Music & Art

Music & Art

The stage dedicated to the future of music and art, focusing on AI, creativity, and innovations in festivals and live performances.
Here you’ll explore AI tools for music, artist promotion, and event management, along with insights to discover new artistic expressions.
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24 JUNE
25 JUNE
26 JUNE
I Patagarri - Live Concert I Patagarri - Live Concert
Valerio Lundini & I Vazzanikki - Live Concert Valerio Lundini & I Vazzanikki - Live Concert
Dardust - Live Concert Dardust - Live Concert
Ditonellapiaga - Live Concert Ditonellapiaga - Live Concert
N.A.I.P. - Live Concert N.A.I.P. - Live Concert
Opening Ceremony Opening Ceremony
24 june 11:50 - 12:30
40 min
24 june 12:40 - 13:20
40 min
Art has always played a role in society: it has reflected change, exposed abuses, and given a voice to those who had none. Today, choosing to take a stand is no longer optional—for many artists, it has become an integral part of their identity and creative vision.We see this in the United States, where Bruce Springsteen has become a voice of popular resistance against the policies of Trump and ICE. We see it in Italy, with Elisa at the forefront of climate action and Ghali bringing the Palestinian cause to stages that too often overlook it in mainstream discourse.The Patagarri fit into this tradition with a clear awareness: today, silence is already a choice.But what does it really mean to “politicize art”? Does it mean taking sides, or simply refusing to pretend that everything is fine? Where does an artist’s responsibility end and the risk of moralizing begin? And, above all, does the audience want to be challenged, or would it rather be comforted?An unfiltered discussion on one of the most sensitive and controversial issues in today’s cultural landscape.
24 june 14:30 - 14:50
20 min
In a world that rewards individual protagonism, simplifies every experience, and increasingly shifts relationships into the digital sphere,Rockin’1000 has taken a different path.For more than ten years, thousands of people have voluntarily chosen to invest time, energy, and commitment to build something they could not achieve alone: performing in large stadiums in front of tens of thousands of spectators. People of different ages, backgrounds, professions, ideas, and beliefs who agree to set aside their egos in order to collaborate toward a common goal, united by a universal language: music.Through the experience of Rockin’1000, Fabio Zaffagnini explores forms of innovation that are often overlooked: social media as a tool rather than an end, collaboration instead of competition, the value generated by shared effort, the transformative power of real-world experiences, and the role of human relationships in a society that is becoming increasingly polarized and isolated.Because experiences can be digitized, simulated, and distributed, but human presence, belonging, and the transformation that arises from encounters between real people remain impossible to reproduce.
24 june 15:20 - 16:00
40 min
From the very first vibrations and the provocative gestures of rock ’n’ roll, the silver screen sought to give a face to a phenomenon so closely tied to younger generations that it represented a tremendous opportunity for filmmakers and producers—far more than a simple curiosity or diversion.The rise of the music video through MTV and the widespread adoption of home video marked a shift from collective viewing experiences to television and private consumption, challenging cinema’s central role in promoting popular music. Yet this transformation did not diminish the imaginative power of the big screen. Beginning in the 1990s, rock films increasingly turned their gaze toward the past, focusing on memory and storytelling, recounting a history that often seemed already complete even as it continued its relentless evolution. The vast production of biopics about iconic figures in rock music is not merely a reflection of a trend, but also of a need to reinterpret the past and a desire to build its mythology.The aim is to tell the story of rock through the feature films, soundtracks, concert films, and documentaries that have best represented it over the past seventy years, tracing its defining moments through the transmission of sensations and emotions conveyed by sound and image.As Hermann Hesse once said, “To study history means surrendering to chaos while at the same time preserving faith in order and reason.” History is always the result of selections, perspectives, paths, and approaches that justify particular choices. This is our story.
24 june 16:10 - 16:50
40 min
In the age of on-demand entertainment, music has increasingly become a strategic asset that defines the global success of content. In a rapidly evolving landscape, the role of the Music Executive is also changing fast, becoming a key figure capable of navigating between integration with record labels and the creation of true marketing ecosystems, where soundtracks and brand storytelling reinforce one another. Through the analysis of some of the most iconic productions by giants such as Netflix and Amazon MGM Studios, it becomes possible to define the aesthetic shift currently underway: why do contemporary series have a “sound” so different from the cinema of the past? Does the binge-watching trend affect composition and drive the rise of hybrid languages blending different genres? How can we prepare for a market in which Artificial Intelligence may handle “functional music,” leaving human composers with the task of creating emotional identity and iconic themes?
25 june 11:50 - 12:10
20 min
Today, 75% of streams are generated by just 1% of artists, in an era where over 100 million tracks are available. How do algorithms decide what we listen to? In this talk, we explore streaming platform recommendation systems—from collaborative filtering to knowledge graphs—and the phenomenon of "musical filter bubbles." We will examine how a new generation of transparent AI can give listeners back awareness and control over their own choices.
25 june 12:10 - 12:30
20 min
25 june 12:40 - 13:20
40 min
Three hundred million songs available. Streaming charts used as the measure of success. And yet music has never felt so disconnected. In the age of compulsive streaming, the industry has optimized reach while losing touch. Artists reach millions of people but no longer know how to speak to them: platforms collect the data and keep it to themselves. The model that promised democratic distribution has instead generated a monopoly. Streaming rankings are the most misleading economic indicator the music industry has ever invented. It is time to understand what real value actually means. In this panel, Billboard Italia and RDS bring to WMF 2026 both a diagnosis and a provocation: the shift from broadcasting to narrowcasting, from vanity metrics to value metrics, from Reach to Own to Belong. A conversation between publishing, radio, and innovation — three languages speaking the same language. Why will AI never be able to replace editorial curation? What do the data reveal that nobody has fully understood yet? Where does entrepreneurship move when a market transforms? Spotify has 750 million users but cannot tell us the name of a single fan. Someone should probably explain that to them — or perhaps it is already too late.
25 june 14:30 - 15:10
40 min
European music-tech startups do not lack ideas or talent. What they lack is a bridge. Between publicly funded incubation programs such as Creative Europe and the private market lies a gap that, year after year, drives Europe’s most promising entrepreneurs toward ecosystems that are more agile when it comes to funding.Yet the signals are clear. The industry is attracting attention and innovation: more than a thousand music-tech startups across twenty-four mapped categories, with total funding exceeding €4 billion. The market is already dynamic, and capital is already on the move.At the same time, the music industry is undergoing its most profound structural transformation since the birth of vinyl. Communities and superfans are becoming increasingly important; music rights are beginning to resemble bonds, while catalogs are being valued much like real estate assets.Music has quietly become a new asset class—but the European financial infrastructure needed to fully unlock and support its value has yet to emerge.This panel brings together builders, investors, and industry analysts who have mapped the landscape firsthand. It is a conversation about what is working, what is being lost along the way, and where new opportunities have begun to open.
25 june 15:20 - 16:00
40 min
Music tech is not just a tool for distributing or promoting music; it is where new forms of discovery, value attribution, fan engagement, data access, and even cultural representation are shaped.If the future of music is being written by algorithms, platforms, and infrastructures, who gets to participate in their design? And alongside the minds developing new projects, where is investment capital actually being directed?Historically, oligopolistic structures and established supply-chain systems have tended to reproduce closed and exclusionary power dynamics. What are startups proposing to truly innovate beyond improving efficiency and supporting already established industry processes?A discussion on the people, technologies, and investment choices shaping the future of the music industry—and on whether innovation can genuinely create more open, diverse, and inclusive ecosystems.
25 june 16:10 - 16:50
40 min
After exploring the impact AI is having on the music industry—in terms of listening habits and audience behavior—the conversation shifts to a more fundamental question: how does an artistic career evolve within this new landscape?Rather than an abstract reflection on artificial intelligence, this dialogue examines what it means to become an artist today: finding a voice, releasing music, performing on stage, connecting with audiences, and engaging with technologies capable of producing, replicating, and distributing sound on an unprecedented scale.Together with our guests, we will discuss the value of mistakes, improvisation, touch, live presence, and the relationship with instruments such as the Steinway Spirio, where technology can amplify human expression without replacing it.The goal is not to pit humans against machines, but to understand how technology can be used without losing what makes music a profoundly human experience: intention, responsibility, connection, and imperfection.AI is changing the way we listen to music. But what does it mean to become an artist today? In an era where technologies can create, replicate, and distribute sound at an unprecedented scale, we will explore the value of what remains irreducibly human: error, intuition, presence, and relationships.An open dialogue between stage and algorithm, aimed at understanding how technology can enhance creativity without replacing it.
26 june 11:50 - 12:30
40 min
There is a new way of thinking about cities, and it starts with culture. Not culture as an ornament or a budget item to be cut in times of crisis, but culture as strategic infrastructure: an asset capable of attracting talent, fostering collective identity, and competing in global markets.The most visionary administrations understood this before others, transforming major music events, public spaces, and youth creativity into drivers of urban development. But how replicable is this model? What political, economic, and cultural conditions make it possible—or impossible? And above all, in a country where culture is still too often relegated to the realm of entertainment, what does it take for a city to move beyond managing its creative scene and begin actively building it?A discussion grounded in real-world experiences, exploring how Italian cities can play a leading role in the creative economy.
26 june 12:40 - 13:20
40 min
A venue, a date, a lineup… but no ticketing platform. A joke, or a stroke of genius?Live events with exclusive and innovative formats have been widely discussed for years. From the global case of the Fyre Festival—which sold fantasies that never materialized and ended in a global scandal—to local cases such as festivals like Beyond Fears, which have made invite-only access and a sense of belonging their core identity and business model. Two opposite stories, one shared starting point: the idea that experience is worth more than the show itself.Successful examples such as Soho House, the exclusive private members’ club for artists and creatives founded in 1995, have paved the way for the community-based model. What is the secret ingredient?It is no longer about designing the most inclusive and participatory format, but rather about finding the one that reflects who you are, engaging you and your circle within a true community. What makes these formats special, and what distinguishes them from simple luxury? What is the added value of the “community event”? And what does the cultural and social elitism of these events actually represent?
26 june 14:30 - 15:10
40 min
What turns a simple concert into a memorable event? Beyond the music, there is a complex architecture of invisible technologies, hospitality logistics, and visual storytelling that defines the “show to remember.” We will explore how the stage has become an immersive ecosystem where light, augmented reality, and physical effects merge to eliminate the distance between artist and audience, without forgetting the importance of “Customer Experience,” because the excellence of a show is also measured by the quality of the experience and the well-being of the community.Industry leaders reveal the behind-the-scenes of international productions and the new standards of live entertainment.
26 june 15:20 - 16:00
40 min
K-pop is not a music genre; it is a system. An ecosystem built around a relationship between artist and fan that has no precedent in the history of contemporary music: the concept of the superfan finds its most complete expression in K-pop, shaped by collecting culture, shared rituals, dedicated platforms, and a level of loyalty that turns every release into a collective event. It is no coincidence that Korean major labels have always relied heavily on social platforms—above all the purpose-built platform Weverse—and that fans themselves experience it through X: spaces where fans and idols communicate directly, in real time, on a global scale. But K-pop does not exist only online: it has become one of the most powerful tools of cultural soft power in the decade, with idols now acting as the perfect brand ambassadors for fashion, luxury, and lifestyle, and with Korean dramas further amplifying this influence far beyond Asia. But is the K-pop model exportable? If so, what is needed for it to work outside Korea—and what, instead, is fundamentally untranslatable?