This year, our team from Resonance attended MaMA Music & Convention for the second time, and it continues to be a key moment event for any French-based music company. For us, as a specialized MusicTech communications agency, MaMA is an important moment in the calendar—a time to connect with industry peers, exchange ideas, and reinforce our role in this evolving ecosystem.

It’s the usual time to meet back in the North of Paris, right after the Vendanges de Montmartre and right before the tunnel up to Christmas.

The real strength of MaMA lies in the community. Over the years, MaMA has built a loyal, engaged network that gathers different sectors of the music industry. Whether you’re in traditional music, emerging artists, or innovative fields like MusicTech.

While the event leans heavily towards music professionals, there’s always room for MusicTech innovators to join the conversation. MaMA has done something impressive along the years: building a long lasting community. Even if you don’t have to be at MaMA every year, you still do. Because it’s where everyone catches up with everyone. And let’s face it; your late-night drinks at La Fourmi or grabbing coffee between panels with friends from the industry is always a refreshing time (whether you’re drinking beer or maté).

The relaxed, familiar atmosphere makes MaMA feel like the annual family reunion for the French music industry. With international delegations like Quebec and China in attendance, global relationships are still in the picture.

So what to do when going to MaMA? Well, it’s all about making the most of the opportunity. A key feature of the event is its open delegates list, which gives attendees the chance to set up meetings with key players in advance. That’s one of the strength of the event; the list of people who’ll be attending is available and you can contact pretty much anyone. Get these meetings!

If you can, get yourself on panels! There are approximately 150 of them happening over 3 days, there should be some topics that interest you. Although tech-specific panels have become less represented now, MaMA’s agenda has expanded to include a range of important topics like sustainability, diversity, and social responsibility.

Of course it’s not always easy to carve out some time for panels panels between all the networking on Pigalle Boulevard, MaMA has made it easier by recording each session. You can now catch up on any panels you missed via their podcast platform, available here. This is a great resource for those of us juggling multiple responsibilities during the event.

Finally, we’ve noticed a shift in MaMA’s approach to tech. While MaMA remains focused on contemporary music trends—true to its name, “Marché des Musiques Actuelles”—there’s been a slight reduction in the number of tech-centered talks compared to previous editions. And it makes sense to focus on trends and leave the international innovative scene to the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).

Of course you’re not without knowing that the ADE is generally happening at the same time practically every year. Plus, the startup program Chorus was doing its second edition this year. But even with fewer tech-specific panels, MaMA remains a valuable touchpoint for the MusicTech community. So keep that in mind making your choice and who knows, next year, the events might not land on the same week!

As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how MaMA continues to adapt and whether MusicTech takes center stage again in future editions. Either way, it’s essential for companies like ours to stay engaged in these conversations.