Reeperbahn 2018 kicks off

Hamburg’s Reeperbahn festival and conference has kicked off, with over 4,000 music industry professionals expected to attend more than 300 sessions scheduled across the weekend.

2018’s conference programme spans multiple disciplines, genres and countries. A number of networking events, including sessions like Meet the Koreans and Meet the Nordics, aim to bridge the geographical gap in the music industry. Beyond this, the conference will look to the current state of the industry and what lies ahead.

Wednesday’s sessions included the reflective 30 Years of Independent Dance Music, delivered by Martin Heath and Renaat Vandepapeliere and Die Situation von Festivals In Deutschland chaired by journalist Ivana Draglia, analysing the German festival scene.

4,700 music industry professionals are expected to attend more than 300 sessions scheduled across the weekend.

On Thursday, Dr. Jörn Radloff of the ICE will question the possibility of a streamlined licensing scheme for the whole of Europe, whilst Matthias Röder of the Karajan Institute will ask how artificial intelligence will change the way we make and perform music in the future. Also billed for Thursday is IQ’s editor Gordon Masson, who will chair the Festival Season 2018/2019 session.

Friday will see ILMC’s managing director Greg Parmley chair the Agents Agenda 2018 session. Also taking place will be the Fight For Your Right to Party discussion session, which will look into the slow death of clubs and venues at the hands of rising rents, noise complaints and gentrification.

Closing the weekend, Jane Arnison will ask if female empowerment has become a marketing tool for the industry in The Problem with #femaleproducer and the Anchor 2018 winner will be crowned. In addition to the various sessions, panels and workshops, a number of showcases will take place throughout the weekend, with the best performing the Best of Showcases on the final day.

The Reeperbahn festival and conference runs from Wednesday 19 September through to Saturday 22 September and the full programme is available on the website.

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