‘2026 Seoul Music Forum’ Successfully Concludes… From Global Expansion to Rights Protection in the AI ​​Era

The '2026 Seoul Music Forum,' hosted by the Korea Music Label Industry Association (hereinafter KMIA), was held from the 1st to the 2nd at BRST Studio & Live House in Mapo-gu, Seoul.

This year's forum was held under the theme "Independent, Connected, Global: The Next Chapter for Music Labels." Domestic and international music industry experts and independent label representatives attended to discuss changes in the global music market and strategies for the sustainable growth of independent labels.

On the first day, the 1st, focusing on 'Audience, Experience & Technology,' we examined the music consumption patterns of Asian Gen Z, changes in the fandom economy, the expansion of the music business through performances and festivals, and ways to cooperate on the independent music industry between countries.

Josh Jordan, founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Crosscurrent, delivered a keynote speech on the theme of "Asian Gen Z Creating Their Own Worlds: Fantasy, Identity, and Connection," addressing the cultural changes of the younger generation in Asia and the impact of these trends on the music industry.

In the 'New Economics of Fandom' session, Josh Jordan, Kanjian Vice President Tinko Georgiev, and Asian Music Industry Festival co-founder Yang served as panelists. The session was moderated by popular music critic Lim Hee-yoon. Attendees discussed the changes in fandom, which are expanding beyond digital music consumption to include live experiences such as concerts and festivals, as well as new business opportunities that independent labels can leverage.

A session titled 'Indie Without Borders: Korea-UK Exchange and Popular Music Cooperation via the WIN Network' was also organized to address cooperation between the independent music industries of Korea and the UK. Nina Radojewski, Head of Membership at the Association of Independent Music (AIM), and Noh Gun-sik, Co-CEO of Sound Republica, participated, with Park Jun-seok, CEO of Fluxus, serving as the moderator. They discussed ways to facilitate exchange between the independent music industries of both countries and the potential for international cooperation through the Global Independent Music Network (WIN).

On the second day, the 2nd, under the theme of 'Business & Global,' the event focused on the cooperation framework of the Asian music industry, the overseas expansion of domestic artists, and issues regarding the protection of music rights and fair settlement in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

Professor Lim Ji-oh of Sookmyung Women's University delivered a keynote speech on the theme, "The Culturally Neutral Republic of Korea and Asian Music Solidarity: Toward Win-Win Governance for Independent Labels Amidst Global Hegemony." Professor Lim explained the necessity of cooperation among Asian music industries and presented measures for independent labels to grow together.

Following this, the session 'Practical Aspects of Global Expansion: Roadmaps and Case Studies for Domestic Artists' Global Entry' shared specific strategies necessary for the overseas activities of Korean musicians. Professor Lim Ji-oh, Indie Week founder Darryl Hurs, Music at Work founder Rick Haayen, and United Future Creators founder Hide Kawada participated as panelists, while Lee Kyu-young, CEO of Ruby Records, moderated the session. The session covered considerations for the overseas expansion process—including participation in international showcases and festivals, entry into the Sync market, and building local partnerships—along with case studies regarding visa and budget issues.

In the final session, 'Protecting Value: Fair Settlement, Streaming Abuse, and Rights Protection in the AI ​​Era,' issues regarding revenue distribution and rights management in the digital music market were addressed as the main agenda. Kaoruko Hill, Head of Asia-Pacific at Merlin; Jay Winship, Representative of APX Royalties; Sohail Hasan, Head of Rights Management at Xelon Entertainment; and Luke McQueen, Founder of Velvetjam, participated as panelists. Moderated by Sound Republica Co-CEO Noh Gun-sik, the discussion covered abnormal streaming practices, the fair distribution of music revenue, and measures to protect rights through metadata, ISRC, and music credit management.

At the two-day forum, key tasks were presented, including business diversification and expansion of global networks for independent labels, establishing a foundation for domestic artists' overseas expansion, and creating a fair music industry environment. Domestic and international music industry stakeholders shared experiences and case studies from their respective countries and explored ways to foster international cooperation for the independent music industry.

An official from the Korea Music Industry Association stated, “The 2026 Seoul Music Forum was a venue to examine key challenges facing the independent music industry and explore new growth possibilities in the global market together with domestic and international music industry experts,” adding, “We will strive to ensure that the exchanges formed at this forum lead to tangible international cooperation and business opportunities.”

They added, “We will continue various activities to protect the rights and interests of domestic independent labels and artists, strengthen the global competitiveness of Korean independent music, and create a sustainable music ecosystem.”

Meanwhile, the Seoul Music Forum is a specialized forum for the music industry launched in 2015, serving as a venue for domestic and international stakeholders to discuss current industry issues and future development directions. The Korea Music Industry Association plans to continue its activities aimed at developing the independent music ecosystem and expanding exchange and cooperation between domestic and international music industries.

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