Tallinn Music Week 2012

Tallinn Music Week 2012 (29-31 March)
Tallinn Music Week is a music industry conference and one of the biggest indoor festivals in the Baltic region that started out in 2009. The mission of the festival, taking place for the fourth time, is to raise the reputation of Estonian music, to enhance the international development of local music industry and to promote Tallinn and Estonia as an exciting cultural tourism destination. With the support of good partners – European Capital of Culture Tallinn 2011, Nordic Hotel Forum and Skype the festival has achieved international reputation and recognition while representing up-and-coming Estonian talent at festivals all over Europe. In 2011 Tallinn Music Week won the “Best Newish Event in 2011” award at The Great Escape.

Tallinn Music Week comprises of:
International music industry conference, where music industry players from all over Europe will discuss music business and creative industries.
Music festival - at the fourth edition of Tallinn Music Week we will present a lineup of 185 Estonian and European bands and artists, so it is a perfect time to visit early springtime Tallinn during a weekend full of fantastic music in the best venues for the most demanding tastes: from world music, jazz and contemporary classical to punk, electro, metal and anything in between.The concerts take place in Tallinn’s best live clubs and concert venues.

As a new initiative in 2012 TMW will explore the topic of innovative music products and services in depth. Estonia being the brainpower behind Skype (TMW partner from the start),we will partner up with another significant internationally recognized Estonian initiative:a start-up product development bootcamp Garage48. Since its establishment in 2010, by the Estonian Startups Leaders Club, it has taken place throughout Northern Europe and Africa. Garage48 brings together around 100 participants with different skills, ranging from software development to design, marketing, sales and entrepreneurship. Within48 intense hours teams will turn an idea into a working service or prototype. Five best projects from Garage48 Tallinn Music (23-24 March)will be selected for a pitching session at TMW conference on 30thand 31st March to an international jury of specialists and potential investors.

TMW Schedule 2012:
Thursday, 29th March: opening night / delegates arrival
Friday, Saturday, 30-31st March: seminar panels 10AM – 5PM / festival 7PM – 02AM
Sunday, 1st April: delegates travel home

MISSION:

- to promote Estonian music and creative industries and export;
- to raise the prestige and reputation of Estonian music both at home and internationally;
- to provide a useful tool for international music industry and press in getting to know Estonian and the whole region’s music scene;
- to promote Tallinn and Estonia as an attractive tourism destination for music and culture;
- to be a cooperation platform for Estonian businesses and organisations with similar aims: promoting dynamic and progressive Estonia, exporting Estonian creations, promoting entrepreneurship, educating a brave and forward-looking young generation who will take Estonia to the world map.

2011 in numbers:
3 nights
16 stages / 11 clubs
147 artists from 10 countries
123 artists from Estonia
7600 festival visitors
423 delegates (229 Estonian)
194 international delegates
52 483 unique homepage visits from 88 countries

Our delegates say:

Paulina Ahokas (Music Export Finland):
“Tallinn Music Week was a really efficient way to get an overview of what is going on in the Estonian music scene, see some of the potential artists, meet with their representatives and discuss future opportunities. This event also made me realize what an amazing talent pool and enthusiastic atmosphere there is in Estonia, and I am convinced that the event will even further activate local co-operation and ambition - and both of these are indeed needed for international work: it is a lot of hard work! Tallinn Music Week staff did an amazing job, and I am looking forward to the next edition!”

Joe Porn, Music Glue:
“I was extremely impressed with my first visit to Tallinn, I found the people warm and friendly, the city wonderful to explore and the local music scene to be of a very high standard. The Tallinn Music Week program was very interesting and diverse, the selection of venues to be great too. Delegates were treated very well and I found it very helpful to meet music industry professionals from around Europe. I certainly hope to be coming again next year and would have no problems seeing Estonia artists perform to a UK audience.”

John Rogers, Brainlove Records:
“As a debutante at Tallinn Music Week, I was struck first by the beauty of the city of Tallinn and the depth and richness of the music on show - from stunning contemporary classical performances in spectacular vaulted spaces to experimental industrial music in dark basements: there was a very impressive range of music to engage with. I think several of the acts I came across could appeal to existing audiences in Europe, the UK and the USA, where international variants on avant-garde musical practice are an interest already.”

Shain Shapiro, Canadian Blast:
“I really enjoyed TMW. The hospitality shown by everyone and the ardour on display from the bands displayed Estonia as one of the most exciting hubs for new music in Europe. I hope they invite me again.”