Gallery
foto: Paweł
Project overview
A multi-layered event investigating how technology reshapes the entire music ecosystem: from production and authorship to distribution models and listening experiences.
The project was structured as an extended programme combining an in-depth lecture, an expert panel discussion with music industry stakeholders, and a speculative design workshop. Together, these formats created a holistic exploration of music not only as art, but as a system of relationships between technology, artists, audiences, and market infrastructures.
Participants were invited to move fluidly between historical insight, critical debate, and future prototyping, transforming passive listening into active participation in imagining what comes next.
Concept & structure
Contextual lecture
A narrative journey through the technological evolution of music from Edison’s phonograph and analogue recording, through the rise of MTV and digital distribution, to today’s AI-assisted composition and platform-based consumption models.
The lecture mapped how each technological shift redefined the role of the artist, the value of the album, and the meaning of originality.
Industry panel discussion
A conversation with musicians and representatives of record labels, offering diverse perspectives on how technology impacts creative autonomy, business models, and artistic identity.
This segment grounded theoretical reflection in real industry experience, exposing tensions between creative freedom and commercial infrastructures.
Speculative workshop
A participatory session where attendees collaboratively prototyped future scenarios for music distribution and reception. Participants explored alternative systems such as:
☀︎ Decentralised ownership and distribution models
☀︎ Adaptive sound experiences responsive to emotional states
☀︎ Post-platform ecosystems where music functions as an evolving environment rather than a static product
Outcomes & impact
The event created a dynamic platform for critical dialogue between creatives and industry professionals, bridging theory with practice. The project strengthened its role as a forward-thinking format that not only analysed trends but actively shaped new narratives for the music industry.
Main insight
The project exposed a growing shift: as technology continues to democratise production, the value of music moves beyond technical execution toward intentionality, meaning, and experience design.
Rather than asking how music will sound in the future, the project ultimately questioned how music will be felt, shared, and lived.
It revealed that the future of the music industry lies not in perfect algorithms, but in reimagining the emotional and social rituals surrounding sound positioning music as an interactive, evolving space of connection.