the opportunity given as a part of the #UKUAseason via collaboration of British Council Ukraine and Ukrainian Institute.
It was our pleasure to participate last week in ILMC in London, covering the topic of geo-politics. War is not a hype topic, yet remains a significantly important one. We're glad that our co-founder Dartsya Tarkovska had a chance to spread the word about current state of the Ukrainian music industry and explain the role of music in our country. This goes way beyond the entertainment as we used to know it. It's great to have such a powerful conversation together with Mate Horvath (Live Nation Concerts, Hungary), Weining Hung (LUCfest 貴人散步音樂節, Taiwan) and moderated by Jon Collins (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment, UK)!
On one of the February weekends we had the pleasure to participate in the gorgeous event UkraineVision 2023: Culture Dialogues, organized by Nordic Ukraine Forum and United Voice in Stockholm, Sweden. We were happy to spread the word about Ukrainian music, opportunities, challenges, and prospective cooperations we have at the moment. Besides, organizers engaged the brightest representatives of Ukrainian popular music like KAZKA band and rap sensation alyona alyona for the talk about artists' roles at wartime. In addition to that, the event had a focus on history and roots of Ukrainian music, therefore it was a pressure to listen to a touching performance of Anastasiya Voytyuk of Troye Zillia playing Ukrainian instrument bandura.
 
We would like to thank the whole team for putting together such a high-profile event with policymakers, top-level executives in different cultural spheres, great contacts we have all got to strengthen Ukrainian-Swedish cooperation, and even the reception with Ambassadors from other countries to go way beyond that! The spotlight on Ukraine is needed nowadays more than ever, so we would be extremely happy to continue working with the organizers to improve the visibility of our artists and our voices on the international level for the years to come!  Photo by Nordic Ukraine Forum
In February we had a pleasure to join one of the best regional music conferences and showcase festivals MENT Ljubljana in the heart of Slovenia. Our project manager Inna Lytovka shared the Ukrainian resilience vibe and highlighed the impressive music industry cases. Our creatives continue working, organizing concerts and generating crazy project ideas despite the wartime challenges. We all need to keep these efforts visible and stand strong & united against the terror.
Many thanks to the MENT Ljubljana organizers for inviting to this inspiring event, full of passionate music professionals, speakers, mind-blowing venues and acts. Hopefully, see you at Kino Šiška next year!
Photo: Lenart Lukšič