Europe's leading music tech organisations are joining forces to tackle COVID-19's devastating effects on live music.
425 applicants from 39 different countries will take part in #NextStageChallenge, which aims to unearth new, engaging and sustainable ways to bring live music online.
#NextStageChallenge kicks off with a two-week virtual hackathon where the winners are selected for a bespoke acceleration programme designed by LeanSquare, Wallifornia MusicTech and partners.
The winners will also have the chance to showcase their solutions to the wider music industry during a planned digital conference late May.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between TheLynk (France), Music Ally (UK), Music Innovation Hub (Italy), Music Norway (Norway), Sacem (France), STHLM Music City (Sweden), Technoport (Luxembourg), Teosto (Finland) and Wallifornia MusicTech (Belgium).
Yvan Boudillet, founder, TheLynk and #NextStageChallenge said: ‘We are calling on Europe's best startups, developers, designers, researchers, music professionals and creators to transform the live music experience, for good. We hope these trying times will lead to the most creative and sustainable digital solutions.’
Delphine Gropspiron, artistic and live music director, Midem, said: ‘COVID-19 has plunged the world into an unprecedented crisis. The music industry has been particularly impacted by the global shutdown – at every level. Tours, venues and festivals have been put on hold, depriving artists of their art, as well as a large portion of their revenues.
'Artists, musicians, performers, studios, engineers, technicians and other industry professionals are all suffering and facing an uncertain future. It is now key to take a step back and challenge ourselves to reshape the live experience in the digital space and find new business models for a future sustainable environment. I am honoured to join the #NextStageChallenge initiative and be able to contribute to it in my own modest way,’
To find out more, head to the #NextStageChallenge website.
