Trade Missions
Hamburg Music's ‘Music Market Missions’ grant small to medium sized companies from germany insights into music markets world wide. The diverse programme usually consists of company visits, roundtables, matchmakings, concerts and other networking events.
Business initiation trip Japan 2025
From 20.10. - 24.10.2025, the AHK Japan is organizing a business initiation trip to Tokyo in Japan on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) together with Hamburg Music Business e.V as a cooperation partner. This is a project-related funding measure as part of the market development program for SMEs. The target group is primarily small and medium-sized German companies (SMEs) from the music and event industry.
Detailed information on the program can be found in this information sheet.
Application
The registration period for this project has ended. If you have any questions about registration, please write to Beatrix Dalsass at international@musikwirtschaft.org.
Why Japan?
Japan is the second largest music market in the world, characterized by a strong demand for physical recordings (over 70% market share) and a growing digital business (+11% in 2023). The market exceeded the € 1.9 billion mark, driven by rising music sales and a strong live scene. Major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama offer numerous venues, while festivals such as Fuji Rock achieve record attendance figures. The market remains attractive for international artists, who find high revenues and an engaged audience.
Target group
The project is aimed in particular at German companies from the music industry sectors of publishing, recorded music and distribution, live entertainment, artist management and music tech. The focus is particularly on export-oriented companies that want to establish or expand their international business relationships - especially on the Japanese market.
Costs & services
The project is part of the market development program for SMEs and is subject to the de minimis regulations. Depending on the size of the company, the company's own contribution to participation in the project is
- 500 euros (net) for participants with an annual turnover of less than 2 million euros and fewer than 10 employees
- 750 euros (net) for participants with an annual turnover of less than 50 million euros and fewer than 500 employees
- 1000 euros (net) for participants with an annual turnover of 50 million euros or more or with more than 500 employees
This includes, among other things, program design, arranging contacts, accompanying appointments, travel and delegation advice.
In addition, participants bear their own individual travel, accommodation and catering costs (a hotel has already been reserved at a cost of approx. €190/night).
Funding opportunities for the business initiation trip
Hamburg:
Hamburg-based music companies participating in a MEP program have the opportunity to receive a subsidy of up to €1,500.00 (net) from the Hamburg Music International Musikexport funding program for travel costs for market activities in East Asia. Applications must be made by completing and submitting the Reisekostenzuschussformular (travel grant form) to international@musikwirtschaft.org by 13.04.25.
The prerequisite for the approval of a travel grant for Hamburg companies is selection according to suitability criteria. Participation in the trip will be confirmed independently of travel expense support; participating companies are not entitled to a travel expense subsidy.
Munich:
Kreativ München supports music entrepreneurs based in Munich who have been selected by the project sponsor after applying for the program with a travel allowance of up to € 1,500 each. Applications must be submitted by completing and sending the application form by 13.04.25. The prerequisite for approval of the grant is confirmation of participation in the delegation program. Successful applicants will be informed by the project sponsor. Once official confirmation has been received, applications for a travel grant of up to €1,500 each can be submitted informally to Kreativ München by email to kreativ@muenchen.de with the subject line “Antrag Reisekostenzuschuss Markterschließungsreise Japan”, including cost estimates for travel expenses (accommodation, flight). Please contact us as soon as possible after receiving the confirmation to submit the application. Please make sure that you do not book any flights or accommodation until you have received confirmation from us regarding the grant. The travel grant will only be paid out after the market development trip has been completed on presentation of invoices for the amount actually invoiced.
Rest of Germany:
Participants from other cities are kindly requested to contact the relevant regional offices directly or to get in touch with us (international@musikwirtschaft.org). We will then be happy to establish a connection.
Downloads
Application forms
- Document “Teilnahmeerklärung”
- Document “Reisekostenzuschussformular HH Unternehmen”
Previous trips:
Music Market Mission India 2025
Our first Music Market Mission 2025 took us to India: From 2 to 7 February, we organized a business initiation trip to Goa together with Austrian Music Export, Sound Czech, India International Music Week and Music from Ireland, which was funded by the LIVEMX project.
The week-long delegation trip included a B2B lunch, networking events and information sessions during the India International Music Week (IIMW), which offered insights into one of the largest countries in the world and its constantly growing music market.
There were also opportunities for exchange and networking within the delegation with participants from 16 different nations.
Music Market Mission Italy/Germany 2024
From 19 - 22 November 2024, Hamburg Music organized a delegation trip to Milan in cooperation with the Competence Team for Cultural and Creative Industries of the City of Munich, tied in with with the Italian industry conferences Linecheck and Milano Music Week.
The trade mission provided valuable insights into the Italian music market, deepened existing connections between participating music companies and created new ones. The trip took place during and in collaboration with Milano Music Week and Linecheck music meeting and festival, the most important Italian industry events of the year with music professionals from all over the country. It was part of Hamburg Music International, a program sponsored by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Ministry of Culture and Media.
Music Market Mission France 2024
In April 2024, Hamburg Music, in cooperation with the Cultural and Creative Industries Competence Team of the City of Munich, organized a delegation trip to Paris. On the French side, the Centre national de la musique (CNM - formerly Bureau Export), which has a long-standing partnership with Hamburg Music and numerous digital market entry formats, supported this initiative.
The "Trade Mission" provideddetailed and market-specific information about the French music market, facilitated new business opportunities in France, and aided in establishing and deepening lasting connections between the participating music companies.
The target group was professionals from music companies based in Hamburg and Munich who wish to gain a foothold in France or strengthen their business there.
Music Market Mission South Africa 2024
In february 2024 Hamburg Music Business e.V. will conducted a business initiation trip to the cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) together with the cooperation partners IMEXSA (Independent Music Exporters South Africa) and AHK Southern Africa. This was a project-related support measure within the framework of the market development program for SMEs. The target group was primarily small and medium-sized German companies (SMEs) from the music and event industry. Detailed information on the program can be found in this information sheet (in German).
Music Market Mission Benelux 2023
In november 2023 Hamburg Music organized a delegation trip to the two cities of Amsterdam and Brussels together with the music export offices from the countries Belgium and the Netherlands. The trade mission provided detailed insights into the Benelux music market and helped to build new business relationships with music companies there.
Business Initiation Trip Colombia 2022
In late autumn 2022, AHK Colombia conducted a business initiation trip to Colombia on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) together with the cooperation partner Hamburg Music. The program took place from 28.11.-02.12.2022. The Colombian Ministry of Culture has promoted the development of a national music plan throughout Colombia. This plan seeks to support the music industry and culture through education and training, provision of instruments and resources, business support, and the development of distribution networks. The trip was a project-based funding measure under the Market Development Program for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises from Germany (SMEs). The aim of the project was to support German companies from the music and event industry in their foreign trade activities to open up the Colombian sales market. Detailed information on the program can be found in this information sheet (in German).
Business Initiation Trip Japan 2022
In spring 2022, AHK Japan conducted a business initiation trip to Japan on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). The program took place on 01.03. digitally and from 28.03.-01.04.2022 on site in Tokyo as part of a project-related support measure within the BMWi market development program for SMEs. The aim of the project was to support German companies from the music industry in their foreign trade activities to open up the Japanese market. Detailed information on the program can be found in this information sheet (in German).
Business Initiation Trip Brazil 2022
From March 7 - 11, 2022, the AHK São Paulo conducted a business initiation trip to Brazil on behalf of the BMWi together with the cooperation partner Hamburg Music. Companies from the German music and event industry, including some Hamburg Music members, had the opportunity to gain insights into the Brazilian music market, establish industry contacts and visit companies such as Atração Fonográfica, Mills Records and Sua Música. Further project partners are the Reeperbahn Festival, the Kompetenzteam Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft München and the Berlin Music Commission. Detailed information about the program can be found in this information sheet (in German).
Business Initiation Trip Japan 2019
A delegation of representatives from the German music industry traveled to Japan in the fall of 2019 to establish artistic and entrepreneurial contacts in Tokyo and learn about market opportunities and potential. The market exploration trip was conducted as part of the BMWi market development program for small and medium-sized enterprises and took place from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 2019. The program of the five-day trip included a visit to the music business conference Tokyo International Music Market (TIMM), visits to companies in Tokyo's music industry, a presentation event by the German participants to representatives of the Japanese music industry, various networking events, and several concerts. The participating German companies included the artist and concert agency Michow Concerts, the independent labels and music service providers Sounds Of Subterrania and Euphorie, the booking agency Redlionmusic, the promoter Akiba Dreams GmbH, the recording studio German Wahnsinn, the music production and artist management company R.O.T., and the label/publishing/management agency Mesanic Music.
Photos: private
