Sacem And Music Tech Leaders Tackle Covid-19 With Europe-Wide Innovation Challenge

Europe’s leading music tech organisations are joining forces to tackle COVID-19’s devastating effects on live music and explore exciting new ways to futureproof the industry.
#NextStageChallenge is an initiative which aims to find quick and lasting solutions to key challenges through a hackathon, accelerator program and conference.

The current global health crisis is creating an uncertain future for music professionals. The industry needs to develop new technical solutions to support artists and their teams, during this volatile time and into the future.

#NextStageChallenge will begin with an open call for submissions until 24th of April, 2020.
During a two week period beginning on 27th of April, companies, teams and individuals will explore solutions relating to three main areas: Access (creation, production, broadcasting, curation), Fan Engagement (audience, user experience, immersive technologies), and Value (monetization, monitoring, rights management). The most innovative submissions from each category will then be chosen to join an accelerator program, followed by a conference to showcase their solutions to the wider industry.

The initiative is a collaborative effort between Music Innovation Hub (Italy), Music Norway (Norway), Music Tech Germany (Germany), Music Ally (UK), Sacem (France), Sound Diplomacy (UK), STHLM Music City (Sweden), Technoport (Luxembourg), Teosto (Finland), TheLynk (France) and Wallifornia Music Tech (Belgium).

 “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 & sustainable digital solutions.”

For further information, or to submit your idea to #NextStageChallenge, visit: www.nextstagechallenge.org