Wert und Wirkung – Musik zwischen Kulturauftrag und Marktdruck (DE)

Note: this talk will be simultaneously transcribed by a speech-to-text service, making it accessible for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Music exists in a complex space between cultural responsibility and economic reality. This panel explores the often contrasting perspectives of culture and commerce within the music industry, and how these demands might meaningfully aligned.
How can this tension be defined? What role should the state play in supporting music as both a cultural asset and an economic driver? What expectations and hopes do labels and artists have? And how can cultural and economic practice go hand in hand without undermining each other?

Marie von der Heydt, a German cultural scholar, has been the Managing Director of Musicboard Berlin since January 2025. Previously, she led the music department at Berlin’s Senate Department for Culture and Europe, and worked in policy and media at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Alongside her role at Musicboard, she also serves as the Festival Director of Pop-Kultur.

Anne Haffmans is Senior A&R Manager at Domino Records, one of the world’s most renowned independent labels. She works closely with artists, scouting and developing new talent. Haffmans has played a key role in the careers of acts such as Depeche Mode, Moby, Franz Ferdinand, and Wet Leg.

Olaf Kretschmar is the Managing Director of the Berlin Music Commission and first chairman of Bundesverband Popularmusik e.V.. In this role, he represents the interests of Berlin’s music industry, with a focus on copyright, digital transformation, and market development.

Dieter Gorny is a German music manager, media entrepreneur, and cultural scholar. After studying music in Cologne and working as an orchestra musician and teacher, he founded the Popkomm music trade show in 1989. He later co-founded the music channel VIVA and served as its CEO, before joining the board of VIVA Media AG and becoming Executive Vice President at MTV Networks Europe. Since 2005, he has been Professor of Cultural and Media Studies at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, and Chair of the Supervisory Board at Initiative Musik.

Tobi Müller is a presenter and cultural journalist focusing on music, theatre, and education. With extensive experience across the music industry, he moderates panels, interviews, and discussions at festivals nationally and internationally – known for his sharp questions and ability to make complex topics both accessible and thought-provoking.