Aziz Sarr

Berlin is often spoken about as one music scene, but in reality it is made up of many different scenes, spaces and communities: club culture, migrant and diasporic communities, experimental music, rap, pop, queer collectives, DIY spaces, independent venues and artist-led initiatives -the list goes on.
This session asks how these different parts of the city’s music ecosystem can be better connected without losing what makes them specific. Where do scenes already support each other? Where do they remain disconnected? And what kinds of bridges, formats or support structures could help Berlin’s music communities become more visible and connected while staying independent?

Promoters carry a significant share of the financial risk in live music and operate in conditions that have become harder year on year. Talent costs have moved. Ticketing has changed. Audience behaviour around buying tickets in advance has changed. The promoters building durable businesses are the ones doing the work this session captures. The session is honest about money and specific about the practices that produce a sustainable business