As the year draws to a close, so does the launch of another exciting opportunity for emerging professionals in the music industry. Project New Faces returns for its third edition, opening doors for the next generation of industry talent. With the inclusion of Bulgaria and their SoAlive Music Conference & Festival, the initiative now expands beyond the former Yugoslavia region, uniting young professionals from across the Balkans.

The mission remains clear: to discover and support ten of the most promising young music professionals (up to 30 years old) from the Balkan region.

In collaboration with leading festivals and conferences, including MENT Ljubljana (Slovenia), Kontakt (Serbia), SHIP (Croatia), PIN Music Conference (North Macedonia), and now SoAlive Music Conference & Festival (Bulgaria), New Faces 2025 is dedicated to bridging the gap between ambition and achievement. Nominations are open until December 10th, 2024, inviting the public to highlight young talents actively contributing to the local and regional music scenes.

Katja Jukić, one of the ten selected young professionals from New Faces 2024 and a Croatian journalist on the glazba.hr portal, expressed in her text: 
”This is truly a great recognition for young people who usually work in the shadows, behind the spotlight, in the so-called backstage of the scene. It’s especially exciting that four festivals have come together to offer us opportunities for new experiences and knowledge that are too rarely available in our region.”

The festival partners of the New Faces 2025 project said together: “Being part of New Faces is already putting young professionals on the radar of important industry events across Europe, which is helping to grow and strengthen the music scene as a whole. Initiatives like this are so important for nurturing new talent and keeping the music industry thriving. By giving these young professionals opportunities to learn, grow, and connect, we’re not just supporting individuals—we’re helping to keep the entire music scene alive and healthy.”

The results of the New Faces initiative are already visible, not only within the region but also across Europe, as its impact continues to grow. The selected professionals from previous years have experienced new opportunities, such as participating in exchanges with key European events like Most Wanted: Music – Berlin’s music business festival, and SPOT Festival in Denmark.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 10, 2024 / APPLY HERE


Check out last year’s participants.

WHO ARE THE NEW FACES?


The New Faces are the backbone of the regional music industry, excelling in diverse fields such as event organization, booking, management, publishing, journalism, production, and more. These young professionals are defined by their passion, work ethic, and drive to constantly improve.

LOOKING FOR MUSIC PROFESSIONALS!

Please note that the Open Call is not intended for musicians, but for the behind-the-scenes professionals shaping the music industry.

ANYONE CAN NOMINATE!


The public is encouraged to submit applications and proposals by December 10, 2024. Nominations can be made for oneself or for a third party by completing the application form available HERE. Nominees must be 30 years old or younger in 2025.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE NEW FACES?


The selected ten will receive a PRO pass, providing access to all festival concerts, conference sessions, and the online delegate database at a minimum of four partner conferences across the Balkans. Additionally, New Faces 2025 will cover accommodation expenses in the host country and offer valuable media exposure to help these rising professionals elevate their profiles within the industry.

Nominate a young professional or apply today at: APPLICATION LINK.