From May 20 to 22, the inaugural edition of the Bridge Conference took place at the luxurious Kempinski Hotel, set against the idyllic backdrop of the Istrian landscape, surrounded by the sea.
The event brought together leading figures from the music and tech industries, who participated in panels and discussions over the course of three days, sharing their knowledge and experience with attendees, exchanging ideas, forging valuable connections and collaborations, and offering insights into what the future may hold. The conference is envisioned as a bridge between two industries, while also breaking down geographical barriers to successfully create connections and open up new opportunities..
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Opening remarks and a welcome toast at Bridge were delivered by EXIT Festival Director and Co-founder Ivan Milivojev, Getahead Founder and CEO Jennifer Cochrane, Croatian State Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Monika Udovičić, and Mayor of Umag Vili Bassanese.
The first panel addressed one of the running themes throughout all three days of the conference: “Data vs. Gut.” The opening session, titled “Navigating Analytics and Instinct in Artist Selection and Booking,” explored how the process of selecting and booking artists is evolving with technological advancements and how much personal instinct still matters in a world ruled by numbers. The discussion featured bookers from some of the world’s biggest festivals: Cindy Castillo (Mad Cool Festival), James Minor (SXSW Music Festival), Miroslav Miletić (EXIT), Pavla Slivova (Colours of Ostrava), Virag Csiszar (Sziget), with journalist James Drury (IQ Magazine) moderating. The panel revealed that while most professionals today rely on data as an objective indicator of an artist’s status, some bookers still place trust in personal intuition and their own feel for spotting emerging talent.
Artificial intelligence took center stage on the first day as well, with a panel titled “The Next-Gen Festival: How AI and Emerging Tech Are Revolutionizing Live Music Experiences.” Matthew Hoag (interstellar.plus) moderated a conversation between Alexander Us (Sila Sveta), Pip Rush (Arcadia Spectacular) and Victor De La Serna (Elrow and Monegros Desert Festival), discussing how AI, AR, and VR technologies are transforming live experiences in the music industry.
The first evening of the conference concluded with a networking cocktail and a special DJ set by the duo Innēr Sense.
Following morning yoga and post-breakfast mingling, day two of the conference officially kicked off with the panel “Quantum Leap in Audience Growth Through AI & Data-Driven Marketing,” moderated by Turo Pekari (Music Tech Europe). Hannah Joos (Fever), Matthias Strobel (Music Tech Europe) i Vasja Veber (Viberate) shared their experiences with various data processing approaches and methods for identifying key insights from an overwhelming sea of data. A major topic they addressed was the protection of personal information and the expanding scope of standard GDPR regulations.
The first keynote conversation of the conference featured Barry Dickins (International Talent Booking), a true icon of the music industry and a man who has worked with legends such as Bob Dylan, ZZ Top, Billy Idol, and many others. In conversation with Greg Parmley (International Live Music Conference), Dickins shared captivating stories from his 60-year career in the industry. The audience got a firsthand look at how the business has evolved, along with the insights of one of its giants on hot-button issues, such as the dynamic pricing of tickets. With his straightforward and candid answers, Barry Dickins captivated both the audience and delegates.
It’s a fact that the entire industry and market cannot grow without expanding into and engaging with developing markets. James Minor (SXSW), Bert Cole (Arcadia Spectacular), Rabih Hassan Mokbel (Venture Lifestyle), and Richard Hoermann (Nucoast) spoke with Maria May (CAA), sharing essential data on emerging markets and development strategies, and discussing how they explore these markets and what sparked their interest. Key areas of focus included the Middle East, North Africa, India, Latin America, and Northeast Asia, all of which have shown new and promising opportunities in the music world.
After a morning packed with fascinating discussions, it was time for lunch. The focus shifted to women in music and tech, bringing them together to connect and share experiences. The lunch was filled with positive and empowering energy, made especially heartfelt by Jennifer Cochrane, who dedicated the gathering to her recently deceased friend and close collaborator, Ivana Kovačević.
One of the standout sessions following the break was a compelling case study presented by Vitomir Jevremović (3AS). Titled “Symphony of Intelligence: AI Agents as the New Creative and Business Partners,” this controversial topic quickly drew the attention of everyone in the room. Jevremović, a forward-thinking visionary, laid out the pros and cons of AI agents as creative and business collaborators. On the one hand, the speed at which artificial intelligence has advanced is astonishing. Music and art created by AI are often of surprisingly high quality, and with proper use, the results can be remarkable. On the other hand, AI agents can serve as helpful assistants that enhance performance and efficiency. The takeaway from this session was clear: “Change is happening now,” and “if you can’t keep up, you’re out.”
Later that day, another inspiring keynote conversation took place between Folkert Koopmans (FKP Scorpio) and James Drury (IQ Magazine). The talk covered building a successful career from the ground up, developing strategic thinking, and the future of festivals, touring, and the broader entertainment industry. Koopmans shared the most significant challenges he faced early in his career and, when asked what motivated him through it all, simply said: “Failure wasn’t an option; I knew what I wanted to achieve and that I had no other choice.”
The panel discussion “Beyond the Barcode” focused on ticketing systems. Panelists Anna Grenzheuser (Fever), Cesare Paciello (HID Global), and Emil R. Ljesnjanin (Tixbase), in conversation with Gideon Gottfried (Pollstar), explored the topics of ticket sales and presales, digital security checks, blockchain technology, and dynamic pricing models, which continue to spark debate worldwide. The panel also addressed facial recognition entry at festivals and the range of challenges that implementing such technologies could bring.
The topic of AI technologies in music continued with a panel titled “The Great AI Debate: Who Will Own the Music of Tomorrow?” featuring Matthias Strobel (Music Tech Europe), Ivan Novak (Laibach), Turo Pekari (Music Tech Europe), and Albert Gruber (seeqnc). It was particularly interesting to hear how musicians, specifically Ivan Novak and Laibach, view the emergence and use of AI in music. Novak revealed that Laibach are currently exploring the various ways AI tools can assist musicians in the creative process and are actively working on an AI-inspired album.
The second day of Bridge, filled with intellectual discussion and the exchange of ideas, came to a close with a gala dinner and party. The music was provided by the young and exceptionally talented DJ Lanna, setting the stage for her opening set at the Sea Star Festival a week later. It was the perfect chance to connect and network “La Dolce Vita” style, with fine wines and seaside ambiance.
The third and final day of the conference opened with the panel “Data vs. Gut 2,” during which globally renowned agents Jess Kinn (One Fiinix Live), Maria May (CAA), and Martje Kremers (Primary Talent International) shared their views in conversation with Vasja Veber (Viberate) about using data to discover and select artists, as well as how much they still rely on their instincts. Though they’re on the “other side of the coin” from the bookers in the earlier panel, the agents reached the same conclusion: instinct remains irreplaceable.
A dynamic conversation followed, centered on teamwork, artist development, and building a platform and brand. Techno and psytrance queen Indira Paganotto, founder of the label and platform ARTCORE, which has grown into a full-blown psytrance movement, spoke alongside her manager and collaborator Alex Avanzato. In an open and warm dialogue, Indira and Alex shared personal insights into their relationship, which goes beyond business. Their team operates like a family, focusing entirely on nurturing new, rising artists with great potential, helping shape them and discover unique growth opportunities within the scene. When asked how she handles the pressure of leadership in the DJ industry, Indira responded: “There’s always another mountain to climb. You have to work hard, and if the fire is within you, no one can stop you.”
Artist Aklea Neon delivered a one-of-a-kind music-art performance titled “Freqs of Nature – Plant Soundscape Experience,” creating a calming, immersive atmosphere with plant music. This set the perfect tone and introduction to the panel “REMEDIES for Festivals: A Bridge to Green EXIT and a Circular Future.” Moderated by Claire O’Neill (A Greener Future), the panel discussed the importance of using technology to build a greener, more sustainable future. Artur Mendes (Boom Festival), Ida Siljanović (EXIT fondacija), Lyke Poortvliet (Green Events), and Uroš Novak (REMEDIES) shared their experiences working on festivals and advancing their sustainability goals. The speakers presented essential tools and methods necessary for the industry to progress toward a greener future, including compost toilets, water-saving measures, zero-waste cosmetics, reusable cups, and other strategies to reduce plastic pollution.
The first edition of the Bridge Conference, set against a magical backdrop and infused with the La Dolce Vita spirit, seamlessly blended pleasure with purpose. It leaves us with a clear takeaway: the music and tech industries are inseparably linked, and building bridges between them is essential to driving innovation and accelerating future growth. Those who can’t keep up will drop out of the race.
