The digital/hybrid version of Reeperbahn Festival International in New York (14–17 June) will be doubly rewarding for all participants. The events will take place in cooperation with the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), which is organizing the A2IM Indie Week at the same time. Their extensive program is usually reserved exclusively for A2IM members. However, through the cooperation with Reeperbahn Festival International, selected individuals from the European music industry who are not members of A2IM will also have access to the complete Indie Week program.

The core of Indie Week will consist of exciting panels and 1:1 matchmaking sessions with top decision makers in the US indie industry at which the European delegation will be able to connect with US A2IM members via the restricted-access A2IM platform. Supported by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, Reeperbahn Festival International in New York will also present a diverse program of networking events, keynote presentations, valuable digital visits to key local music companies in New York, and more.

A highlight this year will be the hybrid showcase concert with bands and solo artists from Europe and the USA. Parallel to the showcase, which will be streamed from Hamburg’s Knust club, an RBFI networking meeting will take place in the outdoor area of Knust, and all participants from former destinations are invited (both physically and digitally). Due to the pandemic, the remaining events will continue to take place primarily in digital/hybrid form on the Reeperbahn Festival conference platform.

The focus of Reeperbahn Festival International in New York this year will be on the recording sub-market.

Note: In addition to the Reeperbahn Festival International schedule outlined below, exclusive access to the A2IM Indie Week program will be available to the delegation.

Program:

Monday, 14 June
7:00 pm – 7:45 pm:
Kick-Off
Participants:
Moderation – Sara Kelly-Husain
Alexander Schulz – CEO RBF
Richard James Burgess – President and CEO of A2IM
Evelyn Sieber – Project Lead at RBF International
Patrick Daniel – Delegation Coordinator

8:00 pm – approx. 10:30 pm:
Showcase Concerts featuring:
Albertine Sarges (GER), BLVTH (GER) and Margaret Glaspy (US).

The showcase concert will feature three acts, two of which will perform live on site at Hamburg’s Knust club and one of which will be integrated from the USA via video.

Tuesday, 15 June
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Company Visit 1: Company Visit: Secretly Group
5:15 pm – 5:45 pm: Company Visit 2: 300 Entertainment

The company visits will be offered exclusively to the delegation of Reeperbahn Festival International New York on the RBF conference platform.

Wednesday, 16 June
7:00 pm: Discussion Panel:
How the Climate Crisis Will Hit the Music Sector
Speakers:
Helen Smith (Executive Chair, IMPALA, GBR/BEL)
Tanner Watt (Director Partnerships, REVERB, USA)

Horst Weidenmüller (CEO, !K7 Music; Board Member, IMPALA, GER)



Hosts: Emily Whigham (Journalist, GER) & Jacob Bilabel (THEMA1, GER)

The discussion panel will be broadcast on the A2IM platform and can be viewed on the conference platform via video on demand by all registered users of Reeperbahn Festival International New York.