A few days after the last edition of Sound Business, I attended Zurich Music Week, specifically the SUISA panel on AI-generated music. It’s been a while, but here’s a summary of the panel.
Shortly afterwards, a future lab for the Winterthur Music Festival took place. This was a bold experiment by the association, bringing together stakeholders such as volunteers, labels, media and authorities, as well as interested members of the public, to develop (sometimes very adventurous) scenarios for the music festival in 2050. I was able to participate myself and am excited to see what insights the board will now draw from it. Der Landbote/Tages-Anzeiger has published a report on the workshop (Paywall, German).
This issue is also about the future: the musical future of Switzerland with representatives at the Reeperbahn Festival. Or the new management of Cali P.
But above all, it’s about whether we are fundamentally too obsessed with new music. Inspired by a LinkedIn post, I have to question myself self-critically, but also take a counter-position. And, most importantly, offer space for experimentation. More on this in today’s focus topic.
Best,
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🗞️ Headlines
- 20 Swiss Acts at Reeperbahn Festival
In September, the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Germany, presents again the most promising rising indie stars from all around Europe. Switzerland is represented by 20 acts—from ESC winner Nemo to the Italo disco of Valentino Vivace and the avant-garde sound by Gina Été. You can find the full list of Swiss acts over at Swiss Music Export. - Soft Loft nominated for Anchor Award
Related to the Reeperbahn Festival, Switzerland also has an ace up its sleeve with the nomination of Soft Loft for the festival’s prestigious Anchor Award. We published a short news story about the nomination. - Expellow win the international Wacken Metal Battle
As the first Swiss band ever, the Zurich band Expellow won the global Wacken Metal Battle competition. It's a significant step for the local metal scene, and most of all, a reward for the hard-working band that has been releasing music and playing since 2006. Read our short update here. - Fondation CMA announces Musique+ laureates
Musique+ relies on a pooling of cantonal resources aimed at strengthening the recognition and dissemination of contemporary music in French-speaking Switzerland. With a fund of CHF 100,000, Musique+ offers the winners financial support, as well as individualized support provided by the Fondation pour la Chanson et les Musiques Actuelles (FCMA), with a view to consolidating their professional trajectories in the medium term.
In 2025, the support goes to the following artists: Danitsa (GE), Eckhart (VD), Elie Zoé (VD), J.NUNN (VS), and Moictani (VD). Read the full press release. - To Athena launches own presence on Fanklub
Announced on Instagram, indie pop artist To Athena launched her own account on Fanklub. On this Patreon-style platform, fans can support music artists financially and get access to exclusive content like demos or early ticket sales. She currently has fewer than 50 paying fans. Despite the still low number of fans, the move to Fanklub shows To Athena’s recognition to connect more intimately and exclusively with her most loyal fans. - Mouthwatering Records takes over Cali P management
With the signing of Cali P, Mouthwatering Records adds another artist to its new sublabel, Home Crowd Recordings. The press release states: “His music, a unique blend of Reggae, Dancehall, Hip-Hop, and modern Afrobeat elements, is known for its powerful lyrics addressing social justice, awareness, and spiritual enlightenment. […] Cali P continues to push boundaries, reaffirming his position as one of the most influential voices in contemporary reggae.”
✨ Obsessed With The New?
In a recent post on LinkedIn, Drowned In Sound founder and artist manager Sean Adams argued that music discovery is broken, mainly because the business and music journalism are too obsessed with the new.
Broadly, I agree with Adams, but I’d like to offer some pushback as well. Let’s unpack it.