Berlin is about to host one of the year’s most forward-thinking music industry gatherings in Europe: Most Wanted: Music (MW:M), running from November 12 to 14 at the Kulturbrauerei. Known for its mix of business insight, cultural innovation, and hands-on industry expertise, MW:M is setting its focus on a topic that strikes close to home for both artists and industry professionals: making music that pays off.
The theme for this year, Monetize!, goes beyond financial profit. The event wants to address the question of how the music industry—an industry breaking profit records—can find ways to be kinder, cleaner, and more accessible, while ensuring that everyone in the ecosystem, from artists to tech innovators, can make a decent living.
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With panels, workshops, discussions, and labs, MW:M dives into the nuts and bolts of monetisation. Monetise artists’ work better sets the tone for a conversation about how today’s artists, who juggle multiple platforms, roles, and sometimes even multiple revenue streams, can make more from their work. It’s not just about filling bank accounts; it's about creating sustainable ways for artists and their teams to capture the full value of their work. How can innovative partnerships, funding options, and business models serve as pathways to better, fairer income?
Likewise, Monetise technology fairly will get to the heart of complex issues around power and equity. At a time when major rightsholders, streaming giants, and independent artists share the same digital stage, who ultimately controls the value? How are gaps in transparency—or “black box” royalties—being addressed, and what remains hidden? This session plans to take a close look at where power lies, where the money flows, and who benefits or loses out in the current structure.
And when it comes to sustainability, MW:M is making it clear that doing good and making money can go hand-in-hand. From creating environmentally conscious productions to embracing accessible music experiences, Monetise sustainability and accessibility will dig into the strategies that don’t just help the planet but also open doors to new income streams.
Spotlight on Key Events
With speakers from SoundCloud, beatBread, Songtradr, Beatport, and many more music industry leaders, this event is a mix of thought-provoking keynotes, panels, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities.
- Facing the Future – Safeguarding the Music Creator Economy where renowned music producer Mark Reeder will discuss challenges facing creators in an age of streaming, AI, and changing technologies. With creators struggling for fair compensation, Reeder will explore ways to protect artists’ livelihoods through fairer royalty structures and copyright protections. His talk will also introduce new tools and platforms that empower artists, songwriters, and producers to take control of their income and secure a more sustainable future.
- How to Trailerize Your Music brings together experts like Anny Colvin, Head of Music at MakeMake/JAX Films, and Vikram Gudi, producer at Elephant Music, to explain the world of trailer music. This workshop will cover the unique requirements and processes behind trailer syncs, from preparing music to creating impact in a few powerful seconds. For composers and sound designers, it’s a rare look into a niche but lucrative opportunity within the sync world.
- Changing Times: Music Journalism and Its Future for Young Talent is where renowned music journalists share insights into their daily work and discuss current challenges and opportunities in the industry. The discussion will focus on how the profession has evolved through digitalisation and the career prospects available for the next generation.
- How can we make live music sustainable amid a climate emergency? will examine ways to collectively reduce our environmental impact by reimagining production and product designs, choosing more sustainable transportation options, fostering local talent, promoting virtual performances, and encouraging eco-friendly practices across the entire ecosystem.
- AI: Don’t Get Sued - Navigating Music Copyright in the Age of AI will dive into AI's impact on music copyright, covering topics like generative AI in songwriting, licensing challenges, and copyright infringement. The panel will explore recent lawsuits, the fine line between plagiarism and sampling, and the complexities of ‘fair use’ across various jurisdictions.
And dozens of more events, such as pitching and sync opportunities, artist management workshops, vinyl market trends and sales panel, music data analytics workshops, and AI-related discussions and labs are available to check out on MW:M website.
Connecting, Creating, and Learning & Building the Future of Music Biz
MW:M doesn’t just stop at talks and panels. The festival’s networking events, workshops, and hands-on labs are tailored to help attendees put what they’ve learned into practice. There’s also a bus tour through Berlin’s iconic venues and studios that'll offer a closer look at the local scene.
Live performances bring a final, essential element to the festival. MW:M isn’t just about discussing music—it’s about celebrating it. These performances, woven into the event schedule, give attendees a taste of the creativity and diversity that continue to define Berlin’s music scene.
In a time when the music business is under pressure to be more ethical, more sustainable, and more profitable for those at every level, MW:M offers a rare platform to question, learn, and innovate. For music professionals, artists, and tech visionaries alike, MW:M is an opportunity to gain practical knowledge, make new connections, and walk away with ideas that could shape not just individual careers but the industry as a whole.
This year’s focus on monetisation challenges everyone involved to rethink what it means to succeed in music and how to do it in a way that benefits all—creatively, ethically, and financially.
🍿Learn more at the Most Wanted: Music official website.
