Conference contributions - Music & Digitalisation

Since 2021, we have been working for the m4music Conference at the intersection of music and digitalisation. We advise, suggest conference topics, develop formats, find speakers and give talks.

2024: Artificial intelligence

Music and AI: Now is the Future of the Past

In a keynote speech, Angela Aux (Florian Kreier) spoke about how AI can be combined with artistic creation, pointed out historical comparisons and shared her insights.

Between creativity and controversy: AI in the music scene

After an input from Dezentrum partner Ramona Sprenger, lawyer Chantal B., managing director of the industry association of Swiss music labels Lorenz Haas, ethics professor Peter G. Kirchschlaeger and musician and developer Samim Winiger discussed the prospects, opportunities and risks of AI. The panel was moderated by Dezentrum partner Jeannie Schneider.

AI Open Session

Five musicians gave an insight into their creative process with artificial intelligence at various stations. People listened, discussed and experimented. With Melody Chua, Nicola Kazimir, David Moore, Lua Lungck and Mershad Javan.

Input sessions

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2023: Internet culture

Hyperpop, digicore, glitchcore, bubblegum bass - What? Internet music explained.

The term ‘internet music’ combines various genuinely digital styles and scenes. The sound is fast, digital, glitchy, produced like a pop caricature and DIY. Standing in an ambivalent relationship to the physical world, the artists play with gender identities and social norms in cyberspace. They see the artificiality constructed by means of pitched voices and avatars as a natural part of themselves.

The panel gave an insight into the living and working environments of internet musicians from Switzerland.

After an input from artist Nicolás Mennel (MIRA✴SOL), producer German Kiyyan, artist Nisha :3 (Stargrrl), musician Devi Wechselbalg (Holyfuck Artbabe) and DJ and editorial director of Radio 3FACH Ilayda Zeyrek (Kalixys) took part in the discussion. The panel was moderated by cultural journalist and online expert Bjørn Schaeffner.

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Panelists for podiums

Are you looking for an expert in the field of digitalisation & society? Contact us and we will suggest a suitable person. We are also happy to support you in your search for external experts.

Algorithms decide what music we listen to

A lot has changed since YouTube, Spotify and the like became part of our lives. We used to clearly decide which song from our collection we wanted to dance to or which album we wanted to listen to. Today, we discover music less deliberately, as algorithms recommend suitable songs that match our preferences. This is practical, but how does it affect our musical taste? Will it lose its individuality if we no longer discover songs ourselves? Will we all listen to the same ten songs and quickly forget them?

Elisabeth Lex, Assoc. Prof. and Principal Investigator of the Recommender Systems and Social Computing Lab Graz University of Technology from Graz, musician Edmund Kenny (Kerala Dust) and Anna Mätzener, Head of AlgorithmWatch Switzerland, moderated by cultural journalist and author Tobi Müller.

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2021: Playlists

Playlists, streaming & AI - music listening in 2030

In the streaming age, albums are increasingly being replaced by contextualised playlists that form the soundtrack to our everyday lives - whether we're cooking with friends or concentrating on studying. Music is being used more and more functionally and produced accordingly.

A panel discussion ventured a look into the future of listening, discussing AI composition, context-dependent perception and fake artists. It also addressed the political power games between music labels and streaming services such as Spotify and their immense profits. Finally, the upcoming developments and the role of musicians were discussed.

The panellists were Liz Pelly, music writer and editor, Robert Prey, assistant professor, Mat Dryhurst, artist and researcher, and Nicola Kazimir, artist, musician, DJ, curator and activist.

Event organisation

Are you planning an event on the topics of digitalisation & society? We can support you with event organization, communication and the selection of speakers.

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