International diversity as the key to success
The special thing about Music WorX is the international focus and geographical diversity of the programme: this year's participants came from Denmark, Germany and Poland. This once again made Hamburg an international magnet for creative start-ups.
Through close cooperation with local companies and experts, e.g. from Warner Music, Scholz & Friends or the Music Cities Network, the teams not only benefit from professional support, but also gain access to a valuable network for future business relationships.
One example of the programme's success is Soundvest: the team won two start-up awards in 2023, has since settled in Hamburg and is driving its developments forward from here. Music WorX is thus successfully strengthening Hamburg as a centre of innovation and attracting creative talent to the Hanseatic city.
Dr Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture and Media: "With the Music WorX incubator, we are bringing young creative founders to Hamburg, supporting them in the further development of their innovative business models for the music industry and bringing them together with the industry based here. This is a win-win situation for all sides. The annual Music WorX Pitch is both the highlight and the final. I would like to congratulate all the participating teams on their outstanding performance over the past few months. My special thanks go to Warner Music for making their premises in the Speicherstadt warehouse district available for this special evening of networking for the Music WorX Pitch."
Egbert Rühl, Managing Director of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft: "Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft has been supporting innovations in the music industry with Music WorX for many years. The publicly funded incubator programme has long since established itself beyond the country's borders and is also in high demand internationally - not least because the participating teams do not have to give up any company shares. At the same time, Music WorX attracts exciting and successful players to Hamburg. Hamburg's music industry can only benefit from this."
The Music WorX expert jury in 2024 consisted of
- Agnes Chung (musicube GmbH | Songtradr)
- Dr Astrid Bernicke (Ministry of Culture and Media)
- Jakob Höflich (Cyanite)
- Johannes Rösing (Ministry of Culture and Media)
- Julian Krohn (Scholz & Friends)
- Katharina Köhler (Music Manager Deichkind | female force mgmt)
- Lena Ingwersen (Music Cities Network | Keychange Innovator)
- Marec Lerche (Warner Music Central Europe)
- Oke Göttlich (Göttlich GmbH)
About Music WorX:
With Music WorX, the Ministry of Culture and Media has been specifically promoting the development of innovative business models in the music industry since 2011. Since 2014, it has been organising the Music WorX Incubator together with Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft. The programme includes financial support of 9,500 euros each, a three-month workshop and coaching programme, access to a mentor network and presentation opportunities at the Reeperbahn Festival and at public pitches to the industry. Successful companies such as Sofa Concerts, Tinitracks, Ikonphon, Groovecat/Cyanite, NOYS VR and Soundvest have already been supported in the programme.
About Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft
Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft is the city's organisation for the promotion of Hamburg's creative industries. As a direct contact and service centre, it is open to all creative players and companies in the Hanseatic city. More knowledge, space, funding and innovation for Hamburg's creatives - that is the mission to which the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft has dedicated itself since 2010.