Speakers 2019

Founder and producer of music festivals Bliuzo naktys, Galapagai, Roko naktys, Nida Stories. Concert organizer and musician.

Algirdas Barniškis-Blėka (LT)

Aino-Maria Paasivirta, 27, is a promoter at Fullsteam Agency, Finland. Paasivirta started working at Fullsteam as assistant to founder Rauha Kyyrö, working with acts such as Big Boi, Jośe González, Franz Ferdinand, Wiz Khalifa, Jack White, Volbeat and Justin Bieber. She has been booking foreign acts to Provinssi Festival (cap 32,000) together with Rauha the last 3 years. In 2017 Paasivirta took on the role of full-time promoter, and she is the promoter for Allas Sea Pool, a 2500 capacity outdoor venue in downtown Helsinki. In 2018 she was shortlisted on IQ Magazine's New Bosses feature and won the Future Visionary prize (Industry Awards, Finland). She has also been listed on the Nordic Music biz 20 under 30 list (Nomex, 2019). Fullsteam Agency is part of FKP Scorpio group.

Aino-Maria Paasivirta (FI)

Founder and project director of the cultural center Menų stotis (Art station), based in Mažeikiai, Lithuania

Aistė Jokubauskienė (LT)

Manager of InDNegev music festival - the biggest alternative music festival in Israel, running since 2007 straight with 100 acts on 5 stages during 3 days, in the desert.

Asaf Ben David (ISR)

Music producer, manager, working with one of the most successful Lithuanian young artist Beatrich.

Benas Ivanovas (LT)

Christoph Thun is project manager of INES (Innovation Network of European Showcase Festivals), a project co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. INES was launched by 8 European showcase festivals and gigmit, with the latter being the initiator and project leader.

Christoph Thun (GER)

Cai Trefor of Wales works as an editor at Gigwise. With over 80 writers and 20 photographers on call worldwide, the London-based website covers all major and underground music events as they happen. Working closely with artists, record labels, PR and promoters, Gigwise doesn’t just report on the music scene, but plays an active role. Since its launch in June 2002, Gigwise has consistently been at the cutting edge of music, often breaking exclusive stories on music’s biggest acts. The fresh, uncompromising approach and ability to identify breaking acts has won it a loyal and ever expanding core of users from across the globe.

Cai Trefor (UK)

Daniel Somlo has been working as A&R and Head of Booking at Eastaste.net, Budapest Showcase Hub for 7 years. Since almost a year he's also part of the team behind BANDING, the upcoming matchmaker app for bands/DJs to do exchange gigs with each other which he's presenting at What's Next In Music? conference this year. Has worked with hundreds of bands and has an extensive network of key music industry players across all Europe.

Daniel Somlo (HU)

Co-founder of the cultural space Platforma and restaurants Keulė Rūkė and Šiaurės Keulė.

Dominykas Čečkauskas (LT)

Head A&R at Lithuania HQ, artist manager of Dynoro, Gaullin, Lucky Luke.

Daumantas Vinkevičius (LT)

Diana is general manager of Ten Walls and managing director of Runemark records.

Diana Adomaitė (LT)

Director of Audiovisual works copyright association AVAKA

Darius Vaitiekūnas (LT)

Vilnius City Councillor, Chair of Night Economy Commission, Chair of Youth Affairs Commission, Board Member at Liberty Party and Bureau Member of European Liberal Youth (LYMEC).

Deimantė Rimkutė (LT)

Jesper Skibsby is the CEO & founder of WARM - the first global radio monitoring service focusing on serving the artists and indie segment of the music industry. WARM track and identify music played on radio, globally and in real-time. The vision behind WARM is to make detailed music data available to everyone, especially the long tail segment of artist, producers, managers and record labels. Jesper has been a board member in DUP (association for independent record labels in Denmark) for from 2016-2019. Previously Jesper has represented MusicDNA as the head of Scandinavia. Jesper has worked in the Danish music industry for 6 years - establishing companies like Fandango Music Management, We Make Noise and Kassiopeia Kollektive.

Jesper Skibsby (DK)

Johan Svanberg is the CEO of the music distribution company Record Union. He has an academic background in engineering & economics and a professional background in investment banking and business development. Having also spent time working as a songwriter and being an enthusiastic music maker himself, his number one passion is to improve the lives and conditions for artists, songwriters and creatives.

Johan Svanberg (SE)

Driven by an insatiable appetite to discover, create and change culture, J/G has built a diverse quiver of resources through his career development, formal education, relationship building, non-traditional channels and entrepreneurial hustle. He has been trusted to help grow and steer some of the most iconic and innovative brands of all time, in Red Bull and Spotify, during critical periods in their evolution. His early foundation came from end-to-end music management: overseeing the creation, production, performance, promotion and presentation of art as brand and business; both his own and those who have trusted him to help them along the way. Applying that foundation to his business, he's won hearts and minds in company leadership and consumers by authentically balancing the intersection of artistic expression and commercial interest through the lens of brand and business strategy. Now, he extends his experience and service to artists, management companies, labels, promoters, agencies, festivals, conferences, established and start-up tech and culturally connected brands with his consultancy, Green Mountain Lodge.

Josh Greenberg (DK)

Founder of Enjoy Records that specializes in artist management, music, video and concert production, digital distribution and synchronization. He started his career as musical manager and sole investor of The Maneken in 2009. At 2010 he began to work with Jamala and led her to her victory of Eurovision Song Contest at 2016. At 2014 Ihor Tarnopolskyi added to his roster ONUKA, but their cooperation lasted just one year. At the moment he manages Jamala, LAUD and Superband.

Ihor Tarnopolskyi (UA)

Director of the restaurant - music club Sandėlis, based in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Jurgita Urbonaitė (LT)

Founder of the cultural center Menų stotis (Art station), based in Mažeikiai, Lithuania

Gintas Jokubauskas (LT)

VOne of the veterans of Lithuanian music scene. His company CREATIVE INDUSTRIES currently specializes on international music projects and manages such bands and artists as Alina Orlova and Jazzu, among others. Lauras Lučiūnas was one of the founders of Vilnius Music Week – a forerunner of Whats Next in Music?, a showcase festival and music industry conference happening annually since 2012 and aiming to support the growth of professionalism and exports of the local music industry. He was also the producer of Lithuanian Eurovision Song Contest, other TV shows and a lot of national events and concerts. Lauras works as a consultant with different non-governmental institutions and programs for youth and children. He is also a lecturer at various universities.

Lauras Lučiūnas (LT)

Linas is representative of AGATA (Lithuanian Neighbouring Rights Society), where he is in charge of the music streaming platforms, among other things.

Linas Ežerinis (LT)

Chairman of the Music Association’s Awards of the Year (M.A.M.A), founder of the music agency Atlikejai.com.

Martynas Tyla (LT)

Head of musical works department at LATGA (The Agency of Lithuanian Copyright Protection Association).

Paulius Sartatavičius (LT)

One of the founders of the gastropub-event venue Švyturys BHouse (Klaipėda).

Raimondas Baublys (LT)

President of the Lithuanian association of bars and cafes, founder of the bar PERONAS

Raimonas Pranka (LT)

Even though majority of people know Bjelle as an artist and TV host, there's a lot more than meets the eye. Having graduated from Music Theory and Composition studies a while ago, she always felt an itch to dig a little deeper and unravel the potential of music in different, unusual ways. That is exactly why she embarked on a recent adventure to study at Iceland Academy of Arts, and re-discovered her passion for the intersection of technology and music, as well as education, which is yet another, widely-unknown pillar of Bjelle’s professional life.

Raminta Naujanytė – Bjelle (LT)

Suzanne started her professional work with Budapest Showcase Hub and quickly moved forward to work in synching with Eastaste Music. Lately she has been dealing with the marketing and communication of Banding. Born in Russia based in Budapest she's been working with acts long enough to earn a great skill in understanding each productions faults and potentials. Enthusiastic storyteller for the millenial and Gen Z.

Suzanne Ranovich (HU)

Producer and manager of various popular and alternative Lithuanian music acts. Owner of Lithuanian based M.P.3 music agency (established in 2002), which consists from record label and concert agency. Since 2015 director of Lithuanian music business association, which is the organizer of Lithuania’s leading conference and showcase festival What's Next in Music?

Vaidas Stackevičius (LT)

Valdas Puidokas is the head of the public establishment Mažoji fiesta. Valdas specialization is in production of cultural and entertainment projects, TV shows, events and audiovisual production, promotion and organization of promotional and public relations campaigns. Valdas has worked as an executive producer of many TV shows and events. Among them - the musical/entertainment TV show Tangomanija, the National Eurovision Song Contest, the Lithuanian Music Awards BRAVO and more. He is the initiator and organizer of the cultural and recreational projects - the night music club Stikliu Tangomanija (live concerts, meetings, DJ performances), Svyturys Art Dock (the venue for concerts, performances, dance art, cinema, conferences and festivals) etc. Valdas is the director and artistic director of I Love Palanga - all summer long open-air music and art festival in the most popular and largest resort in Lithuania. I Love Palanga's events are free of charge, in a free and democratic atmosphere, open and positive space for the whole family.

Valdas Puidokas (LT)

Co-founder and artistic director at Art Factory Loftas since 2010 until now. Over 800 events organised in the last 7 years including the annual Loftas Fest, What’s Next Conference (about creative industries), What’s Next In Music? (showcase and conference), Uptown Market (designer fair), Future Shorts Cinema Festival, Music Incubator Novus (contest and seminars for upcoming bands from the Baltics), concerts of The xx, Fink, Ellie Goulding, Nicolas Jaar, Moderat, Darkside, Editors, Chrystal Fighters, Roisin Murphy and many others. Victor is also a musician and producer in various musical projects such as SKAMP, LT United, NO DJs.

Victor Diawara (LT)

Vytas is CEO of the Centre for the Protection of Intellectual Property (INAC), having 17 years of experience in copyright / protection of neighbouring rights. In 2002- 2006 he was vice president of the Lithuanian Music Industry Association LMIA. From 2006 to 2013 Vytas was the chairman of the Lithuanian Anti-Piracy Association LANVA.

Vytas Simanavičius (LT)

The creative brain behind internationally acclaimed Opium Club in Vilnius, founder of Silence Music, Best Kept Secret and Le Temps Perdu Records, recording artist known under the names of Vidis and V, restless DJ and all around music enthusiast, Vidmantas Čepkauskas has stayed at the forefront of Lithuanian electronic music scene for more than 15 years.

Vidmantas Čepkauskas-Vidis (LT)

The best in class Nuclear Physician but had a luck to change hobby into and basic love towards music into a primary business. From early beginning Maja was involved in discovering new talents and in meanwhile became Main stage booker for several times crowned Best Major European Festival, EXIT Festival. Since many years Maja is active in organizing many other eminent festivals all over Balkans: R:EVOL:UTION Festival (Romania ), DEV9T (Serbia), FESTIVAL 84 (Bosnia & Herzegovina), SEA STAR (Croatia), SEA DANCE (Montenegro).

Maja Starcevic (SRB)

Founder and leader of the BIX. CEO of a production company TV MANIJA .

Saulius Urbonavičius-Samas (LT)

Simon Strauss first came in contact with the Nuremberg music scene after his move to the city in 2010. Since then he went from just being a guest in the local music clubs, to being a part time music blogger for the local blog hdiyl.de and becoming more and more interconnected in the local music scene. After his work for the Nürnberg.Pop Conferences in 2018 he became Head of Conferences for this year's festival.

Simon Strauss (GER)

Vidas Bareikis is Lithuanian artist, singer-songwriter, director and actor.

Vidas Bareikis (LT)

Paul Tao is the co-owner of IAMSOUND, a Los Angeles-based record label, marketing agency and creative studio that has been around for 10+ years. IAMSOUND is known for releasing artists such as Charli XCX, Lord Huron and Florence + the Machine and handling creative direction for musicians ranging from Madonna to King Princess.

Paul Tao (US)

Vlad is currently employed as a booking manager for the biggest festival in Ukraine - Atlas Weekend Festival (538,000 visitors in 2019) and PMK Event Agency. Responsible for booking the international part of the festival line-up. In 2019 worked with The Chainsmokers, A$AP Rocky, Michael Kiwanuka, Tom Odell, UNKLE, Chase & Status, TesseracT, Our Last Night, Adept, Dub FX, Borgore, Noisia, Ellen Allien and many more.

Vlad Yaremchuk (UKR)

Journalist writing about pop culture for Gazeta Wyborcza daily, publisher and editor-in-chief of Gazeta Magnetofonowa quarterly music magazine. 25 years of experience in music/media business, including two biggest Polish portals Onet.pl and Interia.pl (both editorial and marketing positions), as well as MySpace, T-Mobile Music and Red Bull Music. Author of numerous music books. Retired metal singer.

Jarek Szubrycht (PL)

Promoter, founder of the agency 8 Days A Week

Martynas Butkevičius (LT)

Praised by The Times for his 'mastery of an instrument once dismissed as a squeezebox', accordionist Martynas Levickis has captivated audiences and critics alike with his musicality, charisma and dynamic performances. As one of the world’s leading exponents of the accordion, his virtuosity and versatility in the classical and contemporary repertoire has transformed the way we hear the instrument. Encouraged by his family, at the age of just three Martynas began to teach himself the traditional folk music of his home country, Lithuania. At eight years old he began to learn formally at the S. Sondeckis School of the Arts in his hometown of Šiauliai, before going on to study with Prof. Owen Murray at the Royal Academy of Music in London, followed by postgraduate studies with Prof. Iñaki Alberdi at Musikene in Spain. He is the recipient of over 30 international awards, including winner of the Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships. The first accordionist to be signed to Universal Music Decca Classics label, his eponymous debut album went straight to the top of the UK Official Classical Album Chart. Martynas Levickis has performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Shanghai Concert Hall, Waldbühne Berlin, Konzerthaus Berlin, the Seoul Arts Center, St Petersburg Grand Philharmonic Hall, among others. In 2015, Martynas founded the Mikroorkéstra chamber orchestra, bringing together outstanding young musicians from across Lithuania. As Artistic Director, he has created a number of touring projects with the Mikroorkéstra, directing from the accordion or as conductor. These have included appearances in Germany, Italy, Republic of Korea and China. Martynas is the Artistic Director of Vilnius Accordion Music Week and the annual Composers+Summer Academy, which he founded in 2014 to create and premiere new music for accordion with chamber ensemble. Martynas Levickis is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in recognition of his distinguished contribution to music in his field.

Martynas Levickis (LT)

Senior Manager of Partner Services at Sony Music Finland.

Tatu Äikäs (FI)

Į2005 m. Julia prisijungė prie Melt Festival komandos. Vokietijoje ji yra organizavusi tokių grupių kaipThe 1975, Matthew Herbert, Years & Years, Robyn ir daugelio kitų koncertus. Kartu su agentūros Melt Booking komanda ji pradėjo tokius renginių ciklus kaip Introducing newcomer show series, kurių metu publikai pirmą kartą buvo pristatytos tokios grupės kaip Chvrches, Years & Years, Jessie Ware, Alt-J ir daugelis kitų. Julia taip pat organizavo Certain People renginių ciklą žymiajame Berlyno klube Berghain. 2015 m. Julia nustojo organizuoti turus. Nuo tol ji dirba tik kaip festivalių – Lollapalooza Berlin, Melt Festival, Berlin Festival, Pure & Crafted, Body&Soul Festival, Untold Festival, Neversea Festival - programos sudarytoja. Ji dirba ne tik Vokietijos, bet ir Airijos bei Rumunijos rinkose.

Julia Gudzent (GER)

Copyright 2018 © What’s Next in Music? starflix