25th April 2025 FRIDAY
SHARPE CONFERENCE
Pitching Session LIVEUROPE: Artists & Venues
16:00 – 17:00 @ Rádio_FM Stage
*For registered only / closed session
Sign up here.
Meet the representatives of LIVEUROPE venues from all over Europe. Take this opportunity to introduce your project to them in this one and only pitching session at SHARPE 2025!
Reception: Poland In Sound!
17:00 – 18:00 @ Bar
This isn’t just any gathering. It’s a vibrant space to discuss potential collaborations, get insights into the Polish music industry, and meet experts who are shaping the future of music in Poland and beyond. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your network, discover new partnership opportunities, or just have a great time, this reception is where you need to be.
Apart from the business side, this event is a way to meet new people, enjoy some Polish hospitality, and relax with like-minded music aficionados. Music Export Poland is ready to showcase the hottest tracks from Poland’s buzzing music scene and introduce the new conference and showcase festival: Music Week Poland, which will take place in Warsaw from the 26th till the 29th of June (musicweekpoland.com).
To keep the atmosphere lively and the conversations flowing, we’ll be serving a selection of drinks and snacks.
Exhibition: FULL MOON 15
19:00 @ First Floor between Kabinet Stage and Radio_FM Stage
Thursday, May 29th, 2010. On this clearly sunny day, the very first issue of Full Moon magazine was released, featuring a smiling Mike Patton on the cover. It’s incredible, but since then, (almost) every full moon has brought a new issue.
To date, there have been 168 individual issues, 4 special editions, over 70 records, and nearly 200 events. That’s 15 years of Full Moon magazine—summed up in one sentence.
Come and see a small sample of the magazine covers, carefully (and very intricately) chosen through a Full Moon HQ vote. Are they the best? The most interesting? We don’t know—we love them all. All we do know is: Full Moon is definitely not ending. Come celebrate with us.
26th April 2025 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), Off Festival (PL), MENT Ljubljana (SI), Pop Messe (CZ), ESNS (NL), Fusion Festival (DE), Pohoda Festival (SK), Music Week Poland (PL), BRDCST (BE)
AI in Music: A New Era of Creativity or Crisis?
11:00 – 12:00 @ Library
Host: David Čajčík (Heartnoize Promotion, CZ)
Speakers: Milan Novota (SK), David Reiterer (Lucy Dreams, AT), Marián Jankovič (SOZA, SK)
As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the music industry, it sparks both excitement and controversy. Can AI be a tool for artistic innovation, or does it threaten the rights of musicians? How should copyright laws evolve to protect artists in this new landscape? This panel brings together a representative from SOZA specializing in AI and copyright, a musician creatively integrating AI into their work, and an AI expert to explore the intersection of technology, creativity, and legal frameworks. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of music in the age of AI.
Songs of Resistance: Music’s Political Power
12:00 – 13:00 @ Club Cverna
Host: Matthew Covey (Tamizdat, USA)
Speakers: Ana Marjanidze (3:AM / TRANSFORMA, GE), Nasra A. Omar (Artist / Arts Council Norway, NO), Michal Kaščák (Pohoda Festival, SK)
In many countries around the world, the music sector is engaged with political activism and resistance. Both as a catalyst for grass roots activism, and also as a laboratory for progressive social change, musicians, music workers, and music have unique power that can be harnessed for activism. The current geopolitical climate has made this work seem particularly urgent, but it comes with risks and liabilities. In this panel, the panelists will talk about the value of leveraging music toward progressive social and political change, as well as the responsibilities, dangers, and limitations that come with this work.
Workshop / Cracking the Gen Z Code
12:00 – 13:00 @ Rádio_FM Stage
*For registered only
Sign up here.
Lecturer: Laura Blažeková (SK)
Want to get Gen Z excited about your events? In this hour-long session, we’ll explore what drives this generation and how to create events they’ll eagerly share on social media. You’ll discover effective strategies to capture their attention, communicate authentically, and design shareable, memorable experiences. We’ll examine current trends and behavioral patterns that shape Gen Z’s preferences.
This session is ideal for event planners, festival organizers, and venue managers looking to connect meaningfully with the younger generation and create lasting engagement with Gen Z audiences.
Keynote Interview: Ondrej Rudavský in conversation with Oliver Rehák
13:00 – 14:00 @ Library
Host: Oliver Rehák (Denník N, SK)
Speaker: Ondrej Rudavský (artist, SK)
Ondrej Rudavský is a Slovak artist whose diverse portfolio includes film, animation, video installation, digital art and more. After emigrating to the US as a 19-year old, he spent three decades in New York and Los Angeles, currently residing in Slovakia. Rudavsky’s art has been showcased internationally at prestigious museums and galleries, including MoMA in New York, the Bronx Museum of the Arts or the XLVII Venice Biennale. His experimental films have premiered at festivals such as Sundance, the New York Film Festival, Annecy Film Festival, the Hiroshima Film Festival and Burning Man. He has received numerous awards, including an MTV Award, Golden Eagle Award, Monitor Award, and a Grammy nomination for his animated music videos for artists like Moby, Los Lobos and Dead Can Dance. He has also collaborated with Esperanza Spalding, Jodie Foster, Linkin Park, Black Eyed Peas, Jana Kirschner, Richard Müller, Iva Bittová, and many others.
Listening Session: FULL MOON 15
13:00 – 14:00 @ Park De Palma
Host: Michal Pařízek (Full Moon Magazine, CZ)
You hear them first! Full Moon Magazine celebrates 15 years this May. As part of the anniversary celebration, Full Moon will release a double vinyl compilation, simply but brightly titled FULL MOON 15. The record features 21 unique, previously unreleased tracks — including special covers and remixes — by kindred artists who have been connected to Full Moon over the years. And not only to Full Moon — also to SHARPE! More than half of the artists have performed at previous editions of the festival, and two of them are playing at Nová Cvernovka this year.
Come and be among the first to hear some of the tracks before the official release! And it’s not just the public getting a first listen — even the participating artists don’t know who else is on the compilation!
Merch, Streams & Empty Dreams: Making Touring Work
14:00 – 15:00 @ Club Cverna
Host: Koen ter Heegde (Yugofuturism, NL)
Speakers: Estefania Serrano De Vicente (Plan B, ES), Georg Leitner (GLP, AT), Stevie D’Arcy (First Music Contact, IE)
In 2025, the music touring landscape presents significant financial challenges for artists, particularly those performing in small to mid-sized venues. Many musicians face increased costs for essentials such as transportation, crew, and accommodations, while performance fees and audience sizes have not proportionally increased, on the other hand, venues and promoters are pointing to low numbers in presales. This imbalance often results in financial losses, making live performances financially unsustainable for many artists. The disparity between top-tier artists and emerging musicians has become more pronounced. While major acts like Taylor Swift have achieved record-breaking tour revenues exceeding $1 billion, many other artists struggle to break even. Is there a solution that benefits artists without compromising their creative freedom? What alternative funding resources—such as grants, fan support models, or corporate sponsorships—could help sustain tours? How can artists and the industry work together to make touring financially and environmentally sustainable in the long term? Join us for a discussion on the future of live music and the evolving economics of touring.
Next Level Sync: Music Meets Gaming
15:00 – 16:00 @ Library
Host: Andrii Volkovintsev (Cultural Manager, Ziferblat’s agent, UA)
Speakers: Robert Bruckmayer (composer, SK), Stanislav Malikov (Geisha Ninja Samurai / Believe, UA), Valentine Parkhomenko (GSC Game World Audio Director, UA)
Sync licensing is becoming a game-changer for artists, opening new opportunities beyond traditional streaming and touring. As demand for immersive soundscapes grows across various media, video games have emerged as a powerful platform for music placement, offering exposure to global audiences and new revenue streams. In this panel, we’ll take a deep dive into how music finds its way into video games—from the creative selection process to licensing negotiations and final in-game integration. Featuring insights from the team behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, a seasoned music licensing expert, and a composer with hands-on experience crafting music for games, we’ll break down each step of the journey. Whether you’re an artist looking to get your music into games, a developer seeking the perfect soundtrack, or simply a fan of game music, this discussion will provide valuable insights into this evolving landscape.
Listening Session: Artists at SHARPE 2025
15:00 – 16:00 @ Park De Palma
Host: Viera Ráczová (Rádio_FM, SK)
Speakers: Filip Černý (Radio Wave, CZ), Hayden Merrick (The Line Of Best Fit, UK), John Bell (VICE, UK), Lisa Schoemaker (ESNS, NL)
What do international journalists, agents 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!
In Tune with the Future: Festivals Beyond the Forecast
16:00 – 17:00 @ Club Cverna
Host: Michal Pařízek (Full Moon magazine, CZ)
Speakers: Paula Poštolková (Pohoda Festival, SK), Jozef Pecho (meteorologist, SK), Rosa Räthel (Fusion Festival, DE), Anne Runge (Fusion Festival, DE)
This panel will explore how extreme and unpredictable weather conditions are reshaping the organization of festivals and cultural events. Our guests will discuss the new challenges faced by festival organizers, preparing for sudden weather shifts, determining the limits of ensuring visitor safety in the face of climate uncertainties and securing adequate insurance, if even possible. The conversation will also examine whether the format of festivals will need to change—will large outdoor events on airfields or in nature be replaced by less scenic but safer indoor venues? This session aims to provide a platform for sharing experiences and discussing sustainable approaches to festival planning in an era of increasing weather volatility.