As Swiss Music Exports communicated in a press release today, Fabienne Schmucki will take over as managing director of Swiss Music Export (SME) in 2026. She succeeds Jean Zuber, who has headed the promotion institution since 2008 and will now be working for the City of Zurich’s cultural department.
With over 16 years of experience in the Swiss and international music business, Fabienne Schmuki brings extensive expertise and a strong network to her new role. She was co-CEO of Irascible Music (a label and distributor based in Zurich and Lausanne), is involved in the boards of IndieSuisse, IMPALA and Helvetiarockt, and has been a member of the Swiss Music Export board for a year. She has also worked on projects at ZHdK and the Zurich Centre for Creative Economies.
For almost twenty years, first as a music journalist, then as an employee and later as managing director of Irascible, I have been breathing the air of Swiss music. And time and again, I am surprised, inspired and positively challenged by the local musicians. I am therefore delighted to be able to promote and support this broad and fantastic panorama of Swiss music-making in my new position as managing director at Swiss Music Export, together with Joana Elena Obieta, both at home and abroad.
—Fabienne Schmucki
According to the press release, the handover to Fabienne Schmuki has been carefully prepared, also ensuring continuity, as Joana Elena Obieta will continue to work as a project manager at Swiss Music Export.
SME’s board is delighted to welcome a woman committed to the production and promotion of Swiss artists to her company. They write: “Her knowledge of the current Swiss music scene, her excellent network in Switzerland and internationally, her management skills and her understanding of the problems and needs of independent and major players such as artists, labels, publishers and producers will enable Swiss Music Export to open a new chapter that meets the expectations of its partners and the needs of the Swiss music scene.”
