Venues vs Festivals: Synergy and Competition

Venues vs Festivals: Synergy and Competition brings together industry experts from across Europe, representing festivals, venues, and booking agencies. This session will delve into the relationship between these two vital components of live music, focusing on the dynamics of bookings in mainstream, alternative and club scenes. While festivals and venues may seem like competitors contesting for audiences and artists, they are in fact interdependent. Festivals depend on venues to cultivate and showcase emerging talent throughout the year, while venues benefit from the heightened exposure and financial boost that festivals provide. The panel will explore how these entities can collaborate more effectively, leveraging their synergies to sustain a vibrant music ecosystem. By examining different strategies and perspectives, this discussion aims to reveal how cooperation between festivals and venues is essential for the long-term success and sustainability of live music.