KULTURAKADEMIN PODCAST

The messy business of selling out Everyone wants a packed room but who’s responsible to actually making it happen? This panel will address the messy, essential reality of live shows. From the venue to the festival to the agent — chaired by a promoter — let’s unpack promotion, audience wrangling and the unspoken deals that make gigs tick. Honest, practical, slightly chaotic advice for anyone trying...

When discovery fades, where’s the future of music? Not that long ago, new music mattered — really mattered. Radio played it, press wrote about it, and TV showcased it. Today, classics rule the waves, the press chases arena shows, and fresh sounds scramble for attention. Let’s get into what’s happening with new music by talking to those who still cares to cover the now — and what it means for artis...

How to keep cool when the heat is on Things go wrong. Fast. People freak out, gigs get messy, and deals can implode. But the real pros know how to stay calm, de-escalate, and turn chaos into something that still works. This talk is all about keeping your head when everyone else is losing theirs — in live environments, backstage, with venues, artists, managers, or whoever’s melting down in front of...

Where brands and festivals meet Brand deals don’t have to kill the vibe. When done right, partnerships can amplify the experience — not just bankroll it. This talk digs into how festivals and brands can work together without selling out the soul of the scene. From meaningful collaborations to shared values and creative integration, learn how to turn sponsorships into real relationships that work f...

NO HITS, NO BUZZ, NO PROBLEM How to build a relationship with your audience Being in the live game without chasing hype takes guts — and a lot of heart. This talk gets into what it really means to build trust between the people making shows happen and the ones showing up. How do you keep that connection alive over time? And where does the energy come from when it would be easier — and maybe even m...

Why festivals matter — for music, communities and more Festivals aren’t just about headliners and crowd shots — they’re engines for local music scenes and cultural life. In this panel, festivals from Sweden, Norway, Hungary, and Canada, guided by legendary journalist David Fricke, explore how their events bring people together, connect communities and shape regional identity. From the backstage to...

Case study: How LAB Records went top of the chart Eighteen years, countless releases, and one hell of a ride later — independent label LAB Records finally hit No.1 with The K’s album Pretty on the Internet. Label founder Mark Orr walks us through the long game: the early days of DIY hustle, the belief that kept it alive, and how timing, strategy, and chaos somehow aligned for a chart-topping momen...

Bokningsarbete med fokus på nya akter (in Swedish) De unga gräsrotsarrangörerna är ofta de första att upptäcka våra nya stjärnor. Hur går de tillväga i sin bokning? Var hittar de artister? Vad letar de efter, samt vad är deras spaningar för framtidens livemusik? * presented by Sensus and Svensk Live Matilda Schyborger - Jazzen på åsen, Enskede jazz Iris Fjellström - Effir Elin Edgren - Grönskan Fe...

Forget everything — no maps apply The old music world had its steady rules, now it’s instinct that rules. The old gatekeepers seem to be gone, the maps are useless and the new paths are being carved by anyone brave enough to try. From family festivals mixing guitars with creative experiences - how about rocket building? Rubik’s cube workshops?! - to PR rebels rewriting the story, to Europe’s bigge...

The ups, downs and WTFs of working together Networking sounds fancy but can also mean awkward emails, monthly onlines, endless coffee, and “let’s circle back” meetings. But done right, it can also open doors. From local scenes to international collectives, networks can make or break a scene, an interest, an artist, a venue, or a career. In this panel, voices from Sweden, France, and beyond spill t...

A Toolbox for Music Ecosystem Resilience Get to know MI-RAP, the Music Industry Resilience Acceleration Programme — a three-year EU-funded project built to boost the music sector with fresh tools and smart methods in skills, innovation, and sustainability. From creating disposable-free festivals and training the next generation of technicians, to music tech initiatives like TechTrack, MI-RAP is al...

When the machine does the choosing From Instagram to Spotify, the machine decides what we see, hear, and think is winning. But how fair is the game — and who really benefits? Do DSPs drive discovery, shape artist careers, and guide what labels and festivals buy into? Or are they all running on their own hidden agendas? In this talk, voices from inside and around the streaming world — from platform...

The US live market is probably the most competitive, with fierce pressures - competing with corporate giants, securing funding and managing high costs. Independent players must innovate, build strong local networks, and constantly present captivating programs to survive in this industry. What’s it like to navigate this? What are the biggest issues? And for European artists wanting in on this massi...

Viva Sounds 2024 – How Is My Live Market Doing? The live market is undeniably tricky for indie promoters, venues, and agents, as most of us know: rising costs, inflation, post-COVID behavioural shifts in ticket sales, not to mention competing with bigger players about the gig-money of the public. But - the thrill of booking the perfect show, the joy of pulling off a show against all odds, and the...

This year’s keynote interview welcomes the legendary Simon Williams. Simon will share his journey from writing for NME during its heyday to founding, and still running, the influential Fierce Panda label. Hear about the highs and the lows, the career-defining successes, the challenges of running a label mixed with personal insights from his book; Pandamonium! How to Not Run a Record Label. The boo...

Independent PR agents work tirelessly to craft compelling stories for new bands, balancing the need to charge artists and/or labels while delivering tangible results in an ever-shrinking media landscape. With fewer music magazines, blogs and radio stations giving space to smaller acts, the struggle to get meaningful coverage is greater than ever, while the need for bands to get exposure is more ne...

Independent festivals are essential for new music discovery, booking bands/artists a bit out there and bringing communities together in a way big, commercial festivals can't. They create unique, intimate experiences, offer a platform for emerging talent, and throw unforgettable parties. From the inside, it’s about witnessing an audience thrilled by a band they’d never heard before, seeing your tea...

Anekdote offers a no-code platform to build your own iOS and Android app for communities. Own your data, engage followers, share unique content, send push notifications, and sell directly to maximize revenue. Take control of your content! Per Vikström, Anekdote * Presented by Anekdote

This year's "Lay of the Land" panel will explore both the now and the future through the lens from three different perspectives - label, distributor and festival. Have things stabilised over the last few years? Are things getting worse, or better, or both? What’s the new things to consider? NFT’s still hot? Is TikTok over? Is streaming a rigged game? What about dynamic prices on tickets? This disc...

Step into the story, the rise and fall of two of Sweden's most iconic festivals: Peace & Love in Borlänge and Arvikafestivalen in Arvika. Once hosting legendary acts like Bob Dylan, Rihanna, Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails, they were giants in the music scene. In this talk, we’ll explore the crucial decisions, the financial missteps, and the changing cultural landscapes that led to their downfall...

We still love festivals and the festivals are still the place to be, for both audience and artists alike. Three different ones talk about challenges, opportunities and the future. ------------------------------------- Lubna Shaheen, Ziro Festival, IN Uldis Paberzis, Summer Sound, LV Berkli Johnson, SXSW Music Festival, US Chair: Henke Brannerydh, Rockpodden, SE

LET’S TALK MERCH! Sustainability, making money to fuel your tour, merch cuts, artwork, drinks, fans, fanbases, customers - let's dive into it. ------------------------------------- Dan Tobin - Eyesore Merch, UK Sari H Wilholm - Republic 66/Live Brands Factory, SE Runa Strindin - Midgardsblot, NO Chair: José Carlos Santon, The Devil’s Mouth, PT

The Gems talk us through being 3/4 of Thundermother and supporting Scorpions to getting kicked out of the band and start all over again. ------------------------------------- With: The Gems

Can artists, agents, promoters and venues all be happy together? And at the same time keep the audience coming back? Let's look at things from the agents standpoint. ------------------------------------- Lenny Falk Renholt, Kultivation, SE Jess Kinn, One Fiinix, UK Victor Schvarcz, komet Agency, SE Chair: Ellinor Andersson, Electric Hydra, SE

What's needed to make cities work as a community, creating scenes, careers and successes for both companies and artists. We will get down with Wichita, Manchester and Gothenburg to find some common ground. ------------------------------------- Jeff Thompson - Un-Convention, UK Jessie Hartke - Midtopia, US Tomas Lindberg - At the Gates, SE Chair: Yohanna Eek, Yoha Sounds, SE