Belgium Archives - Athens Music Week

Rory Brown (UK/BE)

admino — Sat, 09 May 2026 04:07:11 +0000

Rory Brown is a strategic communications professional and project coordinator at IMPALA (the Independent Music Companies Association), the leading European organization dedicated to supporting independent music labels and artists. Based in Brussels, he plays a key role in amplifying the voice of the independent sector across Europe, managing public relations and coordinating high-impact projects that bridge the gap between policy-making and the creative industry. His work is essential in maintaining IMPALA’s position as a vital advocate for a sustainable and diverse music ecosystem.

At IMPALA, Rory oversees a wide array of initiatives, including the prestigious “European Independent Album of the Year” award and various sustainability and diversity programs. He serves as a primary point of contact for international media and member associations, ensuring that the achievements and challenges of independent labels are communicated effectively to stakeholders and the public. His role involves a sophisticated blend of digital communication, event management, and member relations, all aimed at strengthening the network of independent music companies that represent over 80% of all new releases in Europe.

He is deeply involved in the industry’s modern challenges, from navigating the complexities of streaming reforms to implementing the “IMPALA Sustainability Programme,” helping the sector transition toward a greener future.

His perspective is driven by the belief that the independent sector is the primary engine for innovation and cultural diversity in music. He is particularly focused on empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through collaborative projects and strategic storytelling, ensuring that the independent spirit remains competitive and influential in an increasingly globalized and consolidated market.

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Gérôme Vanherf (BE)

Kiki — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:07:42 +0000

Gérôme is the co-founder & CEO of ikii, a strategic and creative venture supporting key players in the live and experience economy. For more than 20 years, he has worked at the intersection of music, live entertainment, innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship, helping connect corporate leaders, founders, investors, academics, creatives, and public stakeholders.

He has co-founded and led pioneering initiatives including Wallifornia MusicTech, MusicTech Belgium, MusicTech Europe, and SportsTech Belgium, contributing to the growth of new ecosystems across music, entertainment, and sports.

Formerly CEO of La Grand Poste, one of Belgium’s leading creative hubs, and former innovation lead at LeanSquare, a VC fund, he now helps live and entertainment organizations strengthen their positioning, rethink their business models, and imagine the next generation of experiences.

He also sits on the advisory board of KIKK Festival, on the board of Capitane Coop, and serves as a strategic advisor to companies such as Tickets For Good, Citizen BKLYN, and Temple Studios.

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Alexandre Stevens (BE)

Artur — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:55:24 +0000

Alex Stevens is a festival programmer, creative director, and music tech entrepreneur based in Belgium.
With over 20 years of experience in live music curation including nearly two decades as Artistic Director at Dour Festival, where he co-programmed some 3,000 concerts. Alex has become one of Europe’s most respected voices in festival curation. He currently serves as Creative Director and Head of Music at IKII, where he books artists for major festivals including Marsatac (Marseille), Sakifo, and Francofolies de la Réunion.
Parallel to his curatorial work, Alex founded Live Intelligence Labs, a tech venture studio building the data infrastructure for the live music industry. Its flagship products include Bookr.fm, a festival programming SaaS platform used by 56+ European festivals, and Predikt.live, a decision intelligence tool that turns booking intuition into quantifiable risk scoring.
He holds an MSc in Computer Science from the University of Liège, and sits at the rare intersection of deep curatorial expertise and technical fluency. His current focus: encoding 20 years of programming knowledge into scalable AI-powered tools for the live industry.

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