European Music Business Task Force

End Report Release: European Music Business Task Force Vol. I.: How do we boost European music industry post Brexit and Corona?

For the very first time, 12 young professionals from the European music industry have developed a report that focuses on the future of the industry. The results have just been published, and show, besides other recommendations, a direction for how the industry ensures sustainable career opportunities that promote musical development at a time where Brexit and Corona have taken on a huge part of the discussion within the European music industry.

A need to concentrate even more on exchange of knowledge and securing a sustainable and healthy development of talent and network - all across boarders in Europe - to be able to tackle and improve the current structures and politics of the European music industry - are the main focus of the report.

For instance the report states that we should: “create a tax incentive for music organizations who provide cross border internships/mentoring to strengthen international networks”, just as “organizations should commit to open recruitment rather than simply offering jobs to their existing networks” and the “industry should actively promote their work to educational institutions as a viable career pathway.”

These are three of the 37 recommendations that the report points to. Read the full report here.

One of the initiators of the report is the network platform PROMUS, who has gathered the 12 professionals across industry backgrounds to ensure a variety of perspectives on the industry. Jesper Mardahl, head of PROMUS, states:

“The report points to a complete check of the industry, and makes suggestions to how the existing music industry, the public bodies around it and the people who want to be a part of it can help change the competing mind-set seen in the industry. If we dare to listen to the report and see each other as a united team, we can overcome the challenges that the industry faces - both artistically and business-strategically.”

Europe is one of the epicenters of music production, but Brexit and Corona have kept the microphone for too long, which is why PORMUS together with the Music Cities Network and in collaboration with the KaosPiloterne, SPOT Festival, Reeperbahn Festival, Iceland Airwaves and Eurosonic Noorderslag have gathered 12 young professionals across industry areas and given them time and space to explore the industry in which they themselves are formed. The question is how can the European community stimulate and strengthen the framework of the industry for the benefit of the industry as a whole, the consumers and the development of music?

Sandra Perens, one of the 12 professionals in the Task Force, states:

“The value of the Task Force and projects like these is that, they help you to first broaden your network of people, get to know their experience and in the end understand that one is not struggling alone, that there are like-minded people who have gone through the same difficulties or are going through the same thing. It gives the opportunity to learn from people like yourself and also in turn, gives the opportunity to support each other. I hope that the future of the industry will be formed with fairness to all - first of all the creators making the music and also the people behind the scenes. “

What's it about?

The Music Cities Network is delighted to announce the open call for applications for the first European Music Business Task Force programme 2021. From August 2021 until the end of January 2022, 12 upcoming European music business professionals will have the opportunity to embark on a transnational European expedition searching for answers to the question: How can we boost European music within Europe?

The programme is organized by the transnationally acting Music Cities Network in partnership with Promus Aarhus and in collaboration with four key northern European music festivals and conventions - SPOT Festival, DK, Reeperbahn Festival, DE, Iceland Airwaves, IS, Eurosonic, NL.

The aim of the programme is to develop new insights, skills and knowledge resulting in tools and proposals for developing a strong sustainable transnational market for European Music within Europe post-Brexit as well as in pandemic times. The European Music Business Task Force programme is co-funded by the Music Moves Europe Programme of the European Commission.

The European Music Business Task Force will actively participate in the following music business festivals as part of their learning process:

• The SPOT Festival and the SPOT+ Festival conference in Aarhus, Denmark (16th - 17th of september 2021).

• The Reeperbahn Festival and the Reeperbahn Festival Conference in Hamburg, Germany (22th - 25th of september 2021).

• The Iceland Airwaves and the Airwaves Pro conference in Reykjavik, Iceland (3rd - 6th of november 2021).

• The Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) and the ESNS Conference in Groningen, Netherlands (19th - 22nd of january 2022).

During each of the four festivals as well as during in-between sessions, the Task Force will facilitate workshop sessions working through different problems and industry areas based on current industry challenges.

⇒ In summary, the programme is a unique chance to become part of a European music business task force that will actively shape the future of the European music market! ⇐