Seoul Music Forum to Promote International Cooperation...As a leader of the global music industry
Oct 22, 2025
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The forum was co-hosted and organized by the Korea Music Label Industry Association (LIAK) and the Kindy Lounge, and was held under the theme of 「International Collaboration」 with the cooperation of the Grand Mint Festival (GMF), Round Festival (ROUND), and WIN (Worldwide Independent Network).
The forum, held in two years, is a place to share the flow of the music industry in Asia and around the world and explore new models of cooperation and exchange between countries, discussing sustainable solidarity across the industry and the direction of global music ecosystem expansion.
The forum covered key issues in the international music industry in depth, covering various topics such as the ASEAN-Korea music market, broadcasting industry, digital distribution, and indie music exchange.
In the first session 'Korea-ASEAN Festival Market Flow and Prospect', Singapore's David Xio and Vietnam's Kuok Tzuong Nguyen participated as panelists and MPMG CEO Kim Sang-kyu served as the modulator to discuss the structure of the rapidly growing ASEAN music market and the possibility of cooperation with the Korean music industry.
In the following session 'The Reality and Industrial Prospects of Music Broadcasting Programs', along with KBS CP Park Seok-hyung, LG Uplus Content Production Center Director Shin Jeong-soo, KBS World Producer Hwang Kook-chan, who oversees ROUND FESTIVAL, LIAK Chairman Lee Kyu-young participated as a modulator to point out the present and future of broadcasting music programs and the direction of cooperation between production companies and agencies.
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At WIN BRIDGE PROGRAM, which continued on the second day, practical cooperation discussions centered on international distribution and indi-scene continued.
In the session of 'The Role of Digital Distributors in Revitalizing Cross-Border Music Exchanges', Tinko Georgiyev, No Gunshik, Sridhar Swaminasan, and Tim Byrne participated as the host of WIN CEO to share the distribution structure and cooperation strategy of independent music in the era of global streaming.
In addition, the following special presentation introduced the evolution of digital music management platforms and indie label support strategies with DISCO.
In the final session 'Building a Bridge of Asia-Pacific Exchanges Through Independent Music', officials from major Asia-Pacific music producers associations, including Dylan Pellet, Brendan Gaffney, and Sridhar Swaminasan, participated as a panelist, and Nerea Serrano, WIN's community manager, participated as a modulator to share examples of collaboration in Asian indie scenes and ways to build a sustainable network.
On the one hand, 'bright Lab.' Rolling Quartz and Yeonjung, who participated in LIAK Pick! through the showcase, decorated the stage for two days on the 18th and 19th.
This year's forum does not stop there, but extends to the APAC United in Music-linked program until Oct. 22.
On October 20, the LIAK x IMCJ opening networking event will be held at Prism Lounge and Prism Hall, along with networking, the "2025 La Laon Book Concert' will be held, with the participation of Paldo Blues (Yoon Byung-joo and Ha Heon-jin).
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On the 22nd, a networking event called 'WINHUB x SEOUL' will be held at the Hapjeong Tab Shop Bar to continue the exchange between WIN officials, LIAK member companies, Merlin and IMCJ board members, and music industry officials.
Since its first hosting in 2015, the Seoul Music Forum has dealt with topics that reflect changes in the times, such as 'music, with Corona' (2021), 'reboot, and again music' (2022), and this year, it focused on collaboration centered on the Asia-Pacific region and the sustainability of the independent music ecosystem. Through this event, the Seoul Music Forum has further grown into a hub for international music industry networking centered on Korea and has established itself as a venue for practical cooperation between the global music industry.
An official from the Korea Music Label Industry Association said "The Seoul Music Forum is a place where domestic and foreign music industry officials gather to establish a network of practical exchanges and cooperation. We will continue to strengthen global solidarity to present a new growth direction for the Korean music industry."
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