About

Eurosonic Noorderslag is the key exchange and networking platform for European music, European artists, international music industry and interactive professionals, companies and organizations. Eurosonic Noorderslag hosts over 3,150 delegates, showcases by 290 artists and a conference program with 150 panels, keynote speakers, interviews, workshops, dinners, parties, meetings and a music related interactive program.

Festivals

* During Eurosonic (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) the city of Groningen is dedicated to new European talent. The new European artists. The most promising acts in their homeland, but often unknown outside their borders. Eurosonic is the biggest showcase festival in Europe. It is supported by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Yourope and Network Europe.

* On Saturday Noorderslag will take place, the main barometer of Dutch pop music. Every year this festival shows the latest and greatest Dutch artists in the Oosterpoort, ranging from hard and overwhelming to charming and intimate.

The conference

Purpose of the conference is to create a platform for the European and Dutch music industry and to encourage the exchange of ideas within the sector. With 3,000 music professionals and over 150 panels, keynote speeches, awards shows, discussions and presentations on the status quo of the national and international music industry, the conference offers a business platform for the European music market.

European Talent Exchange Program (ETEP)

The European Talent Exchange Program is an initiative of the Noorderslag Foundation to stimulate the circulation of European repertoire on festivals, radio and media in Europe. Each year ETEP brings together the leading European festivals, radio and other media and stimulates them to ‘exchange’ a selection of artists. Since the start of the ETEP program in 2003 a total of 1355 shows by 494 European artists were presented at the 60 ETEP festivals (2003 – 2011).

Awards  

Traditionally during Eurosonic Noorderslag different national and international awards are presented. Aim is to emphasise the success within the music industry. * EBBA Awards: an award from the European Commission and European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for ten European debut artists, who have been successful beyond national borders.

* The Pop Award: a prize for the artist who has made a major contribution to Dutch pop music in the past year. The Pop Prize is an initiative of BV Pop and is presented by Buma Cultuur.

* European Festival Awards, presented by Yourope and Virtual Festivals Europe: a series of prizes for the best Europeanfestivals with the aim of promoting the great diversity of European festivals.

* Interactive Awards: a prize presented by <theFactor.e> and Eurosonic Noorderslag for European artists and companies who have put themselves in the picture through the internet in an original way.

* Pop Media Award: an initiative of Music Center The Netherlands to stimulate Dutch popmusic journalism. The Pop Media Award is for the entire oeuvre of a popmusic journalist, and in particular their achievements in the past year.

* The Feather: a prize for a person within the Dutch music industry that has made an outstanding contribution for national music product. Eurosonic Noorderslag is organized by Noorderslag Foundation. It works with many partners, including Buma Cultuur, which is the organization behind the conference.