Worldwide Independent Network, the independent record industry’s umbrella trade organisation, has confirmed that the 2024 edition of its conference WINCON will take place in Belgrade, Serbia, at the end of this month. The flagship event brings together WIN member participants from more than 30 territories and will be delivered in partnership with the Runda Digital Day conference, organised by Balkan indie label trade body RUNDA.
Dario Draštata, RUNDA’s president says, “When we started RUNDA, one of the priorities was to connect the region with the world but also to bring the world to the region. Hosting WINCON at our own Runda Digital Day conference in Belgrade, we have not only reached that goal but also created a networking hub that opens possibilities for the global indie community”.
This year’s event sees the continuation of WINCON’s tradition of taking place in a different country, with a different host partner each year. After two virtual summits due to the COVID pandemic, WINCON returned to in-person events in 2022 with an edition at A2IM’s Indie Week event in New York. With last year’s event hosted by Portuguese WIN member AMAEI at Lisbon’s Belém Cultural Centre, this year will see representatives from the network’s trade body membership head to the Dom omladine cultural centre in the heart of Belgrade.
“The itinerant nature of the event”, says WIN CEO Noemí Planas, means that WINCON attendees are able to take advantage of “a key event to engage with the host’s local music industry. We are looking forward to visiting Belgrade this year and connecting the Balkans with the world”.
Kicking off on 22 Sep with an in-person meeting of WIN’s board of directors, the event will continue on 23 and 24 Sep. Over the course of those two days WIN members will be able to attend a variety of keynotes, panels and networking opportunities where they can meet, discuss and collaborate with more than 200 delegates - many from the Balkans - who will be attending Runda Digital Day, alongside representatives from organisations including YouTube and Bandcamp who are confirmed to attend.
WINCON is supported by Serbia Creates, and sponsored by Merlin, the independent digital music licensing organisation.
“Merlin is proud to support this year’s event in Belgrade, a city with a vibrant and dynamic music scene”, says the organisation's CEO Jeremy Sirota. “Our mission is to ensure that independent music continues to thrive and grow around the world - participating in WINCON and Runda Digital Day helps to advance those objectives”.
As part of the programme of events, WINCON will hold a number of member-only sessions examining key challenges and issues impacting on the global independent music ecosystem, including streaming reform and performer remuneration.
“WINCON has helped unite the WIN family, celebrate its diversity and be part of the global community”, continues Planas. “It is a vital platform for industry leaders to come together and hold important discussions to advance the independent agenda”.
Alongside the WIN-member sessions, all Runda Digital Day attendees will be able to participate in a series of open sessions coordinated by WIN, including discussions around the ethical implications of generative AI, how data workflows can be streamlined by adoption of DDEX standards, and insights into the digital value chain in Latin American and Asian music markets.
