BAD FOCUS IS THE WINNER OF HEMI MUSIC AWARDS 2023!

Τhe HEMI Music Awards (HMA) 2023 have reached the finish line and the cross-genre wunderkid from Czech Republic, Bad Focus, is the big winner!

Badfocus is an emerging project of a Prague-based producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Prokop Korb. Despite originally coming from a jazz background, he experiments with various genres such as electronica, classical music, hip-hop, or indie pop is an indie / art-rock band from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 

Τhis incredible journey for Bad Focus included mentoring sessionsnetworking events, online workshops, and live performances at many leading European Conferences, Showcase and Festivals such as Tallinn Music Week, Athens Music Week, EXIT and PIN Music Conference

On top of that he is also honored with a total prize value of € 5,000. The nature of the HMA Prize affirms a shared commitment to helping emerging artists to break through in Europe and beyond.

The annual awards are designed to accelerate the international careers of upcoming European acts through a training program, networking events and live touring in leading showcase festivals around Europe.

Each year, 27 outstanding nominated artists from 9 European countries from Central and Southeastern Europe (Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia) are eligible for HEMI Music Awards. All nominees in each phase as well as the award winner are selected by an independent international Jury of 27 members including Industry experts, festival organisers, promoters, export offices, venue managers and music journalists from the 9 countries participating in the Awards.

But HMA is not only for the winner. All nominees are offered the opportunity to attend training sessions to develop their skills as well as networking events to be prepared for an international career, while the 9 HMA finalists are on top of that offered access to HMA touring programme, a total prize value of € 2,000 per nominee. 

Stay tuned! HMA 2024 Open Call is just around the corner!

ΗΕΜΙ artists are taking over BUSH!

Budapest Showcase Hub returns to the Hungarian capital once more and offers a dense 3day program with 36 artists and 6 venues at Budapest’s hottest club venues.
Among them, you can catch concerts from the HEMI artists Klawo (PL) and Ficture (Hu/ SK) that can easily be your next favorite artists.

The conference program gives the chance to mingle with music professionals and join great keynotes and panels. HEMI will also be there for a reception powered by HAIL, where you can meet artists and mentors of the HEMIsphere.

HEMI supports BUSH financially for one more year and shows strong presence in one of the most interesting showcase events of the Central – East Europe.

ΗΕΜΙ Incubator Grant 2023 winners revealed!

We are super excited to announce the 6 selected projects & ideas for the HEMI Incubator grant support 2023.

After 6 productive months of training and networking, our grants committee has voted the 3 projects of the acceleration programme & and the 3 projects of the incubation programme with the highest potential of development within the music industry.

The winning projects enjoyed access to one-on-one mentoring and coaching sessions from top European music industry professionals, as well as online and offline workshops and ptimized their ideas with new knowledge and entrepreneurial skills.

18 HEMI Incubator experts and mentors supported the beneficiaries in the development of their innovative ideas, services and products.

The 6 winning ideas and projects of HEMI Incubator cover a great variety of topics within the music sector, providing innovative solutions to foster social change, diversity, sustainability and creativity in an evolving industry where art, science, and business converge.

Meet the 6 winners and find out more about their groundbreaking projects and ideas!

3 winners of the HEMI Acceleration stream

SyncUp

Representative: Aleksandra Denda

MixFlow

Representative: Martin Danchev

Provadika

Representative: Flora Tretsi

3 winners of the HEMI  Incubation stream:

Scoremusic OÜ

Representative: Kristjan Nõlvak

StageRider.io

Representative: Gergo Balazs-Farkas

Genius Jamtracks

Representative: Antonis Tsikandilakis

HEMI launches a new partnership with Music Tech Europe Academy

HEMI partners supports Music Tech Europe Academy the new, hybrid training scheme for music technology innovators, entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs across Europe.

The new edition of Music Tech Europe Academy, a 7-month acceleration program addressing 10 European music tech startups, and developed in the framework of Music Moves Europe in 2021 is launching a new Call for Applications.

Music Tech Europe Academy aims at developing the ecosystem of music-tech innovators in Europe and creating a level playing field between tech-savvy entrepreneurs, artists, tech companies and the music industry, encouraging cooperative innovation efforts for the future music ecosystem.

The added value of the Consortium that promotes MTE Academy lies in the diversity and uniqueness of the partners, united however in the common goal of strengthening the music tech sector in Europe, facilitating access to funding, supporting technological development in line with needs and interests of market players, and supporting the talents of innovation through a path based on collaboration — as well as maintaining a logic of sustainability and social responsibility.

Over the 7-months period of acceleration, startups will have access to a hybrid and flexible mentorship program with top level experts in music, technology, finance and entrepreneurship, IRL meetups and networking opportunities during industry events, investment pitch sessions, and a vibrant community of digital innovators and music professionals.

MTE Academy kick-off meeting will take place during the 9th edition of Linecheck Music Meeting and Festival, where the selected startups will have the unique opportunity to participate in the festival’s events, engage in networking opportunities, and take part in panels, workshops and showcases focused on the music and music-tech industries. This immersive experience will allow them to connect with international industry professionals, gain valuable insights, and showcase their own innovative contributions to different music stakeholders.

MTE Academy is addressed to European startups and SMEs (already established as companies) as well as non-formal initiatives and projects (pre-company stage), but with a defined Proof of Concept, who adopts innovative technologies to provide business and artistic solutions for the music sector.

The Call for Applications opens today September 6th and the applications deadline is 12 October 2023.

Applications procedure, info and full program available at musictecheuropeacademy.eu

MTE Academy is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of The European Union and it is coordinated by Music Innovation Hub (Italy), in partnership with Media Deals (Germany), Technoport (Luxemburg), MESO Events (Greece) and Barcelona Music Tech Hub (Spain) and is supported by Music AllyOrfiumHEMI – Hub for the Exchange of Music InnovationLIFT99 and INNOVATHENS Technopolis City of Athens.

HEMI Incubator kick off event at Athens Music Week!

HEMI Incubator, the first music business incubation and acceleration programme in the region, joined AMW 2023 Conference for it’s kickoff event.

A delegation of music entrepreneurs from 9 European countries representing 30 exceptional startups and music related projects, had the opportunity to meet their mentors and music experts.

Including a great variety of topics faced within the music sector, the 30 companies and projects are providing innovative solutions to foster social change, diversity, sustainability and creativity in an evolving industry where art, science, and business converge.

HEMI team has a packed schedule at Tallin Music Week 2023!

Tallin Music Week returns to the Estonian capital, bringing together musicians and music industry professionals of the Nordic-Baltic region and across Europe, with a track record for helping emerging acts break into the international scene.

HEMI team has a busy program in the festival, as its member will show presence in TMW with with 3 workshops and 1 panel!

 

HEMI Pitch Perfect: Presenting your ideas clearly and convincingly

Saturday, 13.05. |10:30–12:00
Altair — Nordic Hotel Forum
You know and love what you do but what about everyone else? Potential partners, investors, and clients might all be missing out on your great idea just because they don’t quite understand what it actually is that you do. Pitching often seems daunting – presenting your idea to an audience and convincing them that it is worth its weight in gold. And doing that in 30 to 120 seconds? Forget about it!

Rannar Park will give a short overview of the anatomy of a pitch, talking about how to captivate your audience and leave them wanting more. The workshop is intended to be very practical, no lectures here! Everyone is encouraged to hop up on stage and put their pitching skills to the test. Whether you are getting ready for a first date or raising your first round of funding, pitching is an incredibly useful skill to have!

HEMI Business development keynote by Marcelo Garibotto

Saturday, 13.05. |13:45–14:30
Altair — Nordic Hotel Forum

Cutting through the noise – A simple guide to attracting an investor.

To equip attendees with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in the music industry. Through discussions on innovation vs. imitation, case studies, SWOT analysis, branding, business entity, planning and strategy, budgeting, marketing, decision-making, communication, and investor relations, we aim to help attendees create compelling offers, define their audience segments and personas, emphasise their differentiation, and simplify their messaging.

We will also explore the importance of staying focused, looking forward, and constantly reviewing progress towards goals to achieve success in the journey ahead.

Speaker:

Marcelo Garibotto, Director & Founder of VIA Music Group

HEMI Business development workshop by Yannis Iliopoulos

Saturday, 13.05. |14:30–15:45
Altair — Nordic Hotel Forum

Business Model Design – We’ll explore how to make your idea more valuable and how to make money from it

To equip attendees with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in the music industry. Through discussions on innovation vs. imitation, case studies, SWOT analysis, branding, business entity, planning and strategy, budgeting, marketing, decision-making, communication, and investor relations, we aim to help attendees create compelling offers, define their audience segments and personas, emphasise their differentiation, and simplify their messaging.

We will also explore the importance of staying focused, looking forward, and constantly reviewing progress towards goals to achieve success in the journey ahead.

Speaker:

Yannis Iliopoulos, Senior Programmes Manager at ICMP, founder of The Sound of Everything

HEMI Guide to Central & Eastern European Music Markets

Saturday, 13.05. |15:45–16:45
Arcturus — Nordic Hotel Forum
​​The Central and Eastern European music scene has a lot of underestimated potential and diversity. The CSEE is becoming an increasingly important market for the music industry, with rapid economic growth and hunger for new talent. With affordable prices for almost everything, a small to medium sized band can easily do 10 – 15 shows in the region with a much better turnover than in Western Europe. We will dive into the possibilities for entering the Hungarian, Serbian and North Macedonian music markets. Get to know these markets in a panel presented by The Hub for the Exchange of Music Innovation (HEMI) and meet the region’s key people followed by a HEMI networking reception with drinks in the conference center lobby.
HEMI is a European initiative aiming to support artists and music professionals from the CSEE region. Co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, HEMI’s vision is to trademark the region’s music creativity.
Curated by Music Estonia in collaboration with The Hub for the Exchange of Music Innovation (HEMI)
Speakers:

Zorica Tepić, Music Industry Advisor at Serbia Creates

Zsolt Jeges, President of HAIL Hungarian Association of Independent Labels

Login Kochishki, Goalkeeper at Password Productions, Founder of PIN conference and Taksirat Festival (MK)

Moderator:
Marili Randla, Project Manager at Music Estonia

HEMI Incubator 2023 beneficiaries revealed!

We are thrilled to announce the 30 in total selected projects and ideas of the second cycle of HEMI Incubator. After a careful screening of all applications received, the evaluation committee, composed of HEMI experts board members and jury members, has selected the most promising ideas and projects to be developed together with renowned mentors and Industry experts.  

The 20 acceleratees and the 10 incubatees will have access to one-on-one mentoring and coaching sessions from top European music industry professionals, as well as online and offline workshops to deepen their knowledge and develop further their entrepreneurial skills. Moreover, participants will have access to networking events and pitching sessions starting from Tallinn Music Week and Athens Music Week as well as the opportunity to get in contact with numerous networks, music conferences and showcase festivals of the HEMI network. 

The 18 HEMI Incubator experts and mentors will accompany the 30 selected beneficiaries in the development of their innovative ideas, services and products. A network of vetted music professionals who have experienced the ups and downs of working in one of the most competitive industries, and are willing to share their experience! They will pin-point strengths and weaknesses, give feedback, suggest directions and introduce them to relevant key industry players to develop synergies. 

At the end of the programme, 3 innovative ideas with the highest potential of development and 3 projects/companies with the greatest potential to impact the future of the music industry will gain a support grant to help them develop their projects and widen their networks. 

The 30 selected ideas and projects of HEMI Incubator cover a great variety of topics faced within the music sector, providing innovative solutions to foster social change, diversity, sustainability and creativity in an evolving industry where art, science, and business converge.

Meet our 20 acceleratees and 10 incubatees and find out more about their groundbreaking projects and ideas!

 

HEMI team is joining MENT Ljubljana 2023!

MENT Ljubljana is one of the leading showcase festivals and music conferences in Central and Eastern Europe and the largest event of its kind in the region. It is an award-winning festival of music discoveries, facilitating, in symbiosis with the conference, the presentation of music performers from all over Europe in front of international music professionals and audiences.

As part of the rich, festival program, SIGIC and HEMI join forces once again and present an interesting panel about “fostering entrepreneurship among music professionals in Central and South Eastern Europe”.
Join the festival and catch the panel for more insights in the topic!

HEMI Music Awards 2023 finalists announced!

We are thrilled to announce the 9 exceptional artists coming from 9 countries of Central & Southeastern Europe!

Coming from 9 countries of Central & Southeastern Europe (Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia), these 9 HMA 2022 artists will now have access to mentoring and training activities targeted towards developing their skills and competencies in communication and revenue streams, with the aim to help propel their international career!

The finalists of HEMI Music Awards 2023, will have the opportunity to embark on a sonic adventure across Europe & get access to HMA2023 touring programme, collaborating with top booking managers and networking with fellow musicians from the 9 HEMI countries. Plus, they will be treated to a series of partner events that will elevate their career to the next level, while having the chance to win a total prize value of 2,000 Euros per nominee.

Meet the finalists:
1.badfocus/CZ
2.manna/EE
3.LIA HIDE/GR
4.Ficture/HU
5.Dina Jashari/MK
6.Klawo/PL
7.K not K/RO
8.MAiKA/RS
9.The Crossroads/Sl

Discover all the beautiful and diverse sounds from our HEMIsphere here!