Tallinn Music Week
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Tallinn Music Week (TMW) is an international new music showcase, city culture festival and networking event for music and creative industry professionals, held every spring in
Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju '' ...
,
Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, an ...
since 2009. Operated by Tallinn-based company Shiftworks OÜ, it showcases emerging artists from all over Europe and beyond, provides a networking platform for music and creative industry professionals, and introduces the city of Tallinn. The festival is attended by around 20,000 people and 1,000 music industry executives yearly. TMW has been acknowledged as an important industry event and attractive tourism destination by ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers '' The Observer'' and '' The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the ...
,'' ''New York Times'''',
Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also r ...
,'' and '' Experty.by.''


Festival programme


Music festival

TMW's music programme presents multi-genre line-up from 100 – 250 artists. The festival has been acknowledged for embracing and introducing new emerging talent from Estonia, Nordics, Russia and beyond with various genres from experimental electronica to neo-classical represented. TMW is also the partner festival of an international Keychange initiative which encourages festivals and music organisations to achieve a 50:50 gender balance by 2022. TMW's line-up is selected from artist applications by a team of Estonian and international curators and presented to an audience of around 20,000 and 1,000 industry professionals. TMW's strategic partner is the music industry development centre and export office Music Estonia (ME). The membership of both TMW and ME in the European talent exchange network ETEP has enabled at least two Estonian artists to perform at the acclaimed Eurosonic Noorderslag festival every year. The Songwriting Camp, launched in collaboration between TMW, ME and Estonian national
Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest (), sometimes abbreviated to ESC and often known simply as Eurovision, is an international songwriting competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), featuring participants representing pr ...
selection
Eesti Laul Eesti Laul (English: 'Estonian Song' or 'The Song of Estonia') is an annual music competition organised by Estonian public broadcaster Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR). It determines the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, a ...
has fostered the collaboration of Estonian and international artists and producers.  As part of the Finnish-Estonian export project Finest Sounds (2016 - 2019), several Estonian artists like
Mari Kalkun Mari Kalkun (born 1 April 1986) is an Estonian singer and musician who specializes in contemporary folk music. She has performed at home and abroad with the ensemble Runorum, releasing several recordings since 2007. In 2013, she was voted the bes ...
, Peedu Kass and Talbot have been showcased in Japan, and Japanese music industry delegates have taken part in TMW seminars and workshops. Among the Estonian acts who have performed at the festival and have won TMW's annual artist award (Skype Award 2009–2014, Wire Prize 2015, Telliskivi Creative City Award 2016, Telia & Telliskivi Award 2017–2018), are Popidiot (2009), Iiris (2010),
Ewert and The Two Dragons Ewert and The Two Dragons is an Estonian indie-rock band. The line-up consists of vocalist Ewert Sundja, guitarist Erki Pärnoja, drummer Kristjan Kallas, and bassist Ivo Etti. Their debut album ''The Hills Behind The Hills'' was released in 200 ...
(2011), Talbot (2012), Elephants From Neptune (2013), Odd Hugo (2014),
Maarja Nuut Maarja Nuut (born 1986) is an Estonian singer and violinist. After first studying classical music, she turned to folk, adopting the village style of traditional Estonian songs. She debuted as a solo artist in 2013, winning the Artists Prize at ...
(2015), I Wear* Experiment (2016), Mart Avi, Erki Pärnoja, NOËP (2017) and Mart Avi,
Mari Kalkun Mari Kalkun (born 1 April 1986) is an Estonian singer and musician who specializes in contemporary folk music. She has performed at home and abroad with the ensemble Runorum, releasing several recordings since 2007. In 2013, she was voted the bes ...
, Holy Motors (2018). Among the notable international acts who have performed at the festival are
Vashti Bunyan Vashti Bunyan (born Jennifer Vashti Bunyan, 1945) is an English singer-songwriter. Beginning her career in the mid-1960s, she released her debut album, '' Just Another Diamond Day'', in 1970. The album sold very few copies and Bunyan, discourag ...
(UK),
C Duncan Christopher Duncan (born 29 July 1989) is a Scottish composer and musician. His compositions have been featured on various television programmes, including '' Waterloo Road'', and have been performed by Icebreaker and the Sirens of Titan choir. ...
(UK), The Membranes (UK),
Glen Matlock Glen Matlock (born 27 August 1956) is an English musician, best known for being the bass guitarist in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. He is credited as a songwriter on 10 of the 12 songs on the Sex Pistols' only albu ...
(UK),
Eric Copeland Eric Copeland (born 1978 in Brunswick, Maine, United States) is an American experimental musician based in New York City. He is a core member of Black Dice and forms half of the duo Terrestrial Tones with Animal Collective's Avey Tare. Copel ...
(US), Kara-Lis Coverdale (CA), Motorama (RU), Shortparis (RU), Kate NV (RU),
Kate Boy Kate Boy are a Swedish synthpop duo from Stockholm. The group was founded by Kate Akhurst, from Australia, and Markus Dextegen, from Sweden, together with former swedish members Hampus Nordgren Hemlin and Oskar Sikow. All members have participat ...
(SE), Rubik (FI),
Kimmo Pohjonen Kimmo Pohjonen (born August 16, 1964) is a Finnish accordionist who is known for his avant-garde and experimental work with his custom-made electrified and modified instrument. He has released nine albums of his work and has toured Europe extens ...
(FI), Jaakko Eino Kalevi (FI), Liima (DK/FI), Kristjan Järvi (US),
Yukon Blonde Yukon Blonde is a Canadian indie rock band originally from Kelowna, British Columbia.Derdeyn, Stuart (April 22, 2010).Yukon Blonde feels the love: Indie band adding plenty of fans on cross-country tour", ''Ottawa Citizen''. Retrieved May 5, 2010. ...
(CA),
Sturle Dagsland Sturle Dagsland is a Norwegian artist and musical outfit from Stavanger, consisting of the brothers Sturle Dagsland and Sjur Dagsland. They have toured extensively all across the world at festivals such as Secret Solstice, Sled Island, Fiestas ...
(NO), Hauschka (DE),
Alexander Hacke Alexander Hacke (also known as Alexander von Borsig, Alex Hacke, Hacke, born 11 October 1965) is a guitarist, bass guitarist, singer, musician, record producer, writer and filmmaker from Germany. He is primarily known as a longtime member of the ...
(DE).


Conference

Besides music industry ABC, the TMW conference has looked into the impact of arts as an engine for the economy and the functioning of an innovative society while offering inspiration to around 1,000 music professionals, creatives, entrepreneurs and policy makers from different areas. Important keywords throughout the event have been civil activism and sustainable development. TMW's conference was the first international conference in Estonia to reach a gender balance among speakers in 2018. Throughout the festival's existence several international industry experts, artistic figures and pop mavericks have participated in the conference panel discussions, among them
Seymour Stein Seymour Stein (born April 18, 1942) is an American entrepreneur and music executive. He co-founded Sire Records and was Vice President of Warner Bros. Records. With Sire, Stein signed bands that became central to the new wave era of the 1970s ...
, the founder and president of
Sire Records Sire Records (formerly Sire Records Company) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Records. History Beginnings The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehre ...
(
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
,
Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock group. Despite achieving a limited commercial appeal in the United St ...
), influential managers
Simon Napier-Bell Simon Robert Napier-Bell (born 22 April 1939) is an English record producer, music manager, author and journalist. At different times, he has managed artists as diverse as the Yardbirds, John's Children, Marc Bolan, Japan, London, Ultravox, Bon ...
(The Yardbirds,
Marc Bolan Marc Bolan ( ; born Mark Feld; 30 September 1947 – 16 September 1977) was an English guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a pioneer of the glam rock movement in the early 1970s with his band T. Rex. Bolan was posthumously inducted in ...
,
Wham! Wham! (briefly known in the US as Wham! U.K.) were an English pop duo formed in Bushey in 1981. The duo consisted of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. They became one of the most commercially successful pop acts of the 1980s, selling mor ...
), Petri Lunden ( Cardigans,
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
), Edward Bicknell (
Dire Straits Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Pick Withers (drums and per ...
, Scott Walker,
Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry CBE (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to ''The Independent'', Ferry an ...
), Peter Jenner (
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics an ...
), artists-turned authors
Viv Albertine Viviane Katrina Louise Albertine (born 1 December 1954) is an Australian-born British musician, singer, songwriter and writer. She is best known as the guitarist for the punk band the Slits from 1977 until 1982, with whom she recorded two studio ...
(
The Slits The Slits were a punk and post-punk band based in London, formed there in 1976 by members of the groups the Flowers of Romance and the Castrators. The group's early line-up consisted of Ari Up (Ariane Forster) and Palmolive (a.k.a. Paloma ...
), John Robb ( The Membranes,
Louder Than War ''Louder Than War'' is a music and culture website and magazine focusing on mainly alternative arts news, reviews, and features. The site is an editorially independent publication that was started by journalist John Robb in 2010 and is now ru ...
), Bob Stanley (St Etienne), renown acts like
Glen Matlock Glen Matlock (born 27 August 1956) is an English musician, best known for being the bass guitarist in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. He is credited as a songwriter on 10 of the 12 songs on the Sex Pistols' only albu ...
(
Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for ...
,
Rich Kids Rich Kids were a short-lived new wave band from London, founded in 1977 by Glen Matlock following his departure from the Sex Pistols. The band also included future Ultravox member Midge Ure and Rusty Egan, who both later founded Visage toge ...
), polymath musician
Barry Adamson Barry Adamson (born 11 June 1958) Discography Studio Albums Compilation Albums EPs Singles Soundtracks References External links * Adamson's art-house
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Adamson, Barry 1958 births Living people People from ...
,
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
n feminist punk rock protest group
Pussy Riot Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist protest and performance art group based in Moscow that became popular for its provocative punk rock music which later turned into a more accessible style. Founded in August 2011, it has had a membership of appr ...
, influential musicologists like
Simon Reynolds Simon Reynolds (born 19 June 1963) is an English music journalist and author who began his professional career on the staff of ''Melody Maker'' in the mid-1980s. He has since gone on to freelance and publish a number of full-length books on music ...
and Adam Harper and many others. Since 2016 the TMW conference has expanded from music industry topics towards a wider social agenda and presented various visionaries from different subject fields, among them the US-based entrepreneur and philanthropist
Hamdi Ulukaya Hamdi Ulukaya (born 26 October 1972, Iliç) is a Turkish billionaire businessman, activist, and philanthropist of Kurdish ethnicity based in the United States. Ulukaya is the owner, founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Chobani, the ...
, artist and activist
iO Tillett Wright iO Tillett Wright (born September 2, 1985) is an American author, photographer, actor, TV and podcast host, and activist. After growing up in New York City, he founded street art magazine ''Overspray'' and served as its editor-in-chief until 20 ...
, gene researcher Lili Milani, MEP
Felix Reda Felix Reda (formerly Julia Reda; born 30 November 1986) is a German researcher and politician who was Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Germany. He was a member of the Pirate Party Germany until 27 March 2019, part of The Greens–E ...
,
Silicon Valley Silicon Valley is a region in Northern California that serves as a global center for high technology and innovation. Located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, it corresponds roughly to the geographical areas San Mateo County ...
’s business angel Fadi Bishara, city developer Gunvor Kronman, pioneering post-punk designer
Malcolm Garrett Malcolm Leslie Garrett (born 1956) is a British graphic designer, and Creative Director of Images&Co, a communications design consultancy based in London, UK. He is Ambassador for Manchester School of Art and co-founder of the annual Design M ...
.


City Festival

TMW’s city festival offers daytime programme from art, design and cuisine to kids’ workshops and invites to take part in public discussions and explorations of urban space.


Awards and credits

* 2011: the "Best Newish Event in 2011" award at The Great Escape music conference. * 2012: the "Best Hotel and Convention Bar" with the festival's hotel and convention center Nordic Hotel Forum. * 2014: the "Best Host City Champion" for promoting the city of Tallinn. * 2014: Tampere Music Award for Exceptional Achievements in Music to
Helen Sildna Helen Sildna is an Estonian cultural entrepreneur. She is the CEO, founder and owner of Shiftworks, and the head of Tallinn Music Week and Station Narva festivals that the company runs. Biography Sildna has been a music promoter and event p ...
, the founder and director of Tallinn Music Week. *2016: The
Order of the White Star The Order of the White Star ( et, Valgetähe teenetemärk; french: Ordre de l'Etoile Blanche) was instituted in 1936. The Order of the White Star is bestowed on Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic ...
of IV Class to Tallinn Music Week founder Helen Sildna for her contribution to Estonian music life and civil society. In autumn 2014, British daily
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers '' The Observer'' and '' The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the ...
and Sunday paper
The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...
picked the top 5 music festivals in the world for winter breaks, among them Tallinn Music Week.


Media coverage

In 2014, British quality daily
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers '' The Observer'' and '' The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the ...
picked the Top 10 music festivals for winter breaks and Tallinn Music Week was among them. “Tallinn is known for its
art-nouveau Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...
architecture,
free public transport Free public transport, often called fare-free public transit or zero-fare public transport, refers to public transport funded in full by means other than by collecting fares from passengers. It may be funded by national, regional or local gover ...
– and its ability to attract stag and hen parties. It's also becoming increasingly relevant for the music it serves up, especially at this developing annual event." the paper said. In 2014, Experty.by's Źmicier Biezkaravajny via Belorusy i rynok said, “The Tallinn one is attractive primarily because it is one of the highest-rated but at the same time affordable events in terms of opportunities for a little-known artist to demonstrate its work to a foreign listener.” In 2016, Tom Hawking on
Flavorwire ''Flavorwire'' is a New York City-based online culture magazine. The site includes original feature articles, interviews, reviews, as well as content recycled from other sources. ''Flavorwire'' describes themselves as "a network of culturally con ...
pointed out that "/.../ the Estonian national government clearly has no problem providing state funding for such an endeavor, as well as getting involved in other, more hands-on ways. And by that, I mean that the freaking
President of Estonia The president of the Republic of Estonia ( et, Eesti Vabariigi President) is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia. The current president is Alar Karis, elected by Parliament on 31 August 2021, replacing Kersti Kaljulaid. Estonia is ...
played a DJ set at this year's festival. As much as "cool" is an integral part of
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
's brand, it's hard to imagine him getting on the wheels of steel to drop an impromptu
Chicago house Chicago house refers to house music produced during the mid to late 1980s within Chicago. The term is generally used to refer to the first ever house music productions, which were by Chicago-based artists in the 1980s. History and origins Disco ...
set." In 2017–2018
The Quietus ''The Quietus'' is a British online music and pop culture magazine founded by John Doran and Luke Turner. The site is an editorially independent publication led by Doran with a group of freelance journalists and critics. Content ''The Quiet ...
has published articles on Estonian experimental music and acknowledged TMW for “promoting leftfield adventurous artists and feeding off questions of gender identity and social righteousness”. In 2019
Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also r ...
introduced the TMW festival centre Telliskivi Creative City as the new burgeoning arts hub.


References


External links

* {{Official website Music festivals in Estonia Culture in Tallinn Spring (season) events in Estonia