FEEDBACK

Robert Meijerink, artist booker for EuroSonic:

I discovered some acts who definitely will fit into EuroSonic. The general standard was higher then expected. From good singer songwriters, folk/roots acts to original electronic pop/punk acts. Tallinn is a beautiful place to take dive into the Estonian music scene. Great venues, warm atmosphere in a beautiful surrounding. The Tallinn Music Week has a huge potential to become the ultimate platform and gate to the Estonian and maybe the Baltic music scene. I hope we can present an official EBU radio act in cooperation with the Estonian Radio. It would make sense if this act will be selected in cooperation with you/Tallinn Music Week.

Paulina Ahokas, director of Finnish Music Export:

Tallinn Music Week was a really efficient way to get an overview of what is going on in the Estonian music scene, see some of the potential artists, meet with their representatives and discuss future opportunities. I saw a few bands I really liked, such as Popidiot and Kirtana Rasa, which I was totally unaware of beforehand. I believe they have strong potential in various markets if their representatives are active and seize the opportunity this platform has offered. This event also made me realize what an amazing talent pool and enthusiastic atmosphere there is in Estonia, and I am convinced the event will even further activate local co-operation and ambition - and both of these indeed are needed for international work: it is a lot of hard work! Tallinn Music Week staff did an amazing job, and I am looking forward to the next edition!

Vegard Waske, artist manager and programmer of By:Larm Festival (Norway)

> -How did you find the whole event? seminars and showcases. I am impressed and shocked with what the TMW organizers have managed to pull off in so short time - this is far from what you could and should expect from a first time event. Very good venues and sound-systems, interesting seminars and just an exciting and inspiring event. The enthusiasm of the audience and the general quality of the music tells me TMW might be THE place very soon for those who search for new unexplored talent.

> -what did you think of the general standard of the bands?

I came to Estonia and knew very little of Estonian music and what I saw and heard had a generally good quality level. Its hard to pick one or two acts that stood out as highlights - but I am sure one or more of them will turn into great highlights as they develop and is eager to follow the development.

> -do you think the event will help the estonian music business to grow?

Of course. It will also be a good way to get the local audiences to support new talent and give the business and the acts more self-confidence. I think it would be smart for TMW to be open to talent from the neighboring countries Latvia and Lituania as well, since if TMW can be considered THE event to explore Baltic talent and meet the business from the 3 countries it will be much more attractive to the international music business to go to.

Jorma Sarv, Kultuuriministeerium

Tallinn Music Week on kahtlemata tähelepanuväärne ettevõtmine eesti muusika laiemaks tutvustamiseks. Seni on kohaliku pop- ja rockmuusika välismaale turundamise juures osutunud küllalt suureks probleemiks just see, et valdkonnas pole olnud piisavalt ühiseid ettevõtmisi ja ühist huvi väljendavaid kokkuleppeid. Tallinn Music Weeki korraldajad suutsid tuua ühe ürituse raamidesse kaaluka osa sellest, mida meil pakkuda on, see loob ka välismaiste festivalide promootoritele ja muusikaekspordi juhtidele parema võimaluse ennast siinsete asjadega kurssi viia. Loomulikult ei saa see olla ühekordne kampaania ning nagu seminaridel kõlanud arvamustestki kuulda oli, on meil veel palju teha. Samas on hea meel selle üle, et suudeti korraldada korralikul tasemel sündmus, edasisteks ettevõtmisteks on nüüd korralik lähtekoht olemas.

Paul Cheetham, Clockwork Music Management / The Nordic Music Office (The NMO)

-How did you find the whole event? seminars and showcases.

Tallinn Music Week was probably the best possible way to introduce Estonian music and companies to the outside world. It was organised to near perfection by people who obviously have a promoter's eye for detail. The environment for the international delegates was comfortable, unique, and invigorating. The sheer beauty and good taste of the city of Tallinn itself is a huge selling point in the future of developing this event in to a European-wide, or even a world-wide, event.

The strong aspects of the event were the quality of the venues, the active audiences and the diversity of the acts on display. The seminars were well thought-out, relaxed and highly informative. It was also a wonderful platform for international business people to gather together and create a positive energy amongst themselves about the event before going back to their own territories and recommending Tallinn Music Week to their colleagues and associates.

-what did you think of the general standard of the bands?

The artists on show were all of a really impressive standard but I don't think I was expecting it to be any other way. It helped that they were performing in venues that they are familiar with and in front of large, enthusiastic audiences. Not every act will benefit greatly from taking part in this event but that is true of any event like this in any city in the world. Several artists impressed me enough to consider working with them or supporting them in some way in future. Some of the acts were not quite ready for the international stage but showed the right potential and will hopefully use the experience from this event to grow their confidence and ambition to become successful. Other artists were obviously made for the local market and will continue to be popular at home, but they still showed great talent, and were well appreciated.

-any bands in particular that you would point out?

Unfortunately I didn't quite manage to see every single act but I did see many. My "strength" in this business is working with rock and pop artists so I focused in that area and personally I really liked acts like Aides, Popidiot, Stella, and Chungin & The Strap-on Faggots. The Sun are not exactly my taste but I could admire them from a promoters point of view and I could really see them having some major success abroad along the lines of Sunrise Avenue in Germany perhaps, so I was interested in them from a more commercial point of view. I could also see why Bedwetters had already had so much attention and I hope they have better luck in future. Kosmikud were brilliant fun. I've been a fan of Röövel Ööbik for years and always enjoy them. Other artists I saw and liked included Helin-Mari Arder, Kadri Voorand, Andres Lõo and Music For Plants showed some promise. I've been listening a lot to songs by Eva Mitreikina recently but unfortunately missed her set so I will make sure I return to Tallinn when she plays there again. I've heard she is wonderful.

-do you think the event will help the estonian music business to grow?

Without any doubt at all I think this event will help the music business to grow. I have been based in Helsinki for the last ten years and have seen the way that the business grew there very rapidly once international attention was finally received. First there were one-off hits by Darude and Bomfunk MCs, then huge success with HIM, The Rasmus and Nightwish, as well as the Eurovision success of Lordi. The Music Export office was set up to take advantage of this and has been very effective in finding brilliant opportunities for artists and companies to develop their experience and contacts around the world at events like SXSW, Popkomm and Midem. It is essential, though, that the Estonian people, musicians, politicians and companies understand that this first event is only the beginning of all that. It must continue to develop and offer the same excellent services and artists year after year. Eventually there will be one Estonian artist that breaks in the same way that HIM or The Rasmus did and then international companies will come to Estonia looking for more. It is important that Estonia is ready for that when it comes. It is probably the case that the first artists that find success and attention abroad will need to have guidance from non-Estonian companies but it is clear there are young, smart and ambitious people in Estonia who can learn from these internationals and become the next generation of managers, labels and business people who can operate on a global level.

On the evidence of this inaugural event I have no hesitation in recommending it to others in the business and I would say that the future of Estonian music is very bright indeed. I can't wait to come back for more.

Tapio Korjus, Rockadillo:

-How did you find the whole event? seminars and showcases.

I found it very good. There was enough interesting seminar program and lots of artists to see. And the whole thing was well organized.

-what did you think of the general standard of the bands?

Many interesting and original bands, especially in the more underground or marginal genres like World, jazz and indie rock.

-any bands in particular that you would point out?

The Jazzkaar showcases at NO 99 as well as many of the bands HUH presented at Mustapeade maja and von Krahl were very interesting.

-do you think the event will help the estonian music business to grow?

Definitely. It will help the local music industry to become more focused and professional and grow. In the coming years I think more of the labels and agents will learn how to take advantage of TMW to lobby their talent as well as network with foreign colleagues.

Joakim Haugland, Smalltown Supersound:

> -How did you find the whole event? seminars and showcases.

I had a wonderful time and I think the whole event was very professional. It is still small, but that made it easier for us to meet new people and easier to get an overview.

> -what did you think of the general standard of the bands?

I think they have the same standard as other events such as By:Larm and Tampere, some good and some not so good. That is also a matter of taste.

> -do you think the event will help the estonian music business to grow?

I think actually this is crucial for the Estonian business. I have seen By:Larm in Norway since the first time it was arranged and I have seen how it have become better and how the norwegian music has become better. And most importantly, how the outside world has gotten their eyes up for Norwegian music. So this is VERY important for Estonian music business.

Aine O’Keeffe, Great Escape:

Great bands, interesting conference, beautiful city, friendly people: Tallinn Music Week is destined to become a firm fixture in the music industry calendar.