Regional pop music promotion in Baden-Württembergto be significantly expand

"With the new micro-funding structure, pop music promotion can be implemented in a targeted and unbureaucratic manner in the regions of Baden-Württemberg in the future. This will primarily benefit newcomers and enable unbureaucratic funding. The funds will be distributed annually to the current RegioNet partner regions and will be used to implement regional micro-funding and their own projects. Part of the funds will be used to enable the integration of new regions and close gaps in Baden-Württemberg's statewide pop promotion structure," says Daniel Schmidt, Head of RegioNet, Musikagentur KLINKT, Bandpool.

The increase in project funds amounts to €110,000 per year, which will be distributed to the current RegioNet partner regions starting in 2025. The funds will be disbursed through the existing structure of the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg's RegioNet and implemented locally in the regions with the expertise of the RegioNet partners.

The expansion of the RegioNet program is made possible by the Ministry of Culture's POPLÄND initiative. The specific measures were developed based on the recommendations of the Pop Dialogue 2023-2024. One goal was to broaden the scope of pop music promotion in Baden-Württemberg and strengthen regional structures in the long term. "Baden-Württemberg is a large state, and rural areas are just as important to the state government as urban areas. It is only logical that we also rely on competent local partners in all regions. Because they are close to the scene, they know what support is good and right. This makes it all the more important that we can continue to promote this know-how with additional POPLÄND funds. It is also clear that we cannot do without the Popakademie, which has been providing expert support for this process for more than 20 years and will continue to expand in the future," said State Secretary for the Arts Arne Braun. “With the new micro-funding, RegioNet partners now have a new tool to help pop artists in an unbureaucratic way. Because sometimes even a small grant can help: whether it's for renting a studio for a day, for childcare during a performance, for a new guitar, or for a fee.”

The RegioNet of the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg works in cooperation with the following partners in the state, who provide information on micro-funding and where applications for funding can be submitted:

• Popbastion Ulm (Donau-Iller-Region)
• Jazz & Rock Schulen Freiburg (Region Südlicher Oberrhein)
• Pop-Büro Region Stuttgart
• Music Commission Mannheim (Region Rhein-Neckar)
• Popbüro Bodensee-Oberschwaben (Ravensburg)
• Popnetz Karlsruhe (Region Mittlerer Oberrhein)
• Popbüro Neckar-Alb (Reutlingen)
• Popbüro Heilbronn-Franken

Since RegioNet was founded in 2003, the Popakademie has been responsible for coordinating and supporting the regions on behalf of the ministry. In 2025/2026, RegioNet's efforts in the areas of networking, consulting, event management, and public relations will be significantly intensified by means of a temporary half-time project position. This will also be financed by POPLÄND funds from the Ministry of Culture.

Further information: www.popakademie.de/de/ueber-uns/regionet/
About the Ministry of Culture's POPLÄND initiative: https://mwk-bw.de/poplaend