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Dear minister, Helen, Gunvor, international music industry, colleagues, and friends,

Music Estonia is truly proud to be a continuous strategic partner of the Tallinn Music Week conference. We deeply value this collaboration, which gives us greater strength to grow together. 

Strong local structures, support systems, companies, organisations, talent, audiences, and communities—these are shaping our path towards development and international opportunities. A month ago we were discussing all of these topics in our Estonian music industry day and I couldn’t be happier to see that the same themes are now reflected in the Tallinn Music Week conference, especially with such strong representation of cities and regions this year. Thank you, Helen, and your team for making this happen.

A strong home base gives us the foundation to build international careers and collaborations. I’m especially glad that this year’s conference includes Sharon Barry, Head of Culture Ireland, who played a key role in establishing the Basic Income for artists in Ireland as an ongoing national model. The cultural sector needs strong examples like this—to be bold enough to invest in people just as much as in the structures around them. It is a choice. When artists have security, good conditions for creation and wellbeing, and when local infrastructure—strong venues and festivals—and support systems are in place, we preserve what is most precious: the art, artist and professionals. 

Extending this local perspective further, collaboration with our region and nearby markets is becoming increasingly important—something we have been cultivating for several years. Also supporting other structures in Europe. I would also like to once again congratulate the new export office Music Export Georgia and the Armenian initiative Armenian Music Network, who are here with us at this year’s conference—recognising the value of these initiatives is essential for a sustainable industry.

Another key topic, which makes us local everywhere, is technology. Music Estonia will today soon host a TechTrack World Café, focusing on practical solutions for the music tech and wider music ecosystem. At this year’s conference, we are also bringing several Estonian companies into the spotlight, curating mentoring sessions, and sharing valuable market knowledge that supports more strategic export development, “a strategic positioning in unexpected fields”, as we will soon read in one upcoming research—you can travel conceptually from Latin America and Canada via France to the Caucasus, while learning more about our region. Also, one of the largest delegations this year, alongside Finland, is coming from Ukraine—let’s continue to support each other.

Last but not least, I’m truly happy to see the wonderful networks and delegations present here—apart from the additional delegation we curated with the help of Entreprise Estonia, varying professionals from exactly 15 countries, there are also UNESCO and the Music Cities Network present. Also Keychange and its future leaders, showing that education, both formal and informal, strong communities, and diversity are what help us move forward, connect, and value one another.

Finally, thank you to my team and the TMW team for all the incredible work. And thank you, Helen, for leading Tallinn Music Week for 18 years—creating a platform that helps our music and culture grow both locally and globally.