This week, EXIT strategy conference under the slogan “Together We Create an Exit from Pandemic” presents its first international panel dubbed “A New Hope: Events on the Horizon?”. This will be a long-distance discussion broadcast live on EXIT Facebook page on June 4th at 6 pm. The panel gathers world renowned experts in culture and events who will try and answer the music and event industries burning questions caused by the pandemic.
The participants will discuss European festivals solidarity in fighting this unprecedented situation, the already taken initiatives, as well as the future of the event industry.
Christof Huber is a festival director and booker of the OpenAir St. Gallen, one of the most important music festivals in Switzerland. He also books the Summerdays Festival Arbon, the Stars in Town Festival Schaffhausen and the boutique festival Unique Moments in Zurich. He is the owner of Incognito Productions AG, an event agency and books and promotes several club festivals, concerts and tours all over Switzerland. Since January, 2016, he is the president of the board of directors of Wepromote Entertainment Group Switzerland AG, a holding structure with the following companies: OpenAir St. Gallen AG, Summerdays AG, Gadget GmbH, wildpony AG and Incognito Productions AG. He is a board member of Yourope, the European Festival Association since its founding in 1998 and since 2003 he is the general secretary of the association. He is a co-founder of the European initiative Take A Stand which was launched in 2017, a movement within the music industry encouraging social cohesion in our society, promoting awareness and tolerance for all cultures, genders, races, colors and religions. In 2017, he received the Award for Excellence and Passion at the European Festival Awards for his achievements for the European festival industry.
He founded and worked at a youth center (Debarak) in Zutphen, The Netherlands (booking acts, doing the bar, the crew, DJing, cleaning the toilets, cooking and Finances.) From 1984 to 1986 he worked as a social and cultural worker in a youth club in Deventer, working with problem youngsters. Later, he worked at Paperclip Agency in Nijmegen as co-owner and founder, senior agent and international director. Discovering and build up new International and National talent, coordinating international, European and national tours, all tour production, budgets and accounts. In 2001 he started Networking Music, a one stop shop for the international (live) music industry. He is an advisor and organizer of some of the most important projects and events such as Eurosonic Noorderslag, European Talent Exchange Programme, International Festival Forum, Dutch Music Export, Buma Cultuur, Dutch Impact Parties, Westway Lab, East European Music Conference, Music Export Greece and many more.
Born in Honduras, she has been working in the music industry for more than a decade. Manager and booker with a long history in developing and recruiting artists at a national and international level, Cindy Castillo is part of the Mad Cool festival team, one of the most important musical events in Spain. He has worked with bands like Canteca de Macao, Miss Caffeine or Russian Red.
Founder of world-famous EXIT festival (SRB) as well as Sea Dance festival (MNE), Revolution festival (RO) and No Sleep festival (SRB). EXIT festival, founded by Kovačević, is one of the best-known festivals in the world. It has been awarded on several occasions as Best European Festival (2007, 2013 and 2017), and has graced the pages of almost every influential worldwide media such as CNN, BBC, Time, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Sun, Forbes, Daily Mail, Independent, Euronews, Lonely Planet, Huffington Post and many more. EXIT has thus far attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists to Novi Sad, bringing more than 200 million euros in profit to local economy while expecting to at least double those numbers in the next decade. Along with the contribution to Serbian tourism, EXIT has significantly contributed to Serbia’s and Balkan’s image promotion all around the globe. In 2015 Kovačević became the youngest person ever to receive a February award, given by the city of Novi Sad as the most significant recognition to extraordinary individuals who have contributed positively to the city. He is also the initiator of numerous social activism and humanitarian projects which led to the shift in attitudes of the decision makers and general public, instigating positive social changes in Serbia and in the whole region.
Maria May's roots in dance and electronic music run deep, with 22 years under her belt representing DJs and producers including David Guetta, Frankie Knuckles, Paul Oakenfold, David Morales and Soulwax / 2manydjs. As well as less flashy, more quirky artists like Hercules & Love Affair and Róisín Murphy. It's little surprise, then, that May was tapped by CAA in 2012 to lead the high- powered Hollywood talent titan's expansion into dance music. Under CAA head of music Rob Light, May and her expanding global team have developed her division into a crucial player with a roster including Guetta, Black Eyed Peas, The Chainsmokers, Nicky Romero, Robin Schulz, Oliver Heldens, Pretty Lights, Griz, Lee Burridge, Mashrou'Leila, Jonas Blue, Alle Farben, Paul Kalkbrenner, Meduza, Haydn James etc.
Founded in 2007 by Nikki McNeill, Global Publicity specialize in worldwide PR and communications for music, festivals and events, having earned a reputation for hard work and professionalism, consistently delivering effective campaigns that raise the profile of artists, festivals, labels and music-led events around the world. With over 20 years of music industry experience, Nikki can also be found regularly contributing to industry panels at music conferences around the globe.
