Mastering The Music Business (MMB) 2026: Full Schedule

MMB is the first and biggest international music business conference and showcase festival in Romania. Dedicated to all music enthusiasts, MMB is the place where both independent artists and key music business professionals are offered the opportunity to meet with leading experts in the local and international industry, learn from them and interact with them directly.

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11:00 EEST

(EN) The Global Gateway: Export Strategies for Today’s Music (Panel)

Tuesday September 1, 2026 11:00 - 11:40 EEST

MUGUREL VRABETE ROOM

The Global Gateway: Export Strategies for Today’s Music

Expanding into international markets takes more than great music—it requires the right strategy, partnerships, and timing. This panel explores how artists and music professionals can successfully grow their careers beyond their home territories, from choosing the right markets and building international networks to making the most of showcase festivals, export offices, and digital opportunities. Join industry experts as they share practical insights into navigating today's global music landscape.

Moderators

Lucia

Speakers

Anca Lupes

President, RAW Music

Anca Lupeș is one of the most experienced professionals in Romanian music business. One of her most important advantages is that during her career in the music business she has activated in almost all the areas of this industry – mass media (press, radio, TV), concert organising... Read More →

Marek Hojda

Paulina Parvanov

Corinne Sadki

Head of European Affairs and Gender Equality, Centre National de la Musique

Corinne Sadki has been working for more than 25 years in record companies (EMI, BMG, Sony Music) developing marketing and communication strategies with a never ending passion for music.
In 2016, she joinded the french music export office in Paris (Le Bureau Export) and got involve... Read More →

Tuesday September 1, 2026 11:00 - 11:40 EEST
MUGUREL VRABETE ROOM HOTEL CARO

Panel

11:00 EEST

(RO) Hired Stage Guns (Panel)

Tuesday September 1, 2026 11:00 - 11:40 EEST

NICU COVACI ROOM

Behind countless albums, tours, TV shows, and live performances are session musicians, the highly skilled professionals who bring other artists' music to life. But what does it actually mean to build a career as a session musician, and is it a viable full-time profession?

This panel explores the realities of life as a session musician, from finding your first gigs and building a reputation to navigating the freelance nature of the job. How do session musicians get hired? What skills and mindset are essential? How stable is the income, and what are the biggest challenges and opportunities in this career path?

Moderators

Andrei Ilie

Arist, byron

✉ [email protected]

Andrei Ilie is 28 years old and is one of the most active drummers on the Romanian rock & pop scene. Frequently, though, as a member of the projects he was involved in during the years, he found himself taking care of band tasks which often went beyond drumming duties, particularly... Read More →

Speakers

Relu Batog

Raluca Pascaru

Claudiu Purcarin

Bogdan Stoican

Alexandra Căpitănescu

Tuesday September 1, 2026 11:00 - 11:40 EEST
NICU COVACI ROOM HOTEL CARO

Panel

12:15 EEST

(RO) The Creator Economy Meets the Main Stage: Visa x Untold and the Business of Backing Artists (Panel)

Tuesday September 1, 2026 12:15 - 12:55 EEST

NICU COVACI ROOM

At Untold, Visa built a partnership that puts creators front and center, not as content vendors, but as voices worth investing in. In this panel, the key players behind the collaboration share how the model was designed, what the business case looked like, and what it means for a brand of Visa's scale to genuinely back emerging talent. A conversation for anyone working at the intersection of artist management, festival programming, and brand partnerships.

Moderators

Carina Sava

Founder, Watermelon Agency

Speakers

Bogdan Rădulescu

UNTOLD

Andres Marcu (Dansen)

Artist

Aura Toma

VISA

Tuesday September 1, 2026 12:15 - 12:55 EEST
NICU COVACI ROOM HOTEL CARO

Panel

14:00 EEST

(EN) Navigating Stress and Psyche in the Music Business (Panel)

Tuesday September 1, 2026 14:00 - 14:40 EEST

MUGUREL VRABETE ROOM

In the music industry, a crisis is never a question of if, but when. A leaked statement, a cancelled show, a controversy that spirals overnight — reputation can take years to build and hours to lose. This session looks at what actually happens when things fall apart: how artists, managers, and labels respond under pressure, what separates those who recover from those who don't, and why some careers even come out stronger on the other side.

Drawing on real cases from the music business, we'll break down the anatomy of a reputational crisis — from the first spark to full-blown storm — and explore practical strategies for navigating it: when to speak, when to stay silent, who should deliver the message, and how to rebuild trust with audiences, partners, and the media.

Because in the end, it's not the storm that defines you. It's what you make of it when it breaks.

Moderators

Miriam Davoudvandi

Speakers

Ioan Mirea

Mental Health Professional

Anne Löhr

Tuesday September 1, 2026 14:00 - 14:40 EEST
MUGUREL VRABETE ROOM HOTEL CARO

Panel

14:00 EEST

(EN) The Show Behind the Show: Inside Festival & Live Event Production (Panel)

Tuesday September 1, 2026 14:00 - 14:40 EEST

LAURA STOICA ROOM

What does it take to turn a festival concept into a world-class live experience? From stage design and technical production to artist hospitality, logistics, and last-minute crisis management, producing a large-scale event requires precision, teamwork, and the ability to adapt under pressure.

This panel brings together experienced production professionals to discuss the realities behind major festivals and concerts. Topics include production planning and budgeting, advancing with artists and crews, coordinating multiple stakeholders, sustainability and safety, managing unexpected challenges, and the technologies shaping the future of live event production. An essential session for anyone interested in the operational side of the live music industry.

Speakers

Bubu Cernea

Raluca Rugina

George Carabelea

Roxana Luca

Manager Producție, independent, TheABC.ro

Roxana Luca is an experienced events professional who began her career in 2006. She has delivered major projects from concept to execution, including Pope Francis’ visit to Blaj, Romania, as well as international productions for ARTmania, Emagic, Pozitif Live, and other promoters.Combining... Read More →

Zsolt Szabo

Production Manager, Broadway Events

Zsolt Szabó is a live event production professional with more than a decade of experience, primarily working in Hungary while also gaining extensive experience on international projects across concerts, festivals, arena-scale productions and major events. His career has taken him... Read More →

Tuesday September 1, 2026 14:00 - 14:40 EEST
LAURA STOICA ROOM HOTEL CARO

Panel

14:00 EEST

(EN) Young, Loud and Fearless: A Eurovision Story (Panel)

Tuesday September 1, 2026 14:00 - 14:40 EEST

NICU COVACI ROOM

The road to one of the biggest Romanian performances at Eurovision with a very young band.

Moderators

Dan Fintescu

Programs Director & Radio DJ, Kiss FM

DJ at Kiss FM for 13 years, Program Director for a year. One of the organizers of the largest music industry conference in Romania, Mastering the Music Business, with experience in booking and artist management.

Speakers

Calin Grajdan

Artist

Maji

Artist

Victor Rebenciuc

Marketing, Universal Music Romania

Mihaela Alexandrina Scrioșteanu

Alexandra Capitanescu

Tuesday September 1, 2026 14:00 - 14:40 EEST
NICU COVACI ROOM HOTEL CARO

Panel

15:15 EEST

(EN) Stand Out or Fade Out: The New Rules of Festival Positioning (Panel)

Tuesday September 1, 2026 15:15 - 15:55 EEST

NICU COVACI ROOM

The festival market is becoming increasingly crowded, making it harder than ever for festivals to stand out, remain relevant, and build lasting relationships with their audiences and partners. With so many events competing for the same audiences, attention, funding, and resources, success often depends on having a clear and distinctive position.

But what does “positioning” actually mean for a festival? It goes beyond having a strong identity or a catchy slogan — it is about defining what makes a festival unique, who it is for, and why people should choose it over the many alternatives. It is also about understanding how a festival positions itself towards potential partners and sponsors: what it can offer them, what makes the partnership meaningful, and how its identity, audience, values, and cultural relevance can translate into a compelling proposition for brands.

This panel will explore how festivals can define and communicate their position, differentiate themselves in a competitive market, and build partnerships that go beyond traditional sponsorship models.

Moderators

Cosmin Sipos

Digital Marketing Specialist, Kooperativa 2.0

Speakers

Ionut Tone

Head of Partnerships, Nostalgia Festival

Alin Vaida

Festival Director, Jazz in the Park

Alin is the founder of the Jazz in the Park festival in Cluj-Napoca and the executive director of the Fatte Association, the implementing organization of the festival. He has been working in the cultural field since 2009, especially in the field of music, being responsible for hundreds... Read More →

Stefan Zaharescu

Tuesday September 1, 2026 15:15 - 15:55 EEST
NICU COVACI ROOM HOTEL CARO

Panel

15:15 EEST

(RO) Nibiru - The Story (Panel)

Tuesday September 1, 2026 15:15 - 15:55 EEST

LAURA STOICA ROOM

Nibiru’s journey is a story of ambition, rapid growth and rethinking what a festival can become. Starting from a large-scale event concept, Nibiru has evolved into a broader entertainment destination, bringing together music, experiences, hospitality, food, leisure and community in one space.

In this session, we’ll explore the vision and strategy behind this transformation: how do you build an entirely new entertainment ecosystem, scale an event into a destination, and create an experience that goes beyond the traditional festival format?

From the challenges of infrastructure and operations to programming, branding, audience development and long-term growth, this conversation will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how Nibiru is shaping a new model for entertainment in Romania.

Speakers

Dan Fintescu

Programs Director & Radio DJ, Kiss FM

George Carabelea

Flavia Ionescu

Tuesday September 1, 2026 15:15 - 15:55 EEST
LAURA STOICA ROOM HOTEL CARO

Panel

15:15 EEST

(RO) The Original Cover (Panel)

Tuesday September 1, 2026 15:15 - 16:00 EEST

MUGUREL VRABETE ROOM

Are cover bands a good way to earn a living in the music business? And are they an accelarator or a brake for an emerging artist trying to promote their music - Can cover bands provide a sustainable career in today's music industry? For many musicians, performing covers offers a reliable source of income, valuable live experience, and opportunities to build a loyal audience. But does it also come with creative limitations?

This panel explores the role of cover bands in the modern music business, examining whether they serve as a financial foundation, a career destination, or a stepping stone toward an original artist career.

Moderators

11:00 EEST

11:00 EEST

12:15 EEST

14:00 EEST

14:00 EEST

14:00 EEST

15:15 EEST

15:15 EEST

15:15 EEST

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