The complete program for the highly anticipated Bridge Conference 2025 is now live, setting the stage for one of the year’s most exciting new industry gatherings. Taking place from May 20–22, 2025, at the luxurious five-star Kempinski Hotel in Istria, Croatia, Bridge will bring together some of the world’s most influential voices from the music and tech sectors in a dynamic environment designed to spark powerful new connections and unlock global opportunities.
Industry giants from CAA, ITB, Soundcloud, WME, Wasserman Music, FKP Scorpio, ILMC, SXSW, Mad Cool, EXIT, Sziget, Music Tech Europe, IFF, and many more will lead forward-thinking conversations on the forces forces reshaping the music landscape. Topics include AI, blockchain, emerging technologies, global market expansion, artist booking strategies, sustainability, and new models of fan engagement. Across three high-energy days, Bridge will unite the sharpest minds in music and tech to forge groundbreaking collaborations, tackle critical industry challenges, and build a sustainable, innovative future on a truly global scale.
The three-day agenda for Bridge Conference 2025 starts with unmissable content, diving straight into the heart of industry transformation. A major highlight is the two-part Data vs. Gut series — a bold examination of how the music industry navigates between instinct and statistics in critical decision-making. In Data vs. Gut 1: Navigating Analytics and Instinct in Artist Selection and Booking, top European festival booking managers and executives will explore how programming decisions are made in a world increasingly driven by data. The conversation continues in Data vs. Gut 2: Navigating Analytics and Instinct in Artist Positioning and Market Penetration, where agency heavyweights will unpack the strategies behind building artists’s global trajectories. Expanding the conversation into the digital frontier, Limitless Capacity: Unlocking Global Audiences Through Digital Worlds will uncover how virtual platforms are transforming fan engagement and global reach, meanwhile Quantum Leap in Audience Growth Through AI & Data-Driven Marketing offers powerful insights on how festivals, managers, and artists can supercharge their reach and engagement.
Bridge also delivers a rare opportunity for delegates to tap into decades of industry wisdom through exclusive keynote one-on-ones. Legendary agent Barry Dickins (ITB) will reflect on six decades in the business in conversation with Greg Parmley, sharing stories from working with icons like The Who, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Dylan. Folkert Koopmans (FKP Scorpio) will unpack the journey behind building one of Europe’s biggest live music companies in an in-depth conversation with IQ Magazine’s James Drury. And Indira Paganotto (ARTCORE) will bring her genre-bending perspective to a powerful exchange on the creative and cultural edge of the industry.
Festival innovation remains a major theme, with the Festival VR Experience Activation—an immersive showcase originally launched at Expo Dubai—kicking off the programme with EXIT Festival’s bold vision for the future of live events. Innovation continues on how emerging tech can scale audiences faster and smarter than ever before with Matthew Hoag (Interstellar.plus) leading the panel The Next-Gen Festival: How AI and Emerging Tech Are Revolutionizing Live Music Experiences, featuring creative pioneers from Sila Sveta, Arcadia Spectacular, and Elrow.
The Bridge Conference 2025 will bring together the brightest minds in music and tech to shape the future in the stunning Istrian setting. With limited capacity, it offers a unique opportunity to connect, innovate, and gain strategic insights. Early registration is recommended to secure participation in this groundbreaking event. More information and registration details are available on the official website.
