24th April 2026 FRIDAY
SHARPE CONFERENCE
Speed-networking Session: Meet The Austrian and Croatian Music Professionals
15:00 – 16:00 @ Rádio_FM Stage
*For registered only
Sign up here.
Meet the representatives of the Austrian and Croatian music sector. Get to know who’s running the music biz behind the scenes in Austria and Croatia, learn what they do and how you can work with each other. We are happy to welcome promoters, venue bookers and festival representatives from these two countries.
To have access to this session, you need to have a PRO PASS / conference ticket.
Keynote Interview: Miroslav Wanek in conversation with Mário Gešvantner
16:00 – 17:00 @ Library
Host: Mário Gešvantner (Rádio_FM, SK)
Speaker: Miroslav Wanek (Už Jsme Doma, CZ)
Miroslav Wanek is a Czech musician, composer, lyricist, and poet, widely regarded as one of the key figures of the Czech alternative scene. As the founder of the pioneering punk band FPB and the driving force behind the internationally acclaimed group Už jsme doma, he has spent over four decades shaping a distinctive musical language that has resonated far beyond the Czech Republic, with thousands of concerts across more than 40 countries
His work spans music, film, and literature—earning a Czech Lion nomination for his score to Fimfárum—while his influence as an educator and public voice continues to inspire new generations. Wanek remains a vital and uncompromising presence on the global independent music scene and an active voice in social and cultural discourse.
Reception: Trenčín 2026
17:00 – 18:00 @ Bar
Join us for an evening reception following the presentation of the Trenčín 2026 European Capital of Culture project. Guests will be welcomed to a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere, featuring a selection of finger food and drinks. This informal gathering offers a great opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and celebrate culture together.
25th April 2026 SATURDAY
Good Morning Disco!
09:30 – 11:00 @ Park De Palma
Enjoy a tasty breakfast and get refreshed and ready for the conference with a cup of tea or coffee and…. wait…. dance to your favourite tune!
Speed-meeting Session: Meet the International Festivals
10:00 – 11:00 @ Rádio_FM Stage
*For registered only
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Meet the bookers of ten international music festivals from all around Europe in a 5-minute one on one speed-meeting session. Discover what they do, tell them about your project, make initial contact and take the first step for future cooperation!
Participating festivals:
Fekete Zaj (HU), Waves Vienna (AT), Immergut Festival (DE), MENT Ljubljana (SI), Colours Of Ostrava (CZ), ESNS / Motel Mozaïque (NL), realshit Fest (SK), Pohoda Festival (SK), Psychic Dancehall festival (UK), Beseda u bigbítu (CZ)
Economics of Live Music 1.0
11:00 – 12:00 @ Library
Host: Matt Hanner (MakeDamnSure, UK)
Speakers: Barbora Bodnárová (Pohoda Festival, SK), Pavla Slívová (Colours Of Ostrava, CZ), Kat Jarby (KAJA Management, DK)
If ticket sales cover only part of the costs, what actually sustains live music and festivals? This panel breaks down the real economics behind concerts and festivals — from hidden costs and revenue streams to the financial realities faced by artists, promoters, and organizers. Why can a sold-out show still lose money? Who carries the biggest risk, and where is value actually created today? By unpacking touring costs, the role of merch, and the growing dependence on partnerships and public funding, the session offers a clearer, more transparent look at how the live music ecosystem really works — and why culture depends on more than just ticket sales.
The Post-Hype Festival
12:00 – 13:00 @ Club Cverna
Host: David Čajčík (Heartnoize Promotion, CZ)
Speakers: Andraž Kajzer (MENT, SI), Luděk Motyčka (Rock For People, CZ), Lisa Branigan (Green Futures Festivals / Glastonbury, UK)
In an oversaturated festival landscape driven by viral marketing, headline acts, and the constant pressure to generate FOMO, a key question emerges: what happens when hype stops working? Can festivals build long-term trust and loyalty without relying on spectacle and novelty? As audiences grow fatigued by repetitive lineups and algorithm-driven trends, the focus shifts toward deeper questions of identity, curation, and community. What truly makes people return to a festival — the lineup, or the experience? Bringing together promoters, curators and festival organizers, the discussion will examine the tension between hype-driven growth and sustainable cultural value. From sponsor expectations to booking under trend pressure, and from short-term sales to long-term reputation, the panel asks whether a “post-hype” model is not only possible, but necessary for the future of festivals.
Workshop: Social Media for Artists & Cultural Workers
12:00 – 13:00 @ Rádio_FM Stage
*For registered only
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Lecturer: Jan Ladecký (Merc, SK)
A workshop tailored to independent culture, artists, venues, and festivals. No corporate talk, but practical tips on how to make a lot of music for little money. This workshop is ideal for artist managers, artists and other cultural workers looking to empower their online presence on socials and create lasting engagement with their audiences.
Jan Ladecký is an online marketer with many years of experience in the cultural sphere (digital strategy creation and campaign management). He has collaborated with festivals, clubs, cultural centers, publishing houses, but he has also promoted small events and emerging artists.
To have access to this session, you need to have a PRO PASS / conference ticket.
Collaboration, Rights, and the Realities of Music Export
13:00 – 14:00 @ Library
Host: Paulina Parvanov (Austrian Music Export, AT)
Speakers: Mirko Burazer (We Move Music Croatia, HR), Julien Fournier (WBM, BE), Tomáš Mikš (SOZA, SK)
As music markets become increasingly interconnected, the ability to effectively export repertoire no longer depends solely on artistic quality or local success, but on robust systems of authorship, rights management, and distribution. Equally important is the growing significance of cross-border collaboration and talent exchange. Whether through songwriting camps, co-productions, touring networks, or informal creative partnerships, international collaboration is often the first step toward meaningful export. This panel will explore how such exchanges shape careers, open new markets, and strengthen a more diverse and resilient music ecosystem. It will also focus on rights and revenues. What actually happens when a song is played abroad? How do royalties travel across borders — and where do they get delayed, reduced, or lost? Why do many artists struggle to understand, access, or trust the system that is supposed to pay them? Bringing together voices from export offices and rights organisations, this session is not only about explaining the system — but also about questioning how well it really works.
Listening Session: Artists at SHARPE 2026
13:00 – 14:00 @ Park De Palma
Host: Viera Ráczová (Rádio_FM, SK)
Speakers: Filip Černý (Radio Wave, CZ), Phil Taylor (Clash, UK), Lisa Branigan (Green Futures – Glastonbury, UK), Jakub Knera (Noweidzieodmorza / The Quietus, PL)
What do international journalists and festival bookers think of the recordings by artists playing at SHARPE? Hear their opinions, constructive criticism or words of praise on the 10 songs by selected artists performing at this year’s edition and don’t forget to catch them live in concert at night!
Keynote Interview: Marian Goodell in conversation with Michal Kaščák
14:00 – 15:00 @ Club Cverna
Host: Michal Kaščák (Pohoda Festival, SK)
Speaker: Marian Goodell (Burning Man Project, USA)
Marian Goodell is the first Chief Executive Officer of Burning Man Project, the nonprofit behind the world renowned Burning Man event, an ephemeral city that rises annually in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Thanks in part to Marian’s guidance and dedication, Burning Man has grown from the scrappy, anarchist gathering of a few thousand people she first attended in 1995 into a global cultural movement that sparks innovation in design, business, technology, education, and urban planning. Marian is a keen connector and storyteller. Driven by her belief that we can do more together than we can do alone, Marian channels her love of people (and cats!) into everything she does. Her stewardship of Burning Man’s anti-consumerist, participatory and celebratory culture has set in on a seemingly unstoppable growth path. Burning Man communities and leaders are active in 37 countries and collectively produce more than 100 events annually. Today Black Rock City, Burning Man’s largest and most famous event, is home to 80,000 thinkers, makers, and creative problem-solvers who come together each year to build the world’s most imaginative, experimental city.
The Future Crowd: Rethinking the Music Industry in Slovakia
Hosted by TicketSwap
15:00 – 16:00 @ Rádio_FM Stage
*Closed session
Hosts: Tereza Piperková (TicketSwap, CZ), Michal Pařízek (Full Moon, CZ)
A round table organized by TicketSwap will focus on the evolving dynamics of the Slovak music industry. It will explore fan behavior, the state of post-COVID recovery, and the growing role of secondary ticketing. The discussion will bring together festival organizers and other industry professionals, addressing key challenges such as rising operational costs, changing habits of Generation Z, and the increasing market centralization around global headliners. A central part of the session will be dedicated to the secondary ticket market, including current challenges, issues of fraud, and the regulatory landscape. It will also highlight how platforms like TicketSwap can contribute to a safer and more transparent ticketing ecosystem. The aim of the session is to foster an open discussion, share insights from across the music industry, and identify opportunities for collaboration toward the sustainable growth of the live music sector.
Underground Going Overground
15:00 – 16:00 @ Library
Host: Koen ter Heegde (Yugofuturism, NL)
Speakers: Anita Richelli (Brighter Agency, DE), Kat Jarby (KAJA Management, DK), Daniel Vadas (Nová Cvernovka / Otvorená Kultúra!, SK)
The journey of underground culture into the mainstream is nothing new — but in today’s hyper-connected and algorithm-driven landscape, the boundaries are increasingly blurred. Can we still meaningfully define “underground”, or has it become just another aesthetic or marketing label? This panel explores the tensions between authenticity and visibility, independence and professionalization. As scenes grow, gain recognition, and enter global circuits, what is gained and what is lost? Is it still possible to be radical within mainstream culture, or does success inevitably dilute artistic integrity? Bringing together artists, curators, and managers , the discussion will examine how taste is shaped today — by communities, media, festivals, and algorithms alike — and whether audiences are truly seeking authenticity or simply the next trend. Ultimately, the panel asks: can underground remain a space of resistance, or has it evolved into a hybrid form that coexists with the mainstream?
Leading Culture in Times of Instability and Chaos – Keeping the Faith
16:00 – 17:00 @ Club Cverna
Host: Oliver Rehák (Denník N, SK)
Speakers: Diana Dadonova (Na Yii Osnovi. UA), Marian Goodell (Burning Man Project, USA), Michal Berezňák (SHARPE / Nová Cvernovka, SK), Stanislav Krajči (European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026, SK)
This panel brings together cultural leaders to reflect on the realities of working in an increasingly volatile environment: from political interference and fragile funding structures to sector-wide fatigue, burnout, and loss of motivation. How do we continue to build and sustain culture in a world shaped by war, political pressure, and economic uncertainty? How do we maintain integrity and values without slipping into self-censorship? Ultimately, the discussion asks: why does culture still matter in unstable times — and how do we keep faith in its value without naive optimism? From redefining success beyond metrics and reach, to sustaining personal and collective resilience, this panel seeks to offer both critical reflection and grounded hope for those committed to cultural work today.
Ukrainian Reception
17:00 – 18:00 @ Bar
Join us for an evening of genuine Ukrainian hospitality, complete with authentic snacks and drinks that capture the flavours of our culture, all while connecting with fellow music professionals in a warm and engaging atmosphere.
The reception brings together the best of Ukraine’s music scene in one place. You’ll hear directly from Ukrainian artists through welcome remarks and most importantly, meet the talented professionals driving Ukraine’s music industry forward. It’s your chance to discover new collaborations and be part of Ukraine’s ongoing cultural story.