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VIVA CONFERENCE 2023 -  CAN WE WORK IT OUT?

Viva Conference 2023 will be our biggest to date with talks, interviews, workshops and presentations. The whole program is proudly built on bringing people we dig and/or respect together and we believe that what got them to us will get them to you. We'll gather 200+ people this year for the conference, from 15+ countries and from all walks of life in music. 
And as the last year proved, this gets done better in rooms where people usually meet. We don't need weird fruits floating in water or your proper conference facilities - we are here to meet, share, learn and have a blast! 

Venues for Viva Conference 2023; 

- 2Lång, main venue, both days - Andra Långgatan 30

- Pustervik, b2b-session (invite) Friday - Järntorgsgatan 12
- The Abyss, panels, Saturday - Andra Långgatan 35
- Kaffe Kid, workshop, Saturday - Värmlandsgatan 19
- Holy Moly - delegate lounge, both days - Andra Långgatan 31

FRIDAY 11.15 - 17.15
Venues: 2Lång + Pustervik


11.15 @ 2LÅNG:
DOORS
Please come early to have time for check-in and avoid standing in line when the program starts. 

11.50 @ 2LÅNG:
INTRODUCTION
A short and sweet welcome to Viva Sounds.

12.00 @ 2LÅNG:
INDEPENDENCE AS A WAY OF LIFE

We'll start this year off with a conversation about being, breathing and staying independent.
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Lauren Down, End of the Road Festival, UK
Fredrik Holmgren, Startracks, SE
Torny Gottberg, Danmark Music Group, GBG
Chair: Rev. Moose, Marauder, US

13.00 @ 2LÅNG:
OPENING SPEECH - LEIF PAGROTSKY
The Chairman of Göteborg & Co will open things in style. He is the former Minister for Commerce and Industry, Minister of Culture and Education and held the position of Consul General of Sweden in New York City from 2016 to 2018. At all times - a champion of music and it's both an honour and really, really cool to have Leif Pagrotsky open up our event.

13.00 @ PUSTERVIK, MATSALEN
THIS IS THE NORDIC MARKET
(Canada b2b, invite only - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

A couple of small separate countries, or an area united as a fairly sized Nordic market?
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Jesper Thorsson, Export Music Sweden, SE
Rikke Andersen, SPOT Festival, DK
Linn Margrethe Skoie, FKP Scorpio, NO
Chair: Yohanna Eek, Yoha Sounds, SE

13.15 @ 2LÅNG
STREAMING - HOW DOES IT (NOT) WORK?

A talk about where the DSP's are headed, why old-model record deals still play a big role in the world of streaming and what’s different if running your own label.
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Daniel Johansson - Musikindustrin, SE
Lilia Ohls - Tapete Records, DE
Oskar Humlebo - Moto Boy, SE
Chair: John Kennedy, Radio X, UK

14.30 @ 2LÅNG:
THE STORY OF BELLA UNION

Career spanning interview with founder Simon Raymonde from the iconic label.
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Chair: Anika Mottershaw, Bella Union, UK

15.30 @ 2LÅNG:
THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO UNOFFICIAL DESTINATIONS
(in Swedish)

Can city, region and state officials support the creative sector to grow free and remain creative?
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Sofia Lubian, Head of department, cultural administration, Gothenburg, SE
Alex Bergström, Chairman of the cultural committee in the region Västra Götaland, SE
Jakob Eknor, Music advisor at the Swedish arts council, SE
Chair: Johan Lindqvist, Göteborgs-Posten, SE

16.30 @ 2LÅNG:
MUNICIPALITIES + LOCAL PROMOTERS = TRUE?
(in Swedish)

What would future cooperation between municipalities and local promoters look like?
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Viktor Andersson, Babel, SE
Jenny Persson, Head of Culture, Trollhättan, SE
Harriett Andersson, KB West, SE
David Dagemark, Event manager, Kungsbacka Municipality, SE

Chair: Gustav Nyqvist, VG Live

SATURDAY 10.30 - 17.00
Venues: 2Lång + The Abyss + Kaffe Kid 


10.30 @ 2LÅNG:
DOORS
Please come early to have time for check-in and avoid standing in line when the program starts.

10.45 @ 2LÅNG:
GETTING READY WITH DAVID FRICKE
Day two opens with a chat with music journalist legend David Fricke, who will share his tips and tricks on how to get the most out of a festival experience. Time to up your game by learning from the master. 

11.00 @ 2LÅNG:
LAY OF THE LAND

Three perspectives on where we are as an industry after the pandemic and into a world on fire.
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Paco Barba, Hipnosis, Pitchfork Music Festival, MX
Robyn Stewart, Women in Music Canada, BreakOut West, CA
Fredrik Andersson, Welfare Sounds & Records, SE
Chair: John Kennedy, Radio X, UK

11.15 @ KAFFE KID:
WORKSHOP: WHERE DO I SIGN? (limited slots)

Rewarding workshop on loop holes and no-no's re: contracts. What to look for, when to sign and, maybe even more important, when not to sign. Aimed at anyone who might see a contract.
Sign-up here.
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With: Kristjan Heinmets, Gateway Management, EE

12.00 @ 2LÅNG: 
CITIES - CREATING DJUNGELS FROM A DESERT

What's needed to make cities work as a community, creating scenes, careers and successes for both companies and artists. We will get down with Wichita, Manchester and Gothenburg to find some common ground. 
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Jeff Thompson - Un-Convention, UK
Jessie Hartke - Midtopia, US
Tomas Lindberg - At the Gates, SE
Chair: Yohanna Eek, Yoha Sounds, SE

13.00 @ 2LÅNG:
RAISE THE BAR, NOT THE PRICE

Can artists, agents, promoters and venues all be happy together? And at the same time keep the audience coming back? Let's look at things from the agents standpoint.
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Lenny Falk Renholt, Kultivation, SE
Jess Kinn, One Fiinix, UK
My Bergman, Jubel, SE
Chair: Ellinor Andersson, Electric Hydra, SE

13.30 @ THE ABYSS:
MUSIC MEDIA THESE DAYS, LIKE, CHAOS?

Trends, Tik-tok, AI, marketing, PR, brands, let's see how  print magazines, radio and publishers go about it, what is working - what is not.
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Birgit Wolters, Oktober PR, DE
Johanna Eriksson, Gaffa, SE
Michel Attia - FM4, AT
Chair: José Carlos Santon, The Devil’s Mouth, PT

14.00 @ 2LÅNG:
DARE TO DREAM BIG!

The Gems talk us through being 3/4 of Thundermother and supporting Scorpions to getting kicked out of the band and start all over again. 
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With: The Gems

15.00 @ 2LÅNG
LET’S TALK MERCH!

Sustainability, making money to fuel your tour, merch cuts, artwork, drinks, fans, fanbases, customers - let's dive into it.
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Dan Tobin - Eyesore Merch, UK
Sari H Wilholm - Republic 66/Live Brands Factory, SE
Runa Strindin - Midgardsblot, NO
Chair: José Carlos Santon, The Devil’s Mouth, PT

15.00 @ KAFFE KID:
ARTIST WORKSHOP: SIX vs SIX (workshop full)

Artists and bands meet up with six label a&r's to play and discuss their new stuff. Get some good tips - or some bad advice for free.
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Luke Reilly, Pnkslm Records, SE
Caroline Wallerman, Gaphals, SE
Anika Mottershaw, Bella Union, UK
Patrik Larsson, Playground Music, SE
David Mortimer-Hawkins, Sony Music, SE
Esteban Ruiz, We Are Wolves, ES

16.15 @ 2LÅNG:
FESTIVALS, FESTIVALS, FESTIVALS

We still love festivals and the festivals are still the place to be, for both audience and artists alike. Three different ones talk about challenges, opportunities and the future.
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Lubna Shaheen, Ziro Festival, IN
Uldis Paberzis, Summer Sound, LV
Berkli Johnson, SXSW Music Festival, US
Chair: Henke Brannerydh, Rockpodden, SE

MAP - VENUES

 
  • MUSIKENS HUS + HÄNGMATTAN
  • UTOPIA JAZZ
  • OCEANEN
  • GATHENHIELMSKA HUSET
  • FYRENS ÖLKAFÉ
  • SKEPPET GBG
  • THE ABYSS
  • ANDRA LÅNGGATANS SKIVHANDEL
  • KVARTERSSCENEN 2LÅNG
  • POTATISEN
  • HOLY MOLY
  • KAFFE KID