NUMBERS OF WMF 2024

+700

Exhibitors

+3.000

Startups and Investors

+70.000

Attendees

+90

Countries

+90

Stages

+1000

Speakers

+50

Bands and DJs

+130

Institutional Guests

Also in view of the next edition, which will take place from 4 to 6 June 2025 at BolognaFiere, the WMF - We Make Future organizes the Contest for Emerging Bands within the Music Fest, dedicated to musical groups composed of young artists.

The selected bands will have the opportunity to perform during the event and be awarded on the Mainstage, in front of an audience that last year recorded 70,000 attendees.

The bands that will have the opportunity to perform on the dedicated stage in the Exhibition Area are also selected from the Contest nominations.

In the last edition, the jury selected +30 Bands that performed in the heart of the Exhibition Area, while the sponsors RDS Next, Fonoprint and Studio 54 have made available a prize dedicated to a Band every day. On Saturday 15 June, the winning Band of the RDS Next Award, Giargo, performed on the Mainstage.

Fill out the form

TO WHOM IS IT ADDRESSED

The contest is addressed to young bands that want to get involved by proposing:

an original unpublished song;
or a cover of International or Italian song.

HOW DOES IT WORKS

To participate, you just need to fill the form below and upload one video of the song’s performance that you chose. Once the contest is closed, the selection of the winner will take place through two steps:

1. The audience of WMF votes the candidate performances;

2. The winning band will be selected, among the finalists, by the jury.

Check the regulations

OPPORTUNITIES AND AWARDS

The winning band will be awarded at WMF 2025 and will have the opportunity to perform live on the Mainstage in front of the audience at BolognaFiere and those tuning in worldwide through the event's live streaming. Other bands will also be selected to perform live during the three days on the dedicated live music stage located in the heart of the Exhibition Area.

By participating in the Emerging Bands Contest, you have the opportunity to showcase your talent to both national and international attendees of WMF, as well as an audience of major companies, investors, and players in the innovation world from around the globe.

Seize the opportunity to make your talent known and participate in the Emerging Bands Contest!

Want to perform live at WMF 2025?

The call is open: fill out the form to apply for the Emerging Band Contest!

Winners of the previous edition

The Super Cumbia Super Cumbia e La Liga de la Alegría are the winners of the Emerging Bands Contest organized by WMF in collaboration with RDS Next!

The band, which incorporates instruments and rhythms from Latin American tradition in a mix of reggae, ragamuffin, and rap beats with optimistic lyrics, performed live on the Mainstage at WMF in front of all the attendees and those connected online from around the world.

Almost 300 emerging bands submitted their applications to the contest, which aimed to provide tangible support to young musical projects, allowing emerging bands to showcase their talents and perform live on a stage with international resonance.

Congratulations to Super Cumbia Super Cumbia e La Liga de la Alegría!