The international program at this year's Music & Media will gather international guests from different parts of Europe as well as Finnish professionals. Scroll down to read about this year's topics and see the list of international guests coming to the event.

The international program at this year's Music & Media, produced by Music Finland, includes discussions about Nordic networks in the publishing industry, Nordic contemporary music festivals, the role of music in gaming as well as the use of new technologies in music creation, promotion, distribution, rights management and consumption. The international seminar program will be produced again by Music Finland, who will also bring a number of international professionals to Tampere this year.

Conferences

Thursday October 7th

How to showcase properly?

Time: Thursday Oct 7th at 10:45 – 11:30 AM
Moderator: Katja Vauhkonen (Fullsteam)
Panelists: Brian Mahoney (Kassner Music, UK), Erik J. Egenes (by:Larm, NO), Guro Furunes (Vinjerock, NO), Kalle Lundgren Smith (Pitch & Smith, SE)

This session offers straight talk and good tips on planning, preparing and actually carrying out your showcase trip. What are things to do beforehand, who to be in touch with and what to avoid? How to make sure you are getting noticed, and which events to prefer? This session gives you many practical answers for a successful showcase, or even just a business trip.

Heavy Matters keynote: Philipp Schulte – What Makes Finnish Metal Tougher than the Rest?

Time: Thursday Oct 7th at 12:00 – 12:45 PM
Interviewer: Merle Doering (Black Harbour Entertainment, DE)

CEO Philipp Schulte has worked at Century Media over 20 years, signing great Finnish bands like Insomnium, Sentenced and most recently Blind Channel with the label. What makes the company successful after over three decades? How to maintain the passion for metal after merging with a major like Sony? And most importantly, which Finnish bands are the biggest party animals?

Tampere Music Award interview

Time: Thursday Oct 7th at 12:45 – 13:30 PM

Towards the Vision for Finnish Song Exports

Time: Thursday Oct 7th at 12:45 – 13:15 PM
Presenters: Jani Jalonen (Grand Music Consulting), Katariina Sorsa (Music Finland)
Vappu Aura (Teosto), Aku Toivonen (Finnish Music Creators) and Jari Muikku (Finnish Music Publishers Association)

This year, 100 music industry professionals, songwriters, producers, composers, publishers, managers, entrepreneurs, music educators and organizations came together in six conversations to discuss the present and future of Finnish Song Exports. In 2017, the industry committed to a vision: “Finnish songwriting is the first choice, and the Finnish music sector consistently delivers international hits.” We have now focused on the objectives that will help our industry reach that vision. In this session we will present those objectives and the committed organizations will reveal what kind of actions will result.

Nordics Stronger Together

Time: Thursday Oct 7th at 13:15 – 14:00 PM
Moderator: Katariina Sorsa (Music Finland)
Panelists: Riku Salomaa (Nordic Music Partners), Semira Ketroussi (Elements Music), Nicolas Blix (Mantik Music, DK)

Conversation with new companies and collaborations in the independent pop music publishing sector in the Nordics focuses on the power of collaboration and the potential of the Finnish songwriting market. Why is the Finnish publishing sector now more connected than ever? Is there something to learn from these collaboration models in other sectors of the business? Nordics Stronger Together is a part of Morning Coffee with the Nordics ‘Live’ series hosted by NOMEX. The conversation is also linked to The Future Vision of Finnish Song Export presented before panel.

The role of music tech in the future music industry ecosystem

Time: Thursday Oct 7th at 14:15 – 15:00 PM
Moderator: Turo Pekari (Music Finland)
Panelists: Jake Beaumont Nesbitt (IMMF, UK), Markku Mäkeläinen (Utopia Music), Sara Herrlin (STHLM Music City, SE), Anna Zò (Music Innovation Hub, IT)

Despite the disastrous impact of Covid-pandemic to music industry revenues, we’ve seen a rapid increase in the adoption of new technologies in creation, promotion, distribution, rights management and consumption of music. How can collaboration with startups and innovation ecosystems create opportunities for the music industry, eventually leading to long-term relationships for smart and strategic business opportunities? What are the key tech trends and who are the leading players to follow in this scene?

Heavy Matters case study: Apocalyptica – From student halls to worldwide arenas

Time: Thursday Oct 7th at 15:30 – 16:15 PM
Moderator: Paulina Ahokas (Tampere-Talo)
Speakers: Eicca Toppinen (Apocalyptica), Ulysses Hüppauff (Odyssey Music Network, DE)

Apocalyptica’s success story is a very unique one: the group of friends who started out playing Metallica covers with cellos at student parties, has now been an active player in the European metal scene for more than 25 years. The band’s journey is definitely one of the great stories in Finnish cultural exports. In this case study, the band’s founding member Eicca Toppinen and the longtime manager, Ulysses Hüppauff, dish out the details of Apocalyptica’s career, together with other key figures from band’s career.

Friday October 8th

Music and gaming

Time: Friday Oct 8th at 10:00 – 10:45 AM
Foreword: Kush Patel (Musically, UK)
Moderator: Turo Pekari (Music Finland)
Panelists: Katri Saarikivi (University of Helsinki), Hanna Toivonen (Rovio), Kush Patel (Musically, UK)

The Gaming industry has been rapidly growing every year, exceeding both sports and film combined in 2020. With such a boom industry wide, it seems like a perfect time to reflect on where the music industry fits into all of this. What is the role of music in games? How can music be marketed and promoted in games and game-like metaverses? Are we seeing new opportunities for traditional marketing of music or possibly new music products? How music and gamification effect our emotions and build engagement in new ways? How can technology help in developing new music experiences, social interaction, traction and visibility in games and virtual worlds?

Nordic Festival Forum

Time: Friday Oct 8th at 10:15 – 11:15 AM
Moderator: Minna Huuskonen (Music Finland)
Panelists: Johan Tallgren (Time of Music), Minnakaisa Kuivalainen (Tampere Biennale), Anna Berit Asp Christensen (SPØR Festival, DK), Peter Meanwell (Borealis – a Festival for Experimental Music, NO)

What is the future of music festivals? Will there be changes to the profile and/or execution and concept, and if so what kind? Is Nordic collaboration happening already or could it be an interesting idea?

Commentary: John Harris (Red Note Ensemble, New Music Dublin Festival, UK)

Heavy Matters panel: State Of Rock and Metal – Who Will Be the Rebels of Tomorrow?

Time: Friday Oct 8th at 10:45 – 11:30 AM
Moderator: Toni-Matti Karjalainen (Sibelius Academy)
Panelists: Dennis Moll (Century Media, DE), Merle Doering (Black Harbour Entertainment, DE)

One of the burning questions in the industry during the past few years has been: “what will the future be like for rock’n’roll?”. What’s the current state of rock music – is the fire still burning or is time to take the guitars to the pawnshop? Or is metal our new rock? Where are all the future rebels who’ll show the way for tomorrow’s rock’n’roll children?

Heavy Matters case study: Blind Channel – Take a shot for success

Time: Friday Oct 8th at 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Moderator: Kaisa Rönkkö (Music Finland)
Speakers: Riku Pääkkönen (Ranka Kustannus)

This case study dismantles Blind Channel’s story from their very beginnings in Oulu to this year’s success at the Eurovision song contest and their recent big record deal with Century Media. In this session, Blind Channel’ story will be told by Riku Pääkkönen, the mogul sometimes referred to as “the Steve Jobs of Finnish metal”, who originally discovered the band – and he also reveals why he wants bigger labels to steal his acts.

Touring Nordic compositions

Time: Friday Oct 8th at 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM
Moderator: Osmo Tapio Räihälä (composer)
Panelists: Antti Auvinen (composer), Christian Karlsen (conductor, SE), Jan Bang (Punkt Festival, NO), Monica Danielsson (Norbotten Neo, SE)

How to ensure more performances for the compositions? Who are the key persons in decision making? How this could be considered in curating events and as an asset?

Commentary: John Harris (Red Note Ensemble, New Music Dublin Festival, UK)

Live After Covid: International touring in a modern world

Time: Friday Oct 8th at 14:45 – 15:30 PM
Moderator: Aino-Maria Paasivirta (Fullsteam Agency)
Panelists: Merle Doering (Black Harbour Entertainment, DE), Will Larnach Jones (Iceland Airwaves), Toni Peiju (Til Dawn They Count, FI)

Let’s discuss the elephant in the room; the pandemic has affected international touring more than probably anything since the world wars. What are the learnings of this period, especially for smaller acts who are competing of any attention? How about festivals & bigger acts, how has all the planning changed?

Label and an artist – how to catch attention from labels?

Time: Friday Oct 8th at 15:30 – 16:15 PM
Moderator: Karen Norbakk (Sony Music, NO)
Panelists: Juan Vandervoort (PIAS, UK), Julia Bratland (Sony Denmark, DK), Martin Linnankoski (VILD)

Almost everyone in the music business is trying to network with people who could help them further. Same goes with artists and managements who are trying to find a deal. What are the things that you should do to catch industry’s attention, and what should you avoid? Where should you go, where are all the record labels?

Networking and events

Wednesday October 6th

Music Finland International Dinner

Time: Wed October 6th at 20:00
Place: Restaurant Periscope

Meet some of the Music Finland staff and other international guests at Restaurant Periscope, where dinner will be served. Welcome!

Thursday October 7th

Music Finland International Mixer

Time: Thu October 7th at 16:15 onwards
Place: Winter Garden, Tampere Hall

Come and have a drink with us! Meet other international delegates as well as Finnish music industry delegates. Join us at an informal gathering to meet new and familiar faces. Welcome!

Opening Party

Time: Thu October 7th at 17:00 onwards
Place: Duuri, Tampere Hall, 3rd Floor

Welcome to the Music & Media opening party!

Lost in Music showcases

Time: Thu October 7th at 18:00 onwards
Place: Venues around the town

See the lineup here.
Check out the schedule here

Friday October 8th

Ja Ja Ja Brunch

Time: October 8th at 10:00–11:00
Place: Tampere Hall

Ja Ja Ja Music is the definitive Nordic club night and website celebrating the very best music from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Stop by for a cup of coffee!

Rockadillo Exhibition at Vapriikki

Time: October 8th at 12:30-13:30
Place: Vapriikki

Finnish Postal Museum presents a new exhibition showcasing pioneering music company Rockadillo. Tapio Korjus, founder of Rockadillo will be at the exhibition to talk about the journey Rockadillo has taken in over five decades.

Transportation to the exhibition will be provided.

https://www.vapriikki.fi/en/nayttelyt/rockadillo-50-years-in-music-business/

Industry Awards Gala

Time: October 8th at 17:30-21:30
Place: Park Hall, Tampere hall

The Industry Awards Gala is the season finalé of the Music & Media seminar program, a glorious celebration that honors the distinguished achievements in the Finnish music industry community.

The Industry Awards Gala is the place where we award the Media Personality, Record Label and Festival of the Year – among many others. The Industry Awards acknowledgements are also given on a more unusual basis: in recent years we’ve wanted to reward for example the Supporter and Future Visionary of the Year. Diverse Lifetime Achievement Award and Tampere Music Award are also awarded annually.

Doors at Tampere Hall open at 5.30 pm and the Gala is over by 9.30 pm.

Lost in Music showcases

Time: Thu October 7th at 18:00 onwards
Place: Venues around the town

See the lineup here.
Check out the schedule here

Confirmed international guests at Music & Media 2021

Kush Patel, Head of Training (Musically, UK)
John Harris, Artistic Director (Rednote Ensemble, UK)
Monica Danielson, Programchef (Norrbotten NEO, SE)
Markku Mäkeläinen, CEO (Utopia Music, CH)
Anna Berit Asp Christensen, Artistic Director (SPØR festival, DK)
Ulysses Hüppauff, Manager/Label Manager (Odyssey Music Network, DE)
Thomas Sønderby Jepsen, Promoter (Roskilde, DK)
Guillaume Prince, Agent (Base Productions, FR)
Jay Svarplys, Promoter (LT)
Jake Beaumont Nesbitt, Executive Director (IMMF, UK)
Terje Pederson, A&R (Grappa, NO)
Merle Doering, Agent (Black Harbour, DE)
Juan Vandervoort, A&R (PIAS, UK)
Christian Karlsen, Conductor (SE)
Peter Meanwell, Artistic Director (Borealis – a Festival for Experimental Music, NO)
Erik Honoré, Artistic Director (Punkt Festival, NO)
Jan Bang, Artistic Director (Punkt Festival, NO)
Sara Herrlin, Founder (STHLM Music City, SE)
Julia Bratland, A&R (Sony Music Denmark, DE)
Guro Furunes, Promoter (Vinjerock, NO)
Erik Egenes, International program (By:Larm, NO)
Anna Zó, Project Manager (Music Innovation Hub, IT)
Ben Mandelson, Director (WOMEX, DE)
Brian Mahoney, Head of A&R (Kassner Music, UK)
Dennis Moll, A&R Manager (Century Media Records, DE)
Einar Idsøe Eidsvåg, Advisor (Music Norway, NO)
Gerald Wilkes, Agent (Continental Concerts, DE)
Jakob Sørensen, CEO (The Bank, DK)
Kalle Lundgren Smith, Agent (Pitch & Smith, SE)
Karen Norbakk, A&R Manager (Sony Music Germany, DE)
Marcus Hammer, Managing Director (Nuclear Blast Records, DE)
Nicolas Blix, Publishing Manager (Mantik Music, DK)
Philipp Schulte, CEO (Century Media Records, DE)
Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen, Artistic Director (Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival , NO)
Will Larnach-Jones, Managing Director and Head of Bookings (Iceland Airwaves, IS)