Shortly after the vote on the SRG Half-fee Initiative, we ask: What does the result mean for media platforms in Switzerland? Share your opinion – our big mood barometer collects all reactions live on site.
And we're looking ahead!
SRG, streaming, radio, funding logic, gatekeepers, creator economy: How do you make sure your music gets heard?
We're recording six vodcasts with exciting guests, and you're right in the middle of it. No sterile studio atmosphere, but a festival, discussions, and direct questions from the scene.
Tune in. Get involved. Bring your perspective. Because media platforms don't emerge in the background – they are born through conversation.
Vodcast «Where the Music Plays», Episode 1
«Who decides what you hear?» – The power of algorithms
Streaming has democratised music – or so they say. But who really decides what gets visibility today? Algorithms? Editorial teams? Playlist curators? Or old networks? This episode uncovers how visibility works in the digital age – and why it may be less neutral than we think. A conversation about platform power, data logic, and whether cultural diversity can be left to code.
Friday, 20.3.26, 5:00 pm, Foyer Schiffbau
Guests:
Fabienne Schmuki, Managing Director Swiss Music Export
Daniela Weinmann aka Odd Beholder, musician, songwriter and publicist
Vodcast «Where the Music Plays», Episode 2
«Is radio still relevant – or just nostalgia?»
For decades, radio was the central media stage for Swiss music. But do young people even discover music on the radio today? This episode brings public radio and private radio stations into direct conversation. It's about relevance, reach, responsibility – and whether radio is a cultural anchor or a dying model.
Friday, 20.3.26, 2:30 pm, Foyer Schiffbau
Guests:
Giulia Cresta, Board member, Association of Swiss Private Radio Stations
Christin Glanzmann, Music programmer & radio producer SRF Virus
Vodcast «Where the Music Plays», Episode 3
«Are we promoting music – or just managing it?»
Switzerland invests in cultural funding. But does this system really reach the boldest, most innovative acts – or mainly the well-organised ones? This episode takes a critical look at the logic behind funding instruments, media presence and emerging talent policies. It's about risk, diversity, and the uncomfortable question of whether our funding system fosters innovation – or merely protects it.
Friday, 20.3.26, 11:00 am, Foyer Schiffbau
Guests:
Dominique Rovini, Head of Music Pro Helvetia
Fabian Gisler, jazz musician, President of the Board of Stiftung Árvore
Vodcast «Where the Music Plays», Episode 4
«After the upload, the work begins» – How does visibility really happen?
Your song is online – now what? Platforms are the starting point, not the stage. We talk about how visibility really happens – between algorithms, curation and hands-on marketing.
Saturday, 21.3.26, 11:00 am, Foyer Schiffbau
Guests:
Cathy Flaviano, Head of Play Suisse, SRG SSR
Leo Niessner, journalist, music promoter, online and social media editor
Vodcast «Where the Music Plays», Episode 5
«Who makes sure music is created and heard?»
Is music the responsibility of the state or the market? We talk about funding, regulation and what it takes for a vibrant music scene to exist in Switzerland.
Saturday, 21.3.26, 3:00 pm, Foyer Schiffbau
Guests:
Esther Banz, journalist, band manager, concert organiser
Nadja Zela, composer, producer & songwriter
Benedikt Wieland, musician, cultural policy, lecturer
Vodcast «Where the Music Plays», Episode 6
«AI: The dystopia of music?» – Music in the age of AI & the creator economy
Songs at the push of a button, endless content – and where does art fit in? We discuss whether AI is a creative tool or a structural threat – and what that means in practice for musicians.
Friday, 20.3.26, 12:30 pm, Foyer Schiffbau
Guests:
Noemi Büchi, Composer & Sound Artist
Noah Martin, Secretary General SUISA
Hosts of all vodcasts:
Melissa Varela aka Melicious, musician & journalist
Tom Wiederkehr, campaign lead «Where the Music Plays», Executive Director Swiss Music Council
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