SPIKE is comprised of a conference and series of music performances. The conference includes panel discussions and workshops that touch upon diverse topics in the music industry. Read about the first 9 diversified Panelists and check back next week for the rest and see the new additions of talent and artists.
For a full list of the Delegates and Panelists visit: spikeshowcase.com/en/speakers/
Boyan Robert Pinter (US)
Born in Bulgaria, matured in America, enjoying himself responsibly over the world. Before moving to Europe, Boyan was a touring musician in the US. Besides being a trained guitarist, he was also a designated driver and business manager. This eventually led him to a Masters in Arts Administration. Moving to Bulgaria in 2010, Boyan found a job with Live Nation Partner organization Sofia Music Enterprise promoting a variety of events: from Roger Water’s The Wall (stadium tour) to three productions of Cirque Du Soleil, from old school heavy metal like Slayer and Anthrax, to modern progressive rock like Steven Wilson, from classical prodigies like Nigel Kennedy, to fusion legend Al Di Meola, and contemporary global diva, Sara Tavares.
Boyan’s extensive training in the music industry is matched by his never-ending ambition to acquire new skills and knowledge of the industry. He is heavily invested in his current resident country Bulgaria, a part of the international music industry community and for that purpose he has conducted workshops and courses in the music business and has just launched a new conference and showcase platform to fulfill the needs of the growing Bulgaria music industry awareness called the Sofia International Music Conference – a knowledge transfer and networking project in the shape of a podcast series. These efforts evolved organically into SPIKE – Bulgarian Music Showcase.
Boyan has a continuous presence at all Eurocentric international music conference – from ESNS in The Netherlands to Mastering the Music Business in Romania, he has established a wide network of professionals within major and minor markets in Europe.
He continues to book artists for the Bulgarian market, provide management and consultation services, and find the time to make records. He is responsible for booking the first Bulgarian bands onto the festival Glastonbury, for which in 2022 he has placed three different bands / artists on various stages. Boyan’s clients have performed at nearly every showcase festival in the world, have received funding for the recording of albums or the shooting of music videos, and have obtained a US visa, which has given them the privilege of being able to perform in America. At the moment Boyan is completing his education in Law and is looking to qualify as a solicitor to later specialize in the fields of Entertainment, Media, Intellectual Property, and Sport.Links:
facebook.com/panharmonyarts
facebook.com/spikeshowcase
Cesar Andion (ES)
35 years plus in the industry from local artist management in 80s, record label distribution in the 90s (Sub Pop, City Slang, Crammed, Lookout, Epitaph, Crypt, etc) joined Iguapop live concerts promoting company in 90s, merging into Gamerco in Barcelona in the 2000s and Live Nation Spain since 2006. PR, Talent, A&R & export for Live Nation Madrid. He is head of The Spanish Wave Showcase export programme, Mad Cool Pro, Andalucia Music Forum, Dcodelab in Dcode festival, Kid Nation project and lecturer at Live Nation Live Music Master at Universidad Complutense Madrid.
Links:
livenation.es/
andaluciabig.com/forum/index.php
dcodefest.com/
ucm.es/titulospropios/masterlivemusic
Merle Doering (DE)
Merle Doering is the co-founder and Managing Director of Black Harbour Entertainment, a young agency that not only books shows all over the world, but also offers bands assistance in management, merchandising and ticketing. Merle began working in the live music industry as a booking agent in 2010 and from there also worked as tour manager and artist manager. Over the years she has worked with bands such as Death Angel, Sonata Arctica, Finntroll, Skálmöld, Stam1na, Coroner, Pain Of Salvation, Twilight Force, and more.
Links:
black-harbour.com/
Bastiaan Nijbroek (NL)
From 2013 until 2019 Bastiaan Nijbroek worked as artist manager for Town of Saints, Orange Skyline and the Cool Quest, supporting them in their international careers. In collaboration with partners such as Universal and Friendly Fire international performances ranged from Tallinn Music Week to Reeperbahn Festival as well as the performing many shows at the prestigious ESNS. Currently Bastiaan is spearheading the Music Management program for the NHL Stenden University, which focusses on innovation, diversity and digitization of the European music industry. He is looking for the latest innovative ideas that can push the industry forward and focuses on blockchain technologies.
Link:
nhlstenden.com/en/minors/music-management
Anna Lindholm (SE)
Anna Lindholm is A&R and project manager at the Swedish independent label Icons Creating Evil Art. She has many years of experience working in the music industry in PR, event planning, artist consulting and project management. The focus of Anna’s career has been to work on projects that promote independent music with additional emphasis on creating an equal music industry where all people and music is given the same opportunities. In addition, she has a burning passion for new music and in creating opportunities for bands and artists on the rise.
Link:
icea.se/
Maciej Madejski (PL)
Concert promoter and booking agent at Sideways Booking, this Polish super-human organizes tours for alternative groups, jazz, and folk performers from around the world.
Maciej manages several Polish and international artists. He’s a radio host, DJ, and PR agent. In his free time (!!) he plans and organizes festivals.
Maciej is a partner of CNM – Centre national de la musique aide/associate (France) in association with Live Europe. In the past five years, Maciej Madejski has built his career as a booking agent for the Poland and Central Europe region. His love of music is surpassed only by the size of his music collection which (at last count) contained over 10,000 titles.
Maciej is well-acquainted with the musical culture and history of the Balkan underground and has encyclopedic knowledge of the subject. If you’d like to quiz him, don’t forget to first ask what he’s drinking!
Link:
facebook.com/sidewayssidewayssideways
Andras Bozan Bodrogi (HU)
Andras Bozan Bodrogi has worked in various fields of the music and media industry as new media and marketing manager, and has expertise in tech vs. music, rights management, content marketing, and online communication. Currently, he is managing the rights-management team of The State51 Conspiracy, a London-based music company, helping independent labels and artists in rights management and monetization on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. He is a tutor (JUMP – the European Music Market Accelerator), an external consultant (Google Hungary, YouTube CEE), lecturer, and trainer of music industry-related educational programs.
Links:
thestate51conspiracy.com/
jumpmusic.eu/
Mariya Kaperska (UK)
Mariya is Head of Operations at Phoenix Music International! Having grown up in Bulgaria, Mariya moved to London where she works with an incredibly diverse range of artists. Her natural affinity and experience with copyright led to a major reorganization in the company’s administration of rights.Mariya is a valued asset of the music community at large, especially when it comes to her knowledge of copyright and music publishing – two of the most important terms when it comes to the musician’s income!
Link:
phoenixmusicinternational.com/
Gordana Sofija & Hannes Jaeckl (MK)
A full–time journalist for over than 17 years conducting interviews with artists like Darren Aronofsky, Bernhard Schlink, Michael Haneke, Blixa Bargeld, Michel Houellebecq, Helen Mirren, Christoph Waltz, Michael Caine, and many others.
I then decided to jump in the booking pool with my first company Akasha booking agency, working with many international artists. After that I moved to a new challenge together with my partner Hannes Jaeckl–the “Man And Mountain” company for media content. Man and Mountain is a merger of Akasha Booking with Man and Mountain. As Man and Mountain, we organized GENERALKA WEEKEND, the biggest national action for trash cleaning and recycling with 3 Ministries, 25 Municipalities, more than 100 volunteers, and companies. We are also developing “SONCHEVA – The Land of The Sun,” a project to prevent brain drain in North Macedonia and keep young people in the country.
Link:
manandmountain.com/?page_id=5
Sandy Graham (CA)
Sandy Graham has had perhaps one of the most diverse and interesting careers in the Canadian Music Industry.
Currently the Owner and Editor-In-Chief of Cashbox Canada as well as Founder and Managing partner of Record World International, the most recent addition to her CV is being the founder and co-owner of Cashbox Radio. Cashbox Radio is a popular online radio station that prides itself in playing the legendary artists right alongside the new indie artists releasing today.
With over close to 40 years in the industry, Sandy Graham has been involved in many various aspects of the music business, and is a true trailblazer as well as a supporter of music and artists.
She began in record retail, followed by holding the position of the 3rd female Music Director in Canada, and was known to break artists such as Shawn Phillips, Murray McLauclan, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Ian Matthews, Jesse Colin Young amongst others.
She was also one of the first women to be hired by a major label, holding the position of Eastern Promotions Manager for RCA Records in Montreal, Quebec which resulted in working and touring with the afore mentioned Daryl Hall & John Oates, KC & the Sunshine Band, Natalie Cole, Tower of Power to name a few.
For touring and management she has worked with the likes of Andy Kim, Chubby Checker, Tommy James and the Shondells, Gowan of Styx, John McDermott, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Terry Sylvester/The Hollies, Bobby Curtola, April Wine to name a few.
Sandy Graham has owned various music venues in her career, including the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern and Route 66, produced shows for Harbourfront The Tall Ships, Starlight Foundation, Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club, Variety Village, Earth Day 2021 with Tom Jackson.
Aside from currently being a music journalist, musicologist and on air host, Sandy Graham is also a choreographer, having choreographed the first ever halftime show at the Sky Dome (Rogers Centre) Toronto’s 60,000 seat domed stadium. She also worked with Atlantis Films as a dance instructor and choreographer (Robocop, Almost Grown, Maniac Mansions-SCTV, David Chase/Sopranos, Joe Flaherty) and continues to teach dance to this day.
Sandy Graham is excited to share her experience, insight and expertise, explaining the history of the music business while embracing the new platforms of today.
A popular panelist, you are guaranteed to gain new knowledge and tools to help improve your career goals while being entertained and informed.
Links:
cashboxcanada.ca/
cashboxradio.ca/
recordworldinternational.com/
entertainmentmusicgroup.ca/
For more on the Spike Bulgarian Music Showcase visit: spikeshowcase.com/