MW:M 2024
Speakers
Confirmed Speakers MW:M24
Here we announce the confirmed speakers of Most Wanted: Music 2024. This list will be successively updated until the event, so check back from time to time.
Meet our talking heads
We are pleased to present you a number of this year’s speakers and discussion partners from a huge variety of business sectors.
Our confirmed speakers
Technische Universität Berlin
Job Title: Senior Researcher
Name: Janet Merkel
Company: Technische Universität Berlin
Biography: Dr. Janet Merkel is a social scientist and urban sociologist. She works as a research assistant at the Institute for Urban and Regional Planning at TU Berlin in the Department of Urban and Regional Economics. Her research interests are in social and spatial organisation and the production conditions of cultural and creative industries; cultural-creative work and freelance employment; cultural policy in cities; as well as questions of urban governance and urban policy. She has worked at the Social Science Research Center Berlin, the Hertie School of Governance, as an assistant professor for cultural and creative industries at the City University of London,and held the professorship for the economics of urban and regional development at the University of Kassel.
ANGEPRANGERT! Spoken Word
Job Title: Spoken Word Artist & Founder of ANGEPRANGERT!
Name: Jessy James LaFleur
Company: ANGEPRANGERT! Spoken Word
Biography: Jessy James LaFleur is a nomad with conviction; a spoken word artist, a rapper, an activist, a workshop host, and an entrepreneur – who has taken a million and one paths around the world over the last 20 years. Raised in east Belgium, she has brought her poetry to the stage in more than 30 countries, and in three different languages. She is the founder of the aspiriational initiative “ANGEPRANGERT! SPOKEN WORD”, that teaches young poets from rural areas and ethnic minorities how to use their voice on stage.
KLEF
Job Title: Co-Founder
Name: Laura Magnano
Company: KLEF
Biography: Laura is the co-founder of KLEF, a culture-led fan engagement platform for artists & creators. Known as a web3 pragmatist, Laura brings a level-headed view to utilising blockchain technology for the greater good, with a focus on democratisation and accessibility. Her approach is informed by her career across tech, marketing and her deep dive in web3 in 2016; from running marketing agencies, consulting brands on new internet cultures to co-founding the first kyc/aml blockchain protocol in 2018.
Dice
Job Title: Director Venue & Promoter Partnerships, Germany
Name: Noura Labbani
Company: Dice
Biography: Berlin-born, Algerian-raised Noura Labbani has been working in the music scene for over 15 years. She started at !K7 Records in Berlin, held an A&R Assistant job at EMI Music and worked at Dailymotion as the Country Manager for Germany, Beatport’s Director of Content Europe and at Patreon as Creator Partnerships Manager for France. In June 2022 she joined DICE as Director of Venue & Promoter Partnerships Germany.
Berlinsidestories
Job Title: Founder/Artist/Speaker/Manager
Name: Emiko Gejic
Company: Berlinsidestories
Biography: Emiko is a Berlin-born artist, creative, founder, guide, speaker and event manager with a background in urban studies and urban research. With her company Berlinsidestories, she hosts self-organized tour events about urban development, club culture, subculture, creative industries, urban change and activism. She also works as a dancer and actress in the Berlin art scene. She is part of the Factory Berlin community as a Creative Relations Manager, where she connects creatives with tech companies.
Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin
Job Title: Programme Manager Berlinale Talents
Name: Florian Weghorn
Company: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin
Biography: Florian Weghorn is the Programme Manager of Berlinale Talents, the talent development initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival; with seven global offshoots, ranging from Beirut to Tokyo. Florian joined the Berlinale team in 2002. From 2008 to 2014, he was the co-director and curator of the Generation section with around 60 short and feature films annually. Between 2012 and 2019, Florian was also a member of the Berlinale Competition selection committee.
A couple more of our past Speakers
While we have not been able to announce any new speakers yet, you are welcome to take a look at who has already taken part in recent years. As soon as we have the first confirmed speakers for 2024, we will list them on this page and inform everyone who has signed up for our newsletter.
Our confirmed speakers
Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, New York University
Job Title: Chair
Name: Jason King
Company: Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, New York University
Biography: Jason King is the Chair of New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, and Director of NYU Berlin’s Future Pop Music Studies program. Jason is a widely-published journalist, musician, performer, producer, songwriter, scholar, and curator. He’s hosted and produced video, radio and podcast projects for Spotify, NPR Music and CNN – working with artists like Dua Lipa, Alicia Keys, and Moses Sumney. He’s also been an expert witness on behalf of Kanye West, Drake, Lady Gaga and others.
Moderator
Job Title: Moderator
Name: Abba Lang
Biography: Born and raised in Uganda, Abba Lang has worked for a series of Berlin tech startups. Abba is a poet, musician and a member of Berlin-based group Tanga Elektra.Click here to see all our confirmed speakers for Most Wanted: Music 2020.
Managing Director
Job Title: CEO
Name: Sven Deutschmann
Company: Sonopress GmbH
Biography: Sven Deutschmann has been Chairman of the Board of digital service provider Sonopress GmbH since 2005, and manages the group’s business in Europe, North America, Australia and Hong Kong. He joined Bertelsmann AG in 1992. In 1996, he became Managing Director of print specialist Topac GmbH. In 2002, he was appointed Managing Director of Sonopress GmbH, and in 2005, he also became Chief Executive Officer (CEO) EMEA of arvato Entertainment (today: Sonopress GmbH).Since January 2014, as CEO, he oversees the global business of Sonopress in Europe, North America, Australia and Hong Kong. In 2016 Sonopress launched the production of the Ultra HD BD format and in 2022 Sonopress returned to manufacturing of Vinyl Records. In 2023 Sonopress introduced the EcoRecord, with the first released EcoRecord title being the Liam Gallagher/John Squire album in March 2024.
Hanover University of Music | University Professor
Job Title: University Professor
Name: Dr. Carsten Winter
Company: Hanover University of Music
Biography: Carsten Winter, Dr. phil. habil., is a university professor for media and music management. His main research interests are: New music cities, music networks and music media strategies, agency festivals as music conjunctures for culture, economy and society, and cultural studies. Among other things, he is the founding president of the Ges. f. Musikwirtschafts- und Musikkulturforschung e.V., co-founder of the Jahrbücher Musikwirtschafts- und -kulturforschung, and of the International Music Business Research Association.
A couple more of our past Speakers
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