The VUT Indie Days will be held on the Reeperbahn for the first time, joined by the VIA! VUT Indie Awards, the independent music industry’s first and only critics’ awards.

With two events in conjunction with this year's Reeperbahn Festival the German Association of Independent Music Companies (VUT) is demonstrating its commitment to Hamburg: the VUT Indie Days will be held on the Reeperbahn for the first time, joined by the VIA! VUT Indie Awards, the independent music industry's first and only critics' awards. The VUT, the Reeperbahn Festival, and the City of Hamburg have entered into a three-year partnership; the Hamburg Ministry of Culture (Kulturbehörde Hamburg) will be the main sponsor of the VIA! Awards 2015.

Prof. Barbara Kisseler, Hamburg's Senator for Culture: "I am thrilled that the Association of Independent Music Companies is returning to its birthplace and will help the Reeperbahn Festival as it continues to gain importance in the music industry. This decision once more underscores the key role Hamburg plays in the music business."

 

Jörg Heidemann, Secretary General of the VUT: "I'm delighted that in the City of Hamburg and the Reeperbahn Festival we've found the right partners for this year's VUT Indie Days. Both partners are sympathetic to the issues facing the independent music industry and we can look forward to a wide range of events in Hamburg. The VIA! Awards on the Reeperbahn, Hamburg's 'mile of sin', will undoubtedly be a special highlight." Detlef Schwarte, Director of the Reeperbahn Festival Conference: "The VUT is one of the pivotal music industry forces in Germany and we are, of course, very pleased that its presence at the Reeperbahn Festival will now be even stronger than it's been in previous years. I expect that the VUT's increased involvement will make the Reeperbahn Festival an even more attractive destination, especially for our international trade visitors and other indie organisations."

The VUT Indie Days will take place on 23 and 24 September 2015. The annual general meeting of members will start things off, followed by the first conference formats - the latter designed and organised for all trade and professional visitors attending the Reeperbahn Festival. On day two, the VUT and the Reeperbahn Festival will present a jointly developed programme consisting of panels, workshops, and talks that address topical issues in the music industry. The day will conclude with the awarding of the independent music industry's first and only critics' awards, the VIA! VUT Indie Awards, at Schmidts Tivoli.