The 4th SoAlive Music Conference & Festival (SAMC) is underway in Sofia from October 14 to 16, bringing together more than 300 international music industry professionals. The accompanying concert programme will feature over 50 free live performances by artists from Bulgaria, the Balkans and Europe, the organizers said.
The conference is attended by representatives of music companies, festivals, agencies, platforms, media outlets and organizations from the Balkans, Europe and around the world. Participants include representatives of Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, The Orchard, Universal Music, Beggars Group, Goldenvoice, Sziget, EXIT, Electric Castle, FKP Scorpio, WME, UTA and X-ray Touring.
In 2025, SAMC attracted more than 1,000 delegates from 57 countries.
Key topics on this year’s professional programme include the impact of artificial intelligence on music creation and distribution, the protection of copyright and related rights, independent distribution and new opportunities for artists. Discussions will also cover the future of live music, Europe’s festival landscape, music supervision and synchronization, as well as the role of the media amid the growing influence of algorithms.
The organizers said a special focus of this year’s edition will be the East of the Future programme, which will connect the music industry in Southeastern Europe with representatives from Japan, China, Thailand and other markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Participants include Kulture from Japan, Alchemist Group Asia from China, Symphonic from Southeast Asia and Monday Blues from Thailand. The focus will be on opportunities for international cooperation in booking, distribution and artist career development.
This edition of SAMC marks the 25th anniversary of IMPALA, the European association of independent music companies. Bulgarian pop singer Dara will deliver a special keynote address. Having won the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, Dara is among the artists from the region seeking to reach a wider international audience, the organizers said.
Alongside the conference, a showcase festival featuring over 50 live performances will take place at various clubs and concert venues across Sofia. All concerts will be free of charge, with the aim of bringing international industry professionals, artists and the wider public together.
SAMC is supported financially by Sofia Municipality, the Ministry of Culture and the European Union. Access to the professional programme requires a paid SAMC Full Access PRO Pass, while the showcase festival concerts are free and open to the public.
According to SAMC founder Ruth Koleva, Sofia is strengthening its status as a place where the Balkan music scene meets the international industry, while Southeastern Europe is gradually evolving from a market that follows trends into a region that is beginning to create them.
The SoAlive Music Conference & Festival is a music conference and showcase festival in Southeastern Europe. Held annually in Sofia, it connects the Balkans and Central and Eastern Europe with the international music industry. Its professional programme brings together artists, record labels, publishers, festivals, agencies, distributors, music platforms, media outlets and other representatives of the music ecosystem, while the showcase festival presents emerging artists to an international industry audience and the wider public.
SoAlive Music Conference & Festival Kicks Off in Sofia THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-14 07:56:24
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