SME @ m4music, 26 – 28 March 2015, Zurich & Lausanne

In its eighteen-year history, m4music has become one of the most popular and important music conference/festivals in Europe. Year after year, an exciting program of live concerts, keynote presentations and discussion panels attracts an international audience keen on communicating their ideas and discovering new music as well as new business trends and opportunities.

We’re sure you’d agree that m4music wouldn’t be m4music without Swiss Music Export’s fabulous Saturday morning brunch! Fresh coffee from Moods’ first rate espresso machine, croissants and Butterzopf straight from the bakers, and a smorgasboard of cheeses and cold meats to complete the feast – the perfect way to start another busy conference/festival day. Don’t miss a great opportunity to meet artists, promoters, managers and other professionals and exchange ideas and contacts in a relaxed atmosphere. As admittance is strictly by invitation only, don’t forget to register no later than 23 March by e-mailing mixer@swiss-music-export.com. Please take note: As space is limited, we can only admit one member per band!
The SME “Business Mixer”
Saturday 28 March 2015, 11:00 – 13:00
Moods @ Schiffbau

As ever, Swiss Music Export is an enthusiastic partner in m4music. Apart from the popular “Business Mixer Brunch” on Saturday morning, SME is also organising a “1-to-1” matchmaking session and a presentation, “Hotspots Europe”, designed as an introduction to the opportunities awaiting promoters, managers, artists and music fans in the various European centres of musical creativity.

Hotspots Europe presentation
Saturday 28 March 2015, 13:00 – 14:00
Moods @ Schiffbau

After last year’s highly popular “Berlin” panel, the focus this year is on festivals across Europe. SME Managing Director Jean Zuber will be chairing a panel consisting of representatives from four important European festivals. The aim of the panel is to offer an insight into the workings of the European festival market. What is the appeal to a band in participating in these festivals? How does a band go about getting booked? What is it that makes these festivals interesting and important for promoters, agents, media and other professionals? What is their importance in the context of the wider musical landscape of Europe? All these questions and many others – including those from the floor – will be discussed in depth.

The following participants have been confirmed:
Christoph Borkowksy (WOMEX / Piranha Arts Group, President, Berlin Germany)
Jean-Louis Brossard (Les Rencontres Transmusicales de Rennes / Association Trans Musicales, Artistic Director, Rennes France)
Miriam Hensel (Wacken Open Air / ICS Festival Service, Senior Manager Foreign Affairs & Brand Management, Wacken Germany)
Stefan Reichmann (Haldern Pop Festival / Raum3 Konzertveranstaltungs GmbH, Artistic Director, Haldern Germany)

The SME Hotspots Europe presentation is open to all and requires no accreditation.

1-to-1 Matchmaking session
Saturday 28 March 2015, 15:00 – 16:30
La Salle Bar
Representatives of Swiss agencies and labels will be matched up with colleagues from all over Europe for a series of brief exchanges of ideas and plans. Participation is by invitation only.

“The Grill” – a critical analysis of Swiss music
Friday 27 March 2015, 15:00 – 16:00
Moods @ Schiffbau
SME’s Jean Zuber will also be in action in a panel discussing the merits of the musical output of artists in Switzerland. He will be arguing the case on behalf of Swiss artists opposite Hamburg-based artist manager Bahar Tozman and journalist and columnist Jens Balzer from the Berliner Zeitung. Balzer recently wrote some harsh words about Swiss music in Tages-Anzeiger’s “Züritipp” supplement. A lively exchange is anticipated.

Some hot picks from the m4music program:

Stevans
Geneva-based Yann Franel’s electro-pop quartet Stevans will be celebrating the April-release in France of their new album “Rupture”. (see below)
Friday 27 March, 22:00 @ Moods

Death By Chocolate
Driven by an old-skool Hammond organ, Death By Chocolate from Biel play a classic type of rock with a superior sense of dynamics and melody.
Friday, 27 March, 01:15 @ Moods

Klischée
The mini-big-band from Berne blend Swing, Jazz, Reggae and several other bouncy musical styles into a hotpot of uplifting dance grooves. (see also below)
Friday 27 March, 01:45 @ The Box

END
Melodic, adventurous and dramatic alternative rock from Basel.
Saturday 28 March, 18:15 @ Showcase Stage

James Gruntz
The singer-songwriter from Basel specialises in a catchy and calm brand of pop confection.
Saturday 28 March, 20:00 @ Halle

Camilla Sparksss
Urgent, witty and generally irresistible, Camilla Sparksss serves up a truly hot stew of electro pop laced with lashings of attitude and memorable tunes.
Saturday 28 March, 22:00 @ Moods

Verveine
Verveine produces darkly alluring songs somewhere between Tangerine Dream and the Knife. (see also below)
Saturday 28 March, 02:45 @ Box

Link m4music Program Professionals german
Link m4music Program Professionals french
Link m4music Program Conference german
Link m4music Programm Conference french
Link m4music Program Music Festival german
Link m4music Programm Music Festival french
Link Website m4music Conference & Festival german
Link Website m4music Conference & Festival french