New Routes for Music: From SONIC Kick Off to Sardinia, to Sofia’s So Alive Music Conference

October brings together a series of important steps for the music and creative industries in our region, opening new pathways for artists, professionals and entrepreneurs.

The month will see Athens host the local stakeholder meeting for "SONIC - Strategies Opportunities for a New Innovative Change in Music Policy", a European initiative on cultural policy and music innovation, on October 8 at Technopolis City of Athens, with institutional and private Greek stakeholders. These discussions focus on how international cooperation can lead to practical policy strategies and opportunities for music-industry related SMEs.

Later in the month, attention shifts to Sardinia, where work continues on the development of a new regional hub, building on the exchanges started at the Sicilia Music Conference earlier this year. The journey then moves to Sofia for the So Alive Music Conference (SAMC), one of the fastest-growing events for music professionals in Central and Eastern Europe.

This year a Greek delegation will also take part, including artists, managers and entrepreneurs who will engage in panels, showcases, B2B sessions and the CEE Mixer (15 Oct | 14:00 | Kino Kabana). These formats create direct chances to meet peers, discover new markets and design collaborations that extend beyond borders.

To encourage broader participation, Greek professionals are offered a 50% discount for attending SAMC - a practical step that ensures more voices are heard and more opportunities are created.

These activities are not isolated. Together they build towards a wider roadmap: national pilot initiatives in Greece, the first open calls for young entrepreneurs, artists and startups, and the shared journey leading to Athens Music Week 2026 and the launch of AGORA.

What matters is that every partnership and every exchange adds something meaningful: new doors for artists, stronger markets for professionals, fresh ideas for entrepreneurs, and attractive opportunities for investors and sponsors who want to be connected to this evolving ecosystem.

The next connected milestones include Linecheck in Milan, where the new cycle of Music Tech Europe Academy will be launched, the first AGORA × AMW pilots and meetups, and the open calls for Athens Music Week 2026.

Mentors, partners and collaborators are already gathering. Stay tuned, more news and calls to action will follow very soon.