Since the beginning of 2024, I've spoken at over 10 panels across Europe—and we haven't even hit Fall yet! The reason I keep going, speaking and listening to others and looking forward to the next ones, is because Music Conferences bring value and knowledge like no other places in MusicTech.

The music industry is deeply human. And MusicTech is as human as they come. While innovation might seem purely technological, after nearly 10 years at the crossroads of Music and Tech, I can confidently say that it’s right there at center.

Case and point: every month, there are at least one or two events partially or fully dedicated to MusicTech. The need for conversations and meetups makes it easy to connect at these music conferences. So why take so much time to get yourself at these events?

There’s a strong need for the collective when building something new for an industry. Especially in Music. As we said, the field is profoundly human, and ultimately, success depends on the adoption of your innovations by artists and their audiences. Without artists, no music industry, no MusicTech.

Attending Music Conferences is vital for creating bonds with others in the field. You create way more value in the connections you make at music conferences. The human aspect will never be caught up by a Zoom call, scarcity is key.

Incidentally, you don’t go to music conferences only to prospect.

📌 Music Conferences create essential spaces for discussing new developments in the industry. Collaboration and mutual support are key elements brought by music conferences. If you’re an innovator in music, you have to be part of the discussion.

It doesn’t have to be the biggest event of the year to be the best place to learn. It does even seems like we are coming back from extremely huge events with thousands of attendees to more selective ones. Targeted discussions lead to deeper understanding and more meaningful connections.

For instance, when working on AI MusicTech solutions mapping, Wise in Berlin was certainly the best place to be to get in touch with the right people, hear about the best practices and learn what was currently being developed. It was the ideal place to connect with AI researchers, music professionals, and others at the forefront of innovation. We expanded our horizon on AI in relation to our project. A very productive event.

One of the best aspects of MusicTech meetups is the opportunity to meet up with the right people. You’re all coming for the same reason; you’re evolving in the same field! That’s the perfect setting to hear about the latest ideas, developments, and announcements. Even if you’re not on stage, look around—your best partners or prospects could be in the audience.

If you do have the opportunity to get on stage, it’s always a great way to share your work and be seen. Speaking or pitching at these events enhances your image, especially if the audience is well-curated. For example, Wallifornia in Belgium makes it a key element to train startups before the conference to get them ready to pitch in front the selected participants, leading to a high-level pitch session, in front of advisors and investors, eager to see what this year has to present. On each side, they came because they expect quality. To give you a ballpark, there are no more than 300 attendees at Wallifornia, making it a pretty high standard of discussions.

While speaking at events offers great exposure, remember that you’re being listened to! Getting on stage is just the first step. Make sure to be well-prepared and relevant to the topic. Although it can be stressful, the more you get used to the exercise, the more interesting it gets, and it’ll show.