WIN and Reeperbahn Festival Partner Under WIN Supporters Program

WIN has announced a partnership with Reeperbahn Festival, Europe’s largest club festival and international platform for pop culture, as part of its WIN Supporters program. Building on years of collaboration and to mark WIN’s 20th anniversary, a special panel discussion will be held at the conference to celebrate two decades of connecting the global independent community.

On Friday, September 18, WIN Community & Projects Manager Nerea Serrano will moderate “The Power of Independence: How Can We Use Our Collective Strength to WIN?”, featuring WIN Chair Mark Kitcatt (Everlasting Records, Spain) and board members Gee Davy (AIM, UK), Ian Harrison (A2IM, USA), and Marty Ro (Sound Republica/LIAK, South Korea). Speakers will discuss the rise in global economic and political upheaval, along with the emergence of AI reshaping the industry, and will explore how independent music businesses, entrepreneurs, and artists can come together and collaborate across markets to support emerging music and diversity.

As part of the activities in Hamburg, Serrano and colleagues Ellie Rumbold (Partisan Records) and Thomas Lingstädt (PIAS) will also bring together the music industry community through the “Off The Record” running initiative. On Friday, September 18, a 5K charity run will take place, open to runners of all paces, with the goal of raising funds for relief efforts following the recent earthquakes in Colombia and Venezuela.

It has been very exciting to strike this official partnership with Reeperbahn after years of collaboration and attending the wonderful event they put together in Hamburg. Reeperbahn Festival is a key event for our community with the participation of our members from all over the world, and this collaboration puts a spotlight on the work independents are doing and their success throughout the world. Being able to also support the communities in Colombia and Venezuela through our running initiative Off The Record will be a very special moment.
Nerea Serrano, WIN Community & Projects Manager

Independent music companies and their networks are essential to a diverse and vibrant music ecosystem – not least because they create space for new artists, new ideas and different ways of doing business. Reeperbahn Festival has always been a place where these communities come together across borders, build relationships and make their voices heard. After many years of collaboration, we are therefore very pleased to deepen our partnership with WIN and to strengthen the international independent community at Reeperbahn Festival.
Detlef Schwarte, Director Reeperbahn Festival

WIN Supporters is a program available to those who want to support WIN’s work, champion the global independent music sector, and engage with its entrepreneurs in a sustainable and mutually beneficial way. The program offers unique benefits that complement the Friends, Partners, Affiliate and Associate membership schemes run by WIN members, which businesses are also encouraged to explore and join for additional ways to engage with the independent community.

WIN and Reeperbahn Festival have collaborated on several initiatives in recent years, including the WINHUB x Indie Week international breakfast held in New York in 2024. Reeperbahn Festival is also a major annual meeting point for the independent sector. German trade association VUT will hold its Annual General Meeting and present a dedicated program of events as part of Indie Days at the sanktpaulibar. This year’s conference will also feature a keynote address marking IMPALA’s 25th anniversary, delivered by its Executive Chair Helen Smith. Trade associations including A2IM (USA), AIR (Australia), and CIMA (Canada) send delegations each year, creating opportunities to network and exchange knowledge with their German and European counterparts, while showcasing their respective music communities through initiatives such as Aussie BBQ and Canada House.

Full Reeperbahn Festival 2026 program here.

About Reeperbahn Festival
Each year, the Reeperbahn Festival transforms Hamburg’s St. Pauli district into an international hub for music, culture, and creative exchange. As Europe’s largest club festival, it brings together hundreds of concerts, live performances, and cultural events across a diverse range of venues, including clubs, theaters, concert halls, galleries, and unique urban spaces along the iconic Reeperbahn. The festival showcases both emerging talent and established national and international artists, making it one of the world’s leading platforms for music discovery. Beyond music, the program features visual arts, literature, and inspiring discussions on cultural and societal topics. A key element of the event is the Reeperbahn Festival Conference, a leading networking and knowledge-sharing platform for the international music and creative industries. Since its launch in 2006, the festival has evolved into a globally recognized gathering for artists, industry professionals, and music fans, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from around the world each year. reeperbahnfestival.com/en