Andrew Apanov (Dotted Music, US)
Andrew Apanov, the “Musician’s Web Keeper”, is the founder of Dotted Music, a music industry blog and digital marketing agency for music brands. He’s also the creator of a training and community platform for artists called WeSpin. Andrew has been in the music business for over a decade, as an Editor-in-chief of Ultimate-Guitar.com, live events promoter, drum & bass DJ, consultant, blogger and speaker. He is also a host of the weekly WeSpin Recipes podcast.
François Audigier (Europavox, FR)
François Audigier is the lead European booker at Europavox Festival, which celebrated its 10th edition last year. Europavox Festival is a global project entirely dedicated to the promotion of European musical diversity. Since its creation, the festival has welcomed 360 bands and artists, 120.000 festivalgoers and more than 2.500 professionals. Its ambition is to talk about Europe in a positive way, with a human approach, and to prove that “unity in diversity” can apply to young Europeans in creative fields such as music. Since 2006, Europavox has become one of the key actors in the European popular music business, thanks to diversified actions.
Jake Beaumont-Nesbitt (International Music Managers Forum, UK)
Jake manages composer Peter Gregson and advises a number of artists on rights management and career development. He is the policy advisor to the International Music Managers Forum (IMMF), an organisation that brings together artist representative associations from 30 countries. It represents managers and the artists they work with to establish better trading conditions for creators through networking, sharing and discussions.
Bogdan Benigar (Cankarjev dom, SI)
Music editor at Radio Student from 1991-92. Co-founder of the Druga Godba organisation, he has been working with the Druga Godba festival since 1992. In 1995 joined the European Forum of Worldwide Music Festivals (EFWMF). Attended all Womex (World Music Expo) editions, in 2006 as a member of its jury. Currently employed by Cankarjev dom as director for jazz & world music, including Jazz Festival Ljubljana. In 2008 joined the Europe Jazz Network (EJN). In 2008 co-organised the Slovenian Music Festival in New York. In 2011 co-founded the Ljubljana Jazz Series with Pedro Costa (Clean Feed). Jury member of Jazzahead in 2013 and 2016.
Dmitri Bezkorovainyi (Experty, BY)
Founder of the independent website Experty.by – the biggest source on Belarusian albums with ratings, reviews and free full album streaming. Music consultant for various live events, helping bring artists from neighbouring countries to Belarus. Promotion manager, working with a variety of projects from local top artists and festivals to international ones, from indie/alternative club events to big arenas. As of 2013, working on the international promotion of Belarusian music. Representative of Vilnius Music Week, Tallinn Music Week, Music & Media, Moscow Music Week and MENT Ljubljana festivals in Belarus.
Andy Bibey (One Little Indian Records, UK)
Andy spent around 3 years on the road across the UK & Europe as a tour manager in his early 20’s, living the rock and roll dream (in a beaten up old LDV van). After many a late night and hard floor, Andy joined the team at One Little Indian Records in 2011. He has been in charge of the International department at the label for the last 3 years, handling campaigns globally for Björk, Asgeir, Cody ChesnuTT, The Computers, Samaris & Sinead O’ Connor.
Relja Bobić (Dis-patch, RS)
Independent curator, producer, music promoter, radio DJ and author, occasional musician, translator and journalist. He was the initiator and artistic director of the Dis-patch festival of cutting-edge music and related arts from 2002–2010, and continues to be active as the Creative Director of Dis-patch Collective (formerly Belgradeyard Sound System). Since 1999, he has authored and contributed to numerous projects in Serbia, the region and broader – in the fields of contemporary music and art education, radio, new media, contemporary visual culture and beyond. He has participated in many festivals and conferences in the region and across Europe, USA and Canada as a guest curator, lecturer, performer, panellist or member of the organizing team. Since 2012 he is also active as Program Manager at Design incubator Nova Iskra in Belgrade.
András Bozán Bodrogi (Google Ground Budapest, HU)
András is a digital music consultant, certified YouTube expert and Google Regional Trainer. He worked in various fields of the Hungarian music industry (EMI Hungary, Music Export Hungary, WM Music Distribution …) as a new business and marketing manager, gained expertise in digital music and helped many labels and artists in this challenging era of music content creation and performance. Currently he is an expert trainer partner of Google Hungary, helping local YouTube partners, agencies, brands and content creators reach their goals with audio-visual content.
Jan Clausen (Factory 92, DE)
Jan is a managing partner and co-founder of FACTORY 92, a Hamburg-based agency that offers PR, marketing, consulting and management services, targeted towards the international music industry. FACTORY 92 sees itself as a truly European company, working for European festivals such as Roskilde or Sziget, bands such as Kraftwerk, Massive Attack etc., and for labels such as Secretly Canadian, Sub Pop, Grönland and Morr Music.
Scott Cohen (The Orchard, UK)
Scott Cohen is the co-founder of digital distribution pioneer The Orchard. The Orchard is the largest digital distributor in the world with offices in more than 25 countries. As a well-recognized public speaker and lecturer, Scott travels the world evangelizing new business models for the digital age. Scott’s music career started in the late 80’s in independent and major label artist management. In addition to his responsibilities at The Orchard, he manages the Raveonettes, the Dum Dum Girls, Dan Owen and Fallulah. He is a human rights activist and strict vegan.
Sanjin Đukić (LAA, HR)
Has been in the business since 1996. Started as a member of the marketing department at EMI’s Croatian licensee, Dallas Records (1996-2010). Founder of Pozitivan koncert and Mars Festival. Former PR of Hartera Festival, Culture Club Revelin Dubrovnik and MTV Hrvatska. Head of marketing and promotion at Los Angeles Agency (LAA) since 2013, also the leader of Exit Festival’s Croatian team and PR of Zagreb Calling. LAA is a Zagreb-based agency, mainly focused on music and TV, promoting, booking and managing regional and international artists. LAA is also the official agency of Culture Factory Zagreb, AXN Adria (regionally) and Exit Festival (Croatia).
Tony Duckworth ([PIAS] Poland and Eastern Europe, PL)
Tony Duckworth has over 30 years of experience in the music industry across a number of roles, having worked in the UK in sales, marketing and general manager roles for distribution companies, a major label and a digital aggregator. Made the move to Poland eleven years ago, setting up his own sales, marketing, PR and distribution company, which eventually merged with the largest independent distributor in Poland. Now the General Manager of the Warsaw-based [PIAS] Poland and Eastern Europe office, overseeing operations in Poland, Czech, Hungary, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Croatia and Romania.
Tatjana Domany (Austrian Music Export, AT)
As of 2011, Tatjana is responsible for export activities at the Austrian Music Fund/Austrian Music Export. Her tasks include supporting Austrian artists and record companies in the implementation of international tours and releases, as well as the promotion and funding of international showcases. Since 2008 she has worked for Viennese electronic music label G-Stone Recordings (Kruder & Dorfmeister, Tosca, Rodney Hunter …) and as a freelancer in music and culture marketing for local record labels, promoters and organisations.
Chris Eckman (Glitterbeat Records, US/SI)
Chris Eckman has a long history both as a musician (The Walkabouts, Dirtmusic) and record producer (Tamikrest, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, Bambi Molesters). In 2013, he co-founded the label Glitterbeat Records, which is based in both Germany and Ljubljana. Glitterbeat specializes in “vibrant global sounds” and promotes artists that are both culturally committed and resolutely contemporary. These artists come from West and North Africa, Europe, Asia, Mexico and South America. In both 2014 and 2015 Glitterbeat won the prestigious “Best Label” award at the global music conference WOMEX.
Martin Elbourne (Glastonbury, UK)
Martin Elbourne first started promoting bands in the late seventies while at Bristol University. He founded the Bristol Recorder (label magazine). In 1982 he co-promoted the first WOMAD festival with Peter Gabriel. In 1983 he moved to London, worked for the Rough Trade booking agency, looking after acts including The Smiths and New Order, and began his long involvement with the Glastonbury festival. During the nineties he managed bands, continued working with New Order and increased his Glastonbury involvement to become the main booker. In the last decade, his focus has been on festivals, events and conventions, for example, co-founding The Great Escape festival.
Richard Foster (The Quietus, WORM, NL)
Richard Foster is a music journalist, label owner and artist. Between 2005 and 2015 he was editor-in-chief of Incendiary magazine. He writes regularly for The Quietus, Louder than War, Vice (Noisey), True Faith, Luifabriek and Sounds XP. As well as his journalist work, he works at WORM Rotterdam, is the co-founder of the Dutch “existentialist nonsense” label Smikkelbaard, and runs the AA club nights in Leiden. He is currently researching the Dutch post-punk and punk movements, and his research will be published in the course of 2016.
Michał Hajduk (Adam Mickiewicz Institute, PL)
An alternative and jazz music expert, Michał Hajduk created and developed a strategy for the alternative music sector, and co-organized a number of events and conferences in Poland and around the world. He is actively working on introducing an international cultural exchange. In various fields in the music business, Michał plays an important role as both an event and concert organizer, under the label “Don`t Panic We’re From Poland”, for world leading showcases and conferences such as SXSW, CMJ, Culture Collide, The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City, Reeperbahn Festival, C/O Pop, Eurosonic Noorderslag, Primavera Pro, Waves Vienna, Tallinn Music Week, Berlin Music Week, Jazzahead, WOMEX, Zandari Festa.
Si Hawkins (journalist, UK)
Si Hawkins began his journalism career 15 years ago, initially writing about dance music despite being an indie kid at heart. He became the main UK correspondent for the California-based electronica/hip-hop magazine URB, surreptitiously introducing guitars into their pages, after which he served as the news editor for Clash, the London-based music and fashion bible, for five years. Still involved with Clash, Si also writes about bands and beats for Virgin Music, Culture Collide (USA), several newspapers, and the occasional brand and record company. Away from music, he has written about football, art, comedy, travel, theatre, food – you name it – for the BBC, FourFourTwo, Vice, various in-flight publications, and, most prestigiously in his mind, the Leyton Orient Football Club matchday magazine.
Mariusz Herma (beehype, PL)
Mariusz Herma is the founder of beehype, a website run by 85+ journalists from around the world and presenting the best music from local scenes. Since 2014, beehype presented over 1300 artists from 120 countries. Mariusz is also a culture journalist/editor of Polityka, the leading Polish weekly magazine, and a music critic for some other publications. He also lectures and blogs.
Nick Hobbs (Charmenko, TR)
Nick Hobbs is the owner of Charmenko, Charmworks & Charm Music Poland, and co-owner of Charm Music Czechia. He’s a promoter and a festival and venue talent buyer who has been specialized in Eastern Europe and the Middle East since the early 80’s. The artist agency, Charmworks, has an eclectic roster and works everywhere in Europe and beyond, especially representing exceptional artists from Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East.
Michal Kaščák (Pohoda Festival, SK)
Michal Kaščák, born in 1972, Trenčin, Slovakia. Musician, promoter. Since 1985 he has been a member of the band Bez ladu a skladu, where he writes the music and lyrics, and since 2000 also of the band Neuropa. He has composed music for various movie and theatre projects in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. He is the founder and director of Pohoda festival. Starting as a local event (8 bands in 1997), it has become the most prestigious festival in Slovakia, which annually hosts about 200 bands and DJ’s from more than 20 countries. Apart from music, other forms of art such as dance, theatre, movies, photography, literature and fine arts are heavily represented at the event every year, which makes the festival an exceptional artistic encounter with a broad range.
Daniel Koch (Intro Magazine, DE)
As of spring 2014, Daniel Koch is the editor-in-chief of INTRO Magazine, one of the biggest free pop culture magazines in Germany, with a circulation of 120.000 printed copies. Earlier he was the editor of FESTIVALGUIDE for three years and the online editor of the German Rolling Stone for another three years. He also studied Creative Writing and Cultural Journalism in Hildesheim, sold beer at British festivals for several years, had a small indie radio show called Popcrawl, and learned “something decent“ (as his grandfather would say) as well – he was a salesman before he decided to study again and turn his passion for music and writing into a job.
Login Kochishki (Password, MK)
Promoter, football player, A&R manager, father, event/party organiser, bambus drinker, label manager, booking agent, publisher, fan of basketball team Metalski Zavod Tito. He has been active in the music industry for the last 20 years. He set up the record label and artist management agency Lithium Records, working with the most renowned Macedonian artists. When his wife didn’t give him permission to name his son Password, he re-branded his company name into Password Production. He is the founder and director of the biggest Macedonian music festival Taksirat, as well as D festival, Pivolend, Green Beach Festival and Aqua Park Festival. Login has been the promoter of more than a thousand local, regional and international concerts, weddings and funerals, and has worked as a production manager, mother or godfather of the biggest regional festivals.
Izak Košir (journalist / novinar, SI)
Izak Košir is a journalist, columnist, musician and music critic. He is currently working for the weekly magazine Mladina, is the founder and editor-in-chief for the digital newspaper Torek ob petih and hosts his own podcast called Torpedo. In the past he hosted a music TV show at TV Slovenia, was the editor of culture for several years at Žurnal newspaper and has participated as a juror for various music festivals and competitions. Over the years he has engaged in many public debates about the music industry and has interviewed probably every important musician that has played in Slovenia (local and international) in the last ten years. In 2010 he released his first album with The Toronto Drug Bust, where he is the lead vocalist and main songwriter.
Lenart J. Kučić (Delo, SI)
Lenart is a technology and media correspondent, commentator and columnist at the biggest Slovenian national daily, Delo. He also works as a researcher and an invited lecturer for several academic institutions, including the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Arts (University of Ljubljana) and the Peace Institute. In 2008, he finished an MA programme at Goldsmiths College, London (with distinction) in Transnational Communication and Global Media. During his studies he worked as a UK correspondent and specialised in research and IT journalism at the Guardian newspaper. In his capacity as a researcher and a journalist, he follows the trends in information and communication technologies (ICT) and analyzes the changes brought about by the convergence of the communication and media industries. He is also the author and co-author of several books, expert articles and studies on the subjects of media ownership and new media. He is a member of the council of the Pod črto institute for investigative journalism and a co-founder of the Marsowci podcast network.
Natallia Kunitskaya (Mustelide, BY)
“The electronic princess of Belarus”, as Natallia Kunitskaya aka Mustelide is labelled by the press, is indeed a special personality in the Eastern European electro-pop scene. She released her debut album “Secret” on the Russian label Soyuz Music and is gaining recognition in the West, winning a place as one of the Top 30 tracks of the San Francisco based SomaFM radio station. As a producer, songwriter and singer, handling two synthesizers, a Groovebox, sampler and vocals in her solo live performances, she is firmly in charge of shaping and directing her artistic vision.
Dijana Lakuš (Music Glue, HR/UK)
Passionate for music, festivals and events, she has worked as a production manager, project manager, event manager, booking agent, PR manager, artist manager, promoter and tour manager all over Europe. Currently she lives in London and, among many other things, is involved in festival production, from Glastonbury to Secret Garden Party, and Music Glue, the leading global music-to-fan e-commerce platform.
Michael Luger (They Shoot Music, AT)
Michael Luger is a filmmaker, video producer and journalist based in Vienna, Austria. In 2008 he co-founded the award-winning music website theyshootmusic.com, which features live sessions and video portraits of national and international acts. In 2013 he co-produced and directed the full-length music documentary “Fuck The Atlantic Ocean” about the sudden popularity of the Austrian band Sweet Sweet Moon in South America. Michael works as a freelance journalist for the Austrian newspaper Der Standard and as a video producer for various clients.
Slobodan Milunović (MetalDays, SI)
Many people might know Boban as the owner and promoter of the biggest festival in Slovenia, MetalDays, where he is in charge of the entire management and booking of the festival. But actually he spent his whole life in the music industry, from playing in various bands and being a tour manager, to owning a recording and mastering studio, where he handled mastering and production. Don’t be surprised if you find his name on the album sleeve of artists in a wide variety of genres.
Jeff Owens (Ghostly International, US)
Jeff Owens has been with Ghostly International for about 11 years – 8 years as label manager and now director of the label group Ghostly International and it’s sub-label sister, Spectral Sound. He has worked out of the company’s tri-coastal offices, which include Ann Arbor (65 kilometres from Detroit), New York and currently Los Angeles. He’s handled everything, including press, radio, digital marketing, A&R, artist management, budgeting, projecting management and more. Additionally, Jeff has owned and run his own record label called felte since 2012.
Dan Panaitescu (Sziget, HU)
Involved with the music business for more than 20 years. Educated to be an economist, he turned into a roadie and later tour manager for Hungarian artists, touring the countryside and the cities. Started working for Sziget festival from almost the launch of the event. Dan is the booker, taking care of almost all the international bookings of the event (with the exception of the world music artists and some of the DJs). He is also the booker of international artists for Volt Festival, Balaton Sound festival and Strand festival. When Sziget was requested to book the international line-up of Rock’n Coke festival in Istanbul, this task was also assigned to Dan, and fulfilled successfully.
Anita Richelli (Paper and Iron Booking, DE)
Anita Richelli is a booking agent for the Berlin-based Paper & Iron Booking Co. She also works as a promoter for shows in Berlin. She started organizing gigs in her hometown in high school, organizing summer DIY events in a place called Casetta Lou Fai. Later she became part of Interzona, a cultural association in Verona, where she was involved as a volunteer and DJ, as well as responsible for program and communication. In 2012 she spent some time at Cultural Centre REX in Belgrade. She also loves writing, traveling (which includes tour managing) and learning new languages.
John Robb (Louder Than War, Membranes, UK)
John was rescued by punk rock in the 1970s. He put together the influential post-punk band The Membranes and went on to be one of the leading UK music writers of his generation, being the first to interview bands like Stone Roses and Nirvana as well as making up the term Britpop. In the past year the reformed The Membranes released a critically acclaimed double album, “Dark Matter/Dark Energy”, which combined their original ground breaking post-punk with a psychedelic drone and dealt with the Universe, sex and death. The band also recently debuted a live gig in Estonia with a 20-piece choir, which got great reactions. John also recently declared that “print’s not dead” and turned his big UK music website into a magazine. He also writes books on punk rock and music culture. He is currently writing the definitive book on post-punk and goth culture and fronts a music culture TV show in the UK.
Miran Rusjan (Moonlee Records, MENT Ljubljana, SI)
Miran has been active on the independent music scene for almost two decades and gained experience in different roles (musician, promoter, label owner, agent, fan), which gives him special insight and understanding of the independent music habitat. In 2004 he founded Moonlee Records, an independent record label, which slowly became one of the most important labels in the ex-Yu region (Repetitor, Damir Avdić, Bernays Propaganda, Nikki Louder, Vuneny …). In the last few years, he increasingly focused on booking shows for Moonlee bands, which resulted in the birth of Moonlee Booking. Occasionally he organises shows (mostly in Ljubljana) and still plays guitar in Analena. He is also the conference director of MENT Ljubljana.
Riku Salomaa (Music Finland, FI)
Riku Salomaa is responsible for the international activities of Music Finland in the United Kingdom, Germany and Central Europe. Music Finland promotes the awareness and success of Finnish music at home and abroad. It creates and manages a wide variety of services, marketing programs, events, networking opportunities, training, consultancy, research, information and funding programs. These activities aim to maximize success for Finnish music and music companies, and increase Finnish music export revenues. In 2015-2016, the Finnish music industry is focusing on Germany, Switzerland and Austria with ‘Aus Finnland’ – the biggest Finnish music export project ever.
Nikola Sekulović (musician, SI)
A member of influential Slovenian bands (Laibach, Borghesia, Demolition Group), currently with Dan D. Over 2,000 live performances, more than 50 music albums, dozens of theatrical and movie productions. Expert in music business issues, worked with top artists in the region. Close collaborator with Dallas Records and Mars Music (Sony ATV). Lecturer at SAE Institute Ljubljana, adviser to several businesses and music festivals.
Helen Sildna (Tallinn Music Week, EE)
Helen has been a music promoter and events producer for 15 years. In 2009 she established her own music promotion company Musiccase, which has promoted Morrissey, Air, Sigur Ros, Patti Smith, Feist, Swans, etc. Helen is the founder and owner of Tallinn Music Week, a showcase festival and music industry conference, set up in 2009. The event has grown into one of the biggest city festivals in the Baltic-Nordic region (around 200 artists, 900 industry professionals and over 25,000 festival visitors each year). Helen is a board member of Music Estonia, currently also a member of Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves’ Think Tank. In 2014 Helen was awarded the Tampere Music Award at Music & Media Finland’s industry gala for Exceptional Achievements in Music Business, and in 2015 she was nominated the Citizen of the Year by the Estonian Ministry of Culture.
Virgo Sillamaa (Music Estonia, EE)
Virgo Sillamaa is the director of Music Estonia, the local music export and industry development office. He is a recognized musician in the field of jazz and improvised music, an avid activist and developer in the field of musical education, and the founder and chair of the Estonian Rhythmic Music Education Society. Through his company Avarusmusic OÜ he releases records, manages several jazz/new music artists and organises concerts, conferences and other events.
Jernej Sobočan (Val 202, SI)
Jernej Sobočan is a music editor, host and journalist at the national radio Val 202. In the past he was a member of the team that launched the RSQ music magazine when it was still just a “bitchass rocknroll webzine”. He spent some time in advertising, then continued his (music) journalist career at MMC RTV Slovenija. After a trip to the national radio’s news programme, he again ended up in musical waters, in which he has been swimming for nearly two decades. Not just as a journalist and editor, but as a musician as well. As the drummer of ŠKM banda for over 15 years, he has left his sweat on numerous stages in Slovenia and abroad.
Barbora Šubrtová (United Islands of Prague, CZ)
Barbora Šubrtová is the Head of Program of Prague open air music festival United Islands and club shows organised throughout the whole year. Her favourite musical activities are discovering new talents and DJ-ing, even though it happens only occasionally these days. She discovered and introduced Czech audiences to artists such as Parov Stelar Band, Audiobullys, Aloe Blacc and Ella Eyre.
Dartsya Tarkovska (Soundbuzz, UA)
Dartsya Tarkovska is the founder of the digital music agency Soundbuzz, which works with artists from all over the world. The agency promotes music online and creates projects connected with music monetization, online PR, crowdsourcing, etc. Dartsya is known as the author of educational projects in the sphere of music marketing. In addition, Dartsya Tarkovska is the head of international music conference Colisium in Ukraine, the organizer of the Music Business forum and a co-organizer of the Music Day in UA conference, dedicated to the export of Ukrainian music.
Steven Thomassen (Toutpartout, BE)
Toutpartout is a European booking agency and promotor for good music in Belgium and Holland. Steven is also the promotor behind the Autumn Falls festival – an indoor city festival in Brussels in the last week of November. He is currently writing a script with the following keywords: High Voltage, Evolution, A White Talking Dog, Sleep & Dreams, and a House on a Hill surrounded with Sunflowers. Steven sometimes acts as a tour manager. He needs to like the music and the humans behind the music (at least they need to be interesting). Sat in his car/van in the past: Kurt Vile & The Violators, Quasi, Michael Gira (Swans/Angels of Light), The Thermals, Scout Niblett, Vincent Gallo …
Hannes Tschürtz (Ink Music, AT)
Founder of the music agency and label Ink Music in Vienna, which books and promotes more then 400 shows/year in Central and Eastern Europe and focuses on artist development. Teaches Music Business, is a well-booked speaker for music business events and a board member of the Austrian Music Fund. Writes articles on the music business for magazines and papers and is the co-owner of a ticketing start-up (NTRY Ticketing).
Maja Valjak Nagy (Menart, HR)
Maja Valjak Nagy started her career as a student working in the backstage for REM, Pearl Jam, Depeche Mode … At the end of her studies, she left for France to work, returning after one year. Soon after, she got the PR/Marketing manager position at Lupa Promotion Ltd, where she got to be in charge of shows by Beyonce, U2, Iron Maiden, Lenny Kravitz, Depeche Mode, Madonna … In 2009 she became the Head of BPM department at the Menart label. Since then she has been in charge of producing shows/tours for foreign and local artists, as well as for managing artists and bands like Rundek Cargo Trio, SASSJA, Amel Ćurić (X Factor Adria winner) and BOA. She is the co-author of the Croatia Music Adventures project taking place in Dubrovnik.
Bob Van Heur (Belmont Bookings, Le Guess Who? Festival, NL)
Bob van Heur is an agent and promoter for Belmont Bookings in Amsterdam and the founder and programmer/artistic director for Le Guess Who? Festival in Utrecht. Represents artists like Destroyer, Black Mountain, SUUNS, Julia Holter, Ought, Annette Peacock, Selda, Royal Headache, Total Control and many more in Europe. He launched Le Guess Who? Festival 10 years ago and it grew into one of the most critically acclaimed wintertime festivals in Europe. He also founded the 24 Hour Drone Event in Hudson, New York, and programs Beaches Brew in Ravenna, a free entrance music festival on the Adriatic beach of Italy.
Leo Vidmar (Potlista, HR)
Leo Vidmar began his journey into music by inheriting his father’s record player. He soon moved to CDs and non-stop cassette listening on his walkman. A leap was made when he began working as a DJ, host, editor, show creator and writer at Zagreb’s college radio station Radio Student. In 2009 one of the shows he worked on launched into cyberspace and became the idiosyncratic music web portal potlista.com. He contributes reviews in various genres, along with some photo and video work. His favourite band is the Beastie Boys. Sometimes his favourite colour is green.
Dace Volfa (I Love You Records, LV)
Dace Volfa has been part of the Latvian music scene since the early 1990s. After working as a radio and club DJ, head of music at a rock station and freelance journalist for various internet and printed media, she became the label manager at I Love You Records in 2010. Based in Riga, Latvia, I Love You Records is an independent label, home to Alise Joste (LV), Momend (LV), Super Besse (BY), and Sibyl Vane (EE), among other artists
Simon Wheeler (Beggars Group, UK)
Previously a musician, remixer, engineer, producer and promoter, Simon has been with The Beggars Group since 1990. Starting work with online distribution in 1997 – licensing the entire group’s catalogue for individual download and delivering the first territorially restricted download in 1998 -, Simon has since worked with almost every significant entity in digital media. He is chairman of AIM’s New Media Committee in the UK, has spoken on digital music and media at most music conferences around the world, and addressed the UK parliament regarding DRM, but the most important role is keeping Tthe Beggars Group of labels at the forefront of all new technologies to deliver its award-winning roster of artists to the widest possible audience. The Beggars Group of labels consists of XL Recordings, Beggars Banquet, Matador, 4AD, Rough Trade, Too Pure and Playlouderecordings.
Mirna Zarić (Charmenko, TR)
Started working in 2008 at the PR department of the Long Play agency in Belgrade, then a couple of months later continued as a marketing and production manager and publisher. During the past 7 years, she has worked on shows by artists such as Joe Satriani, Mariza, White Lies, The Godfathers, Buzzcocks, Stereo MCs, Gentleman and Therapy?, but mostly focused on the biggest regional acts such as Bajaga i Instruktori, Hladno Pivo and Dubioza Kolektiv. Her personal favourite is making a creative campaign for the biggest concert of Bajaga’s career – 30,000 people at Belgrade’s fortress, which was the most intense shift in the artist’s career since the 1980s. In 2011, she launched and managed a label which has published many bestselling regional albums. As of February 2015, she works as the agent of Goran Bregović, Selah Sue, Dub In and many others for Charmenko in Istanbul. She is also in charge of booking indie and non-musical shows.