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The two-day industry gathering, which runs from 10-11 April in the Estonian capital, will feature keynotes from the co-founder of Ninja Tune, the founder of Resident Advisor and a member of A-ha. The programme spans more than 50 sessions, placing music ecosystems, cultural policy and the role of festivals in turbulent times at the centre of the agenda.
Magne Furuholmen of A-ha will take part in a public interview, reflecting on four decades of navigating the mainstream without ceding creative control. He is joined in the keynote slot by Paul Clement, who will discuss building Resident Advisor into a community-focused platform, and Martin Goldschmidt, co-founder of Cooking Vinyl, offering perspectives on independent label longevity.
The conference introduces a new DIY Panel format, designed to hand the floor directly to the industry. Through an open call running until 27 March, delegates and artists can submit overlooked topics for debate, with the most compelling proposal developed into a full session curated by its author. The move reflects a broader theme running through the 2026 programme: who gets to set the cultural agenda.
AI features heavily across both days. A session titled Music and AI in 2026 – Entering the Operational Era will examine how machine learning is reshaping production and business models, while Too Much Music: AI Is Flooding the Market. Who Survives? brings A&R Josh Mason-Quinn into conversation with industry peers to assess the impact on discovery and curation. Elsewhere, Chronically Online: How to Get Likes and Influence People? features Finnish pop artist Goldielocks exploring the mechanics of social media engagement.
Political expression and creative freedom also take centre stage. Everything Is Political brings together Matt Black of Coldcut and Ninja Tune, cultural strategist Dinaz Stafford and Music Saves Ukraine partnership manager Vlad Yaremchuk to examine why artists are increasingly speaking out and the professional risks involved. A separate session, When the Balance Holds Its Breath, features Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival artistic director Graham McKenzie and Ukrainian composer Albert Saprykin discussing music’s role during war and political upheaval.
The economic case for music as a driver of urban regeneration runs through several panels. The Music Ecosystem – A Global Network of Local Players explores how cities can leverage music for social and financial impact, while Resilient Music Ecosystems examines long-term cultural infrastructure through city networks and European frameworks. Amsterdam’s Night Mayor Freek Wallagh and European Music Council secretary general Ruth Jakobi are among those contributing.
Practical sessions covering sync licensing, touring strategies and getting music into games run alongside speed meetings with bookers and legal clinics. The TechTrack World Café, part of the MI-RAP programme, offers a space for music and tech practitioners to share pilot project experiences.
English (US) · 