The Berlin Music Commission’s Music Ambassador Programme is entering its next round – and thus remains a central funding instrument for the international visibility and networking of the Berlin music scene. Thanks to the cooperation with Musicboard Berlin, which was launched in 2024, the circle of participants has been expanded to include musicians and their teams.
A total of 35 travel projects will be supported that stand out for their international focus, sustainable collaborations and creative vision. The jury has nominated a diverse selection of musicians and players in the music industry who will represent Berlin as a centre of music worldwide. Participants will receive a grant towards their travel expenses during the project period. The trip must take place by 30 November 2025.
“The Music Ambassador Programme is a strategic tool for the internationalisation of Berlin’s music scene. It actively fosters new partnerships, supports sustainable networks, and brings Berlin perspectives into global contexts. In doing so, it directly contributes to the core mission of BMC: strengthening the international visibility and future viability of Berlin’s music industry.” – Olaf Kretschmar, CEO Berlin Music Commission eG
For eleven years, the Berlin Music Commission’s Music Ambassador Programme has been specifically supporting artists seeking international exchange – be it through conference trips, strategic collaborations or the initiation of new partnerships.
“Through this collaboration, we are strengthening the international presence of Berlin-based music creators. The Music Ambassador Programme offers them the opportunity to explore new markets, build global networks, and strategically advance their careers. We are very pleased to once again partner with BMC to provide travel funding – not only for artists but also for their teams, such as managers and bookers – helping to showcase the diversity and innovative strength of Berlin’s music scene on a global stage.” – Marie von der Heydt, Managing Director of Musicboard Berlin GmbH
The following 22 companies and players in the music industry will receive a travel grant:
- Adyam Tesfamariam (Pastiche): Dorset, UK – We Out Here Festival
- Alexander Brechow (The Heart.Work GmbH): Rabat, Morocco – Visa For Music 2025
- Amande Dagod (A-Okay): Paris (FR) – Pitchfork Paris + Pitchfork Avant-Garde
- Arican Kozanoglu (Kudur): London, UK – Notting Hill Carnival
- Jan Rohlf (DISK, CTM Festival): Seoul, Korea – WeSa Festival
- Janos Gülker (pøj pøj): London, UK – International Festival Forum (IFF)
- Julie Karmark Jensen (Sonic Odyssey Booking): Tampere, Finnland – WOMEX
- Jumoke Adeyanju (Poetry Meets): Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana
- Kotoe Karasawa (Bachstelzen): Dahab, Egypt – Chill O’posite Festival
- Lukas Balmer (silent green): Utrecht, Netherlands – Le Guess Who?
- Melissa Perales (Music Pool Berlin): Tampere, Finland – WOMEX
- Natalie Padabed (More Zvukov Agency): Bali, Indonesia – AXEAN Music Conference & Showcase Festival
- Nicole Beck (Digital in Berlin/Kiezsalon): Kraków, Poland – Unsound Festival
- Nikol Marinkova (Aurale Agency): Sofia, Bulgaria – SoAlive Music Conference
- Nour Nouralla (SAHRA): Tampere, Finland – WOMEX
- Pamela Owusu-Brenyah (Afro x Pop |Kuration, Booking, Artist Support): London, UK – International Festival Forum (IFF)
- Riccardo Biondetti (SWAMP Booking): Utrecht, Netherlands – Le Guess Who?
- Simon Alter (Handshake Booking): Bari, Italy – European Jazz Conference
- Sofia Surgutschowa (Zafraan Ensemble): Tampere, Finland – WOMEX
- Stephan Wittrin (Quest Agency): Shanghai (China); Seoul (South Korea); Bangkok (Thailand); Singapur
- Yannis Trouinard (Festival für selbstgebaute Musik, LARK & Fitzroy) Marseille, France – Festival des Suds
- Ziad Fayed (AL.Berlin): Beirut, Lebanon
The following 13 travel projects by artists and their teams will receive grants as part of the cooperation with Musicboard Berlin:
- Alexandra Ivanova: Denpasar, Indonesia – Artistic Research Insitu Network
- BASTI: Larvik, Norway – Songwriting Camp Songwriters Exclusive
- Cate Hops: Tallinn, Estonia – Copperleg Art Residency with Fra Zedde
- Cherry Bandora: Tel Aviv, Israel – Research and initiation of artistic collaborations
- Dornika: New York City, USA – Professional collaboration, showcases and networking
- Eilis Frawley + Anita Richelli (Brighter Agency): Belgrad, Serbia – Changeover Festival
- Ennio + HAMY (BUTO BAYANG): Tokio (Japan), Shanghai, Chengdu, Peking (China), Ho-Chi-Minh-Stadt, Hanoi (Vietnam), Bangkok (Thailand), Singapur, Bali (Indonesia) – Research, documentary content, networking
- Faravaz: Tampere, Finland – WOMEX
- JahPaz7: London, UK – Networking and contact acquisition
- Jamila & The Other Heroes (Jamila Al-Yousef) + Jozef Halmen (F-Cat Booking): Tampere, Finland – WOMEX
- Linda Stark: Durbuy, Belgium – Songwriting camp and networking
- Nikolay Mohr: Seoul, South Korea – Songwriting and initiation of artistic collaboration
- Tabeia: Paris, France – MaMA Music & Convention Festival
JURY MUSIC AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME 2025
- Anna Groß | SPRINGSTOFF
- Antonio Cárdenas | Heartfelt Management
- Marit Posch | GERMAN BULLDOZER, colorburst records
BMC website