Dozens of Romanian and international speakers from the music industry will once again participate in MMB (Mastering the Music Business) this year, where they will discuss the most interesting topics in the music world and meet artists and professionals in the field.
The Mastering the Music Business conference, now in its ninth edition, is the largest event in the Romanian music industry. It will take place at Hotel Caro in Bucharest from September 3rd to September 5th, 2024. Among the first confirmed speakers are Deliric, Lisa Nasta from Glastonbury – the world’s most renowned festival, Ivone Lesan – one of the industry’s most recognized advocates for gender equality, representing the Primavera Sound festival, Paul Cioc – marketing manager at HaHaHa Production, Mark Garfield – sync agent at Pop Up Music, Oskar Strajn, booking agent at Eurosonic, Adam Dobie from Electric Castle, or Emil Ionescu, event organizer and founder of iabilet.ro.
Anca Lupeș, the founder of MMB, stated that nine years ago, when we first imagined this conference, the music scene looked completely different. I confidently believe that MMB has contributed to the growth of the industry and to creating a community of artists and professionals who are better at navigating the industry’s waters, offering know-how and a series of tools otherwise difficult to obtain. With this edition, we aim to further develop this community, continuing to offer quality content and increasingly more opportunities for connections, both within the local industry and especially with those from the international scene. This year, MMB will host the general assembly of IMPALA – the European organization comprising associations of independent record labels, of which Romania is a member. This presents a unique opportunity for music production companies in Romania to connect with their European counterparts.
First confirmed speakers at MMB 2024
Ruth Koleva is a force in the Bulgarian music industry, known not only for her musical talent but also for her innovative spirit and dedication to promoting talent and inclusion. As Head of Partnerships at Kanjian, the largest independent music company in China, she connects global entities with the dynamic music market in China. Ruth’s impact extends beyond business, as she founded the Sofia Live Festival, and through her advocacy for equality, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. Through her various roles and initiatives, she continues to shape the future of music both in Bulgaria and on the international stage.
Ivone Lesan – With organizational know-how, creative inclination, and a feminist compass, Ivone Lesan has carved out a remarkable career in the music industry. Since 2006, she has become one of the most prominent promoters of international music in Spain. Her motto, “we make things happen,” motivates her to oversee all aspects of artist booking, from legal to production logistics. As a devout supporter of gender equality, Lesan actively contributes to initiatives such as MIM (Women in the Music Industry), where she served as a board member from 2016 to 2019, and shares her expertise through specialized courses and mentorship programs.
Paul Cioc is the Marketing Manager at HaHaHa Production, having been an integral part of the team since March 2023. Paul leads a dynamic team dedicated to enhancing the branding and marketing efforts of renowned artists, including Smiley, Feli, Juno, and others. The marketing team ensures that each artist’s brand is meticulously crafted and strategically communicated across all channels.
Oskar Strajn is one of the booking agents for ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag), Europe’s largest live music event, based in Groningen, the Netherlands. He works closely with the Music Moves Europe Awards, the annual music awards presented during the festival, as well as with the ESNS Radar & Analytics coordinator.
Emil Ionescu has been an event organizer in Romania since 2004. He has organized over 3,000 events, from club concerts to large arenas featuring headliners such as Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Judas Priest, alt-J, Nightwish, Deftones, Disturbed, James Arthur, Garbage, Tom Odell, Slayer, Whitesnake, Goran Bregovic, Il Divo, Pantera, or Evanescence. Since 2012, Emil Ionescu has also served as the founder and CEO of iaBilet.ro, the market leader of ticketing services in Romania, with over 3,000 active B2B clients (promoters, clubs, venues, theaters, etc.) and 2 million tickets sold annually in Romania and across Europe.
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