The Global Shifts, the Competitive Edge of Europe and The Challenges of Platformisation. Presentation of a debate that aims to redefine the Music Industry: The Definition of the European Music Ecosystem.

Let's imagine the music sector as an interconnected ecosystem. This idea was the starting point for two years of research in the MME Music Dialogue project, commissioned by the European Commission. What began as a conceptual framework has now become the basis for understanding better how the music sector operates today—and how it can thrive tomorrow—, contributing to the discourse about the state of today's music ecosystem, exploring the dynamic web of actors, environments, and interactions that make up Europe's music ecosystem.

With challenges like "platformisation" and shifting consumer habits, the paper highlights the critical need for innovation, cooperation, and adaptability. But it also emphasizes Europe's unique strengths—its co-organised networks and capacity for cross-sector collaboration—that can position it as a counterweight to the investor-driven models of North America and Asia.

In this session, we will look into the global megatrends that impact the music sector, dive into the findings of the paper, explore the challenges of the sector in an era dominated by global digital platforms, and share insights from the ekip – European Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Policy Platform Roundtable.

Speakers:

• Detlef Schwarte, Director of Reeperbahn Festival
• Dr. Carsten Winter, Full Professor of Media and Music Management at Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media.
• Tamara Kamińska, Head of Music Export Poland, Co-founder of Music Week Poland
• Kalle Palling, Co-Founder of Cachet, former Chair of European Union Affairs Committee
• Urmas Paet, Member of the European Parliament from Estonia

Moderator:

• Virgo Sillamaa, Music policy researcher at EMEE / Erasmus University Rotterdam

Presented by: EEMC, ESNS, Linecheck, MaMA Music & Convention, Reeperbahn, Tallinn Music Week and co-hosted by Federation of Music Conferences.