The year was an exceptionally dynamic and successful one for We Move Music Croatia, the Croatian Music Export Office, which continued to strengthen the visibility and competitiveness of the Croatian music scene in Europe and the world through numerous programs, festivals and international cooperation.
The third edition of SHIP festival was successfully held in Šibenik, which in a short time established itself as one of the key regional gathering places for music professionals, artists and delegates from all over Europe. The festival once again confirmed Šibenik as an important center of contemporary music and international exchange.
During 2025, We Move Music Croatia delegates participated in 11 international showcase festivals, where they actively represented the Croatian music scene, built new professional connections and participated in panels, working groups and programs aimed at strengthening European music cooperation and mobility.
Special emphasis was placed on the development of young professionals through the TuneUp project, as part of which 25 volunteers were sent to 10 different showcase festivals, which provided them with valuable experience of working in an international music environment.
As a part of the program to support the export of Croatian music, We Move Music Croatia financially supported a total of 9 tours of Croatian performers in 2025, enabling them to perform in foreign markets and further expand their audience.
The New Faces initiative continued its successful activities, providing continuous support to new and upcoming names on the domestic scene. During the year, more than 60 legal consultations were carried out for performers, producers and other music professionals, which further strengthened the infrastructure of the music sector.
All of the above activities confirm 2025 as a successful year for We Move Music Croatia, with a strong focus on international cooperation, talent development and sustainable growth of the Croatian music industry.
SHIP 2025
The third edition of the SHIP festival, which turned Šibenik into a grand stage and meeting place for the global music industry from 11 to 14 September 2025, ended with a standing ovation from the audience and recognition from the domestic and international scene. In four days, the festival brought together 49 performers from 25 countries, 114 speakers from 33 countries and more than 650 music professionals from 54 countries around the world, making Šibenik a center of musical innovation, collaboration and new discoveries. The organizers have announced the fourth edition of the SHIP festival, which will take place from September 10 to 13, 2026. Applications for bands and performers are ongoing, and you can apply until February 16, 2026.
Reputable international media such as Rolling Stone UK, Clash, IQ and The Line of Best Fit have regularly reported on the festival, highlighting its authentic atmosphere, openness, high level of organization and unique location, while in their texts Šibenik is increasingly described as the new music center of the Mediterranean.
A special program of workshops and round tables of various European music institutions was held at the Fortress of St. John under the auspices of SHIP, namely: European Music Council Board Meeting, Europe in Synch Academy Workshop: Music in Film/TV & Advertising, European Music Council Workshop: Green Beat and Europe in Synch Annual Meeting.
SHIP Showcase Festival & Music Conference 2025 – Official Aftermovie
TuneUp – an opportunity for young professionals
TuneUp is an educational and experiential program implemented as part of the European initiative LiveMX, with the aim of strengthening the capacities of young professionals in the music industry. During 2025, through the TuneUp project, we sent 25 volunteers to 10 different showcase festivals. The project was successfully completed, and along the way, we enriched the Croatian music sector with a new generation of young people with practical international experience, expanded professional networks and a greater understanding of how the European music industry works.
New Faces 2025
The New Faces initiative continued its successful work in 2025, with the aim of discovering and supporting young music professionals under the age of 30 who contribute to the development of the local and regional scene. This year, 10 talented individuals from different areas of the music industry were selected. The program was implemented in cooperation with leading regional festivals and conferences: MENT Ljubljana (Slovenia), KONTAKT (Serbia), SHIP (Croatia) and PIN Music Conference (North Macedonia). The Croatian representatives in 2025 were Tena Kovačić and Marin Zelić, who made numerous contacts and opportunities for further professional development through the program, strengthening their presence on the regional and international scene.
International Institutions
EMEE (Eupropean Music Export Exchange)
As part of our membership in the EMEE network, we continued to actively participate in programs and working groups dedicated to strengthening European music cooperation this year. We participated in the EMEE Spring Forum, held from 23 to 25 June 2025 in Sopot, Poland.
ETEP (European Talent Exchange Program)
This year, We Move Music Croatia was accepted into the European Talent Exchange Program (ETEP), one of the most important European platforms aimed at encouraging the international mobility of performers and strengthening the visibility of new musical talents. ETEP brings together leading European showcase festivals, promoters and professional organizations, and its goal is to facilitate the exchange of performers, ensure their greater international presence and systematically monitor their progress on the European scene.
At this year’s Reeperbahn, we participated in the first official ETEP meeting.
Showcase festivals
During 2025, We Move Music Croatia established a presence at key European music festivals and conferences, with the aim of strengthening international cooperation, promoting the Croatian music scene and networking with relevant industry players.
ESNS – Eurosonic Noorderslag (Groningen, Nizozemska) – 15–18 January 2025
MENT (Ljubljana, Slovenia) – 12–15 February 2025
c/o pop Festival (Köln, Germany) – 23–27 April 2025
Babel Music XP (Marseille, France) – 20–22 March 2025
Music Week Poland (Warsaw, Poland) – 26–29 June 2025
Reeperbahn (Hamburg, Germany) – 16–19 September 2025
So Alive (Sofia, Bulgaria) – 14–17 October 2025
Iceland Airways (Rejkjavik, Iceland) – 06–08 November 2025
Pin Music Conference & Festival (Skopje, North Macedonia) – 27–29 November 2025
This year, after a long absence, we represented the Croatian music scene at two important showcase festivals.
jazzahead! (Bremen, Germany) – 24–26 April 2025
After last year’s field research, this year we achieved a stronger and more visible presence through our own booth and official delegation, significantly increasing Croatia’s recognition among international jazz professionals and opening up new opportunities for Croatian jazz performers.
WOMEX – World Music Expo (Tampere, Finland) – 22–26 October 2025
WOMEX is the world’s leading world music fair and a key international meeting point for music professionals. This year’s edition was particularly significant because, after a long absence, Croatia once again had an official delegation and a national stand, which was an important step forward in strengthening the international visibility of the Croatian world music scene.
Tour + Showcase
As a part of the program to support the export of Croatian music, this year we financed a total of 9 tours by Croatian artists: Čudnoređe, DDR, From Another Mother, How Yes No, Neon Lies, Parnepar, Šumski, Undercode, Šumski and nine performances at international showcase festivals: Nemeček – ESNS (Groningen, Netherlands), IDEM – MENT (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Balkalar – MENT (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Neon Lies – MENT (Ljubljana, Slovenia), DJ JOCK – Dantz (San Sebastian, Spain), PEZNT – Dantz (San Sebastian, Spain), Neon Lies – Poland Music Week (Warsaw, Poland), IDEM – BUSH (Budapest, Hungary) and TEMPET – PIN Conference (Skopje, North Macedonia).
In addition, it was decided to co-finance two special projects for guest appearances by Croatian artists in South Korea (freekind. and Jelusick), given the extremely high costs that the artists had on these demanding international engagements.
Legal Consulting
Over the past year, we have provided over 60 free legal consultations to artists, producers and other music professionals. The consultations covered key areas of the music business, including copyright, contractual relations, international licenses, sync agreements and other relevant legal aspects of the music industry.