News
The IAMA conference will be preceded by a seminar day focusing on classical music entrepreneurship and artist career development
Music Estonia, in collaboration with the IAMA conference’s main organiser in Estonia, PLMF Arts Management, is coordinating a pre-seminar for the Estonian music industry on the day before the festival. The seminar provides broader access for professionals in the classical music sector.
The discussions will explore classical music entrepreneurship, international competitiveness and funding, as well as artist career development and best practices. International music professionals from leading companies and organisations will join the discussions, bringing top-level expertise and perspectives in the field of classical music to Estonia.
The classical music sector has traditionally relied on public funding, but the evolving cultural economy increasingly requires an entrepreneurial approach, diversified revenue streams and strategic leadership. Sustainable business models, international competitiveness and professional collaboration are becoming increasingly important. In the context of strategic management, clarity of roles is also essential — agents, managers and presenters, whose practices and boundaries are often shaped by specific teams and regional traditions. The first discussion will be moderated by Esper Linnamägi (Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir), with panelist Sarah Bruce (Lomonaco Artists Management). Additional speakers to be announced.
The conscious development of an artist’s career requires strategic planning, a strong identity and an international outlook. Regardless of genre, artists face similar challenges: how to build a sustainable international career and identity? International audiences are inspired by examples of musicians and ensembles who have developed new performance formats, cross-genre solutions, strong visual or narrative identities, and a deliberately built digital presence. The second discussion will be moderated by Julijus Grickevicius, with panelists Gail Wein (Classical Music Communications) and Ilana Goldstoff (Deutsche Grammophon). Additional speakers to be announced.
The three-day conference of the International Artist Managers’ Association (IAMA) will take place in Tallinn for the first time on 14–16 April 2026. IAMA is the leading global organisation in classical music, representing artist management agencies and music organisations from around the world. The conference offers local music organisations the opportunity to participate in a major international industry event and to build new contacts and partnerships that strengthen the Estonian music sector.
Information about the IAMA conference schedule (14–17 April) and passes can be found here.