A special listening session presenting original music created during the Bridging Balkan Borders songwriting camp.<\/p>
Following a four-day residency in Athens, selected songwriters and producers from across Southeast Europe come together to share the results of their collaboration with a curated audience of music professionals and the wider AMW community.<\/p>
The session offers a first listen to new material developed during the camp, while creating a space for connection between emerging talent and industry representatives, including publishers, labels and A&Rs.<\/p>
Part of Athens Music Week 2026, this moment reflects the core idea behind Bridging Balkan Borders: that collaboration across scenes can open new pathways, strengthen regional ties and support artists in building a more sustainable international presence.<\/p>
Presented by Ruth Koleva<\/p>
Powered by Bridging Balkan Borders<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A special listening session presenting original music created during the Bridging Balkan Borders songwriting camp. Following a four-day residency in Athens, selected songwriters and producers from across Southeast Europe come together to share the results of their collaboration with a curated audience of music professionals and the wider AMW community. The session offers a first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"event-cat":[86,796],"nationality":[],"music-genre":[],"destination":[772,761,809],"topic":[],"language":[79],"class_list":["post-30976","event","type-event","status-publish","hentry","event-cat-conference-el","event-cat-listening-session-el","destination-amphitheater-small-el","destination-conference-el","destination-goethe-auditorium","language-english-el"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"","ams_acf":[{"key":"date","label":"Date","value":"6 \u039c\u03b1\u0390\u03bf\u03c5 2026"},{"key":"launch_time","label":"Launch Time","value":"15:45"},{"key":"end_time","label":"End Time","value":"17:45"},{"key":"hero_image","label":"Hero Image","value":30109},{"key":"performers","label":"Performers","value":[{"ID":17124,"post_author":"2128","post_date":"2023-04-27 09:16:40","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 06:16:40","post_content":"\n
Ruth Koleva stands as an emblem of modern musical prowess and entrepreneurial spirit. Celebrated not only for her musical talents but also for her dedication to innovation and progress within the music industry, Koleva has received numerous accolades, including Grazia Magazine's Woman of the Year, Forbes 30 Under 30, and the Best Jazz Vocalist award at the JAJ Awards in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Head of Partnerships for China's largest independent music company, Kanjian, Ruth is a key connection for international companies and artists looking to grow in the world's largest micro market. In 2019, New York-based Koleva founded Sofia Live Festival in her native Bulgaria, a contemporary three-day festival exploring innovation and interdisciplinary arts and genres. The event was an immediate success with over 8,000 visitors at its first edition. Koleva is also an avid supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, being one of the first performers to take the stage at Sofia Pride in 2013 and is a member of the advisory board of the LGBTQ+ Single Step Foundation.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Ruth Koleva (BG)","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ruth-koleva-bg","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-04-08 15:47:26","post_modified_gmt":"2026-04-08 12:47:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athensmusicweek.gr\/?post_type=speaker&p=17124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31275,"post_author":"2128","post_date":"2026-04-22 12:11:35","post_date_gmt":"2026-04-22 09:11:35","post_content":"\n
Diveno (Dimitris Beltsos) is a Greek songwriter and music producer, founding member of the
Arcade\u26a1\ufe0f team and co-founder of the Arcade\u26a1\ufe0fMusic label.
From 2000 to 2007, he lived and worked in the United Kingdom, collaborating with many
prominent artists of the time. His productions received significant support from BBC Radio 1Xtra
and BBC Radio 1, with DJs such as Tim Westwood, Ras Kwame, MistaJam, Rodney P & Skitz,
DJ Semtex, and Zane Lowe. Singles such as \u201cWhat Is Your Name\u201d (Alex Blood ft. Rukus) were
named \u201cSingle of the Month\u201d on BBC 1Xtra and were included in playlists on Choice FM and
Galaxy FM.
In 2007, upon returning to Greece, Diveno won First Prize at the Thessaloniki Song Festival
with the song \u201cAgapi Einai\u201d by Komi X, an important distinction that introduced him to the Greek
audience. Shortly after, he began releasing music under the name Diveno, while also writing
songs for top Greek artists.
In 2016, he co-founded the multidimensional team Arcade\u26a1\ufe0f, which quickly evolved into one of
the most influential songwriting and production teams in Greece.
With Arcade\u26a1\ufe0f, he has co-written and produced numerous multi-platinum and diamond hits.
Some of these include \u201cAsteromata\u201d by Klavdia \u2014 Greece\u2019s entry in the Eurovision Song
Contest 2025, where it placed 6th in the final \u2014 as well as \u201cLast Dance\u201d by Stefania \u2014 Greece\u2019s
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
Other notable works through the Arcade\u26a1\ufe0f team include songs such as: \u201cAlleluia\u201d by Eleni
Foureira, \u201cMonachiki Kardia\u201d by Melisses, \u201cAn,\u201d \u201cDen Echo Idea,\u201d \u201cGyrismos\u201d by Christos
Mastoras, \u201cIliggos,\u201d \u201cAdiavasta Minymata\u201d by Antonis Remos, and \u201cAn Me Deis Na Klaio\u201d by
Helena Paparizou.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Dimitris Beltsos - Diveno (GR)","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dimitris-beltsos-diveno-gr","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-04-22 12:15:45","post_modified_gmt":"2026-04-22 09:15:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athensmusicweek.gr\/speakers\/dimitris-beltsos-diveno-gr\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31298,"post_author":"2128","post_date":"2026-04-22 13:34:16","post_date_gmt":"2026-04-22 10:34:16","post_content":"\n
Vanias Apergis is a composer, music publisher, and founder of yellowgroove, an Athens-based audio and music company working across advertising, film, television, stage, and emerging media. With studies in Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music and an MMus in Creative Music Technology from Newcastle University, he blends a cinematic mindset with a deep understanding of sound and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through yellowgroove, he represents an extensive international catalog while developing original music, sonic identities, and audio branding strategies for leading brands and broadcasters. His work bridges composition, sound design, and music rights, moving seamlessly from creative direction to complex licensing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is Chair of the Hellenic Music Publishers Association, advocating for transparency and fair remuneration in the Greek music ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His perspective connects art, technology, and business, driven by one belief. Sound matters. He is particularly focused on how sound shapes identity and experience in a rapidly evolving media landscape.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanias Apergis (GR)","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"vanias-apergis-gr","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-04-22 13:37:13","post_modified_gmt":"2026-04-22 10:37:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athensmusicweek.gr\/?post_type=speaker&p=31298","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25828,"post_author":"1898","post_date":"2025-03-20 13:57:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-20 10:57:42","post_content":"\n
Marko Anastasov is the owner and CEO of the media hub MUZE, which houses one of the leaders in the Bulgarian music market - MUZE Music. With more than 10 years of international experience in the music industry, he specializes in copyright, innovation, A&R and big data management. Known as an irreconcilable visionary and strictly business oriented professional, he is constantly working for a brighter future for the music industry<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Links: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Marchonata<\/a> He was born in Athens and studied Greenhouse Cultivations and journalism. \u00a0He has been a music producer and radio host since 1996 on the radio stations \u201cSkai 100.3\u201d, \u201cAthens 9.84\u201d, \u201cProfit 98.1\u201d and he was one of the founding members of the Municipal Radio Station of Palaio Psychiko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From 2004 until today he has a daily radio show on \u201cKosmos 93.6\u201d - ERT (Hellenic Radio Broadcasting). He has collaborated with Sony Rec, EMI Rec, Compact Disc Club as A& R and has released 10 music collections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He has been involved in dubbing documentaries for television and series for \u201cSkai tv\u201d and \u201cERT\u201d with his voice in over 12,000 episodes. From 1992 until today he has been playing as a DJ in the largest bars - clubs - restaurants in Greece and abroad. He was a member of the Greek Eurovision Committee (European Song Contest) from 2018 to 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He has promoted American folk, Americana and Country music on a daily basis from his radio shows for the last twenty years and since 2023 he has been a regular member and voter in the \u201cCountry Music Association\u201d, Nashville TN. (CMA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0He has published articles and interviews with Greek and foreign artists in the newspapers \"Kathimerini\", \"Chora\", \"Demokratia\", \"Real\", \"Eleftherotypia\". \u00a0He has one of the largest vinyl record collections in Europe with over 50,000 records and 300,000 45' Rpm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2026, he will release the \"History of Country Music\" on podcast for the first time in Greece, analyzing and presenting Country from its birth in the 19th century to the present day and his first book related to music and politics.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Petros Adam (GR)","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"petros-adam-gr","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-04-29 15:28:24","post_modified_gmt":"2026-04-29 12:28:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athensmusicweek.gr\/?post_type=speaker&p=32752","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32672,"post_author":"2133","post_date":"2026-04-29 11:38:37","post_date_gmt":"2026-04-29 08:38:37","post_content":"\n With a dynamic career spanning over two decades, George Stampolis is a distinguished leader in the music industry, currently serving as the Director of Digital Strategy & Business Development at Autodia. His journey in the music industry began in studio production. Over the years, he transitioned to leadership roles, ultimately becoming the Managing Director of a prominent music label.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This progression has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of the industry, allowing him to navigate its complexities and drive successful outcomes for artists and projects alike. Additionally, his experience in organizing and producing major live events has further enhanced his ability to create memorable experiences that resonate with audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During his career, he implemented comprehensive management strategies that elevated artists to new heights, achieving significant chart success and a robust digital sales footprint. With a proven track record in building lasting relationships and negotiating contracts, he has been instrumental in driving growth for both emerging and established talent.<\/p>\n","post_title":"George Stampolis (GR)","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"george-stampolis-gr","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-04-29 11:44:03","post_modified_gmt":"2026-04-29 08:44:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athensmusicweek.gr\/?post_type=speaker&p=32672","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32685,"post_author":"2133","post_date":"2026-04-29 11:58:17","post_date_gmt":"2026-04-29 08:58:17","post_content":"\n Vasilis Ginos has studied law and music, and has been professionally involved in it for the last 40 years. As a musician, arranger, programmer, musical director and producer, he participates in many recordings and live performances of artists and creators in many diverse genres, in Greece and abroad. He has been involved in radio production, owns a recording studio and has extensive experience in music technology, with publications in the press and on the internet about synthesizers and electronic music. He releases his works through independent productions, while also working for theater, cinema, television and advertising. He has written books about the Music Profession and Intellectual Property, subjects he addresses as a professor at the Art Conservatory, through his \u201cEMENA ROTA\" channel on YouTube and as a member of \"Musicians in Action.\" He served as Vice President of the Panhellenic Music Union and is currently Vice President of APOLLON, the Greek Collective Management Organization for musicians\u2019 neighboring rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Vasilis Ginos (GR)","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"vasilis-ginos-gr","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-04-29 12:09:40","post_modified_gmt":"2026-04-29 09:09:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athensmusicweek.gr\/?post_type=speaker&p=32685","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32887,"post_author":"2128","post_date":"2026-04-30 08:29:12","post_date_gmt":"2026-04-30 05:29:12","post_content":"\n Jay Stolar is a multi-platinum, gold, and diamond-certified producer, songwriter, and executive producer with over 500 million streams and hundreds of sync placements across film, TV, sports, and games, including the Super Bowl, Olympics, League of Legends, and Fortnite. A multi-instrumentalist, Stolar has shaped songs globally for Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, G-Eazy, Aloe Blacc, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Jaxson Gamble. In Greece, he has worked with Konstantinos Argiros, Eleni Foureira, Sakis Rouvas, Marina Satti, Marseaux, and Solmeister, co-writing and co-producing Satti's Eurovision hit \"Zari\" and Evangelia's viral 2025 and 2026 hits \"V\u00e1le\" and \"PAR\u00c9A\". <\/p>\n\n\n\n As Evangelia's executive producer since 2019, he co-created her sound, built her catalog, and brokered her major label deals. Stolar is also co-founder of Hume, a creative studio building virtual artists with fair-use, human-led AI. He built DEATHPIXIE and Angel Baby from zero to over 700,000 combined monthly listeners and brokered deals with mau5trap, 10K Projects, and Create Music. DEATHPIXIE performed at Red Rocks alongside deadmau5 in the first virtual artist electronic concert. Now based between Athens and Los Angeles, Stolar leads creative direction across Hume's roster and FATE RECORDS' development as a label bridging the US and Greek industries.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Jay Stolar (US)","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"jay-stolar-us","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-04-30 08:33:03","post_modified_gmt":"2026-04-30 05:33:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athensmusicweek.gr\/speakers\/jay-stolar-us\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32927,"post_author":"2128","post_date":"2026-04-30 10:49:15","post_date_gmt":"2026-04-30 07:49:15","post_content":"\n With over 12 years of experience in the music industry, Konstantinos Adam is currently the A&R Manager for Indie Pop, Alternative, and Entehno at Stay Independent. Throughout his career, he has specialized in bridging the gap between artistic talent and digital strategy, holding key positions at industry leaders such as The Orchard, Akazoo, and Heaven Music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Konstantinos possesses a deep expertise in the digital music ecosystem, with a proven track record in A&R, artist development, and digital distribution operations. His background spans from managing global content curation and editorial teams to executing high-impact digital marketing campaigns. A graduate of Economics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, he combines a data-driven business approach with a sharp ear for emerging trends, dedicated to maximizing artist engagement and revenue through innovative label relations and digital growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Konstantinos Adam (GR)","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"konstantinos-adam-gr","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-04-30 10:54:26","post_modified_gmt":"2026-04-30 07:54:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athensmusicweek.gr\/?post_type=speaker&p=32927","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}]}],"yoast_head":"\n
https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/markoanastasov_\/<\/a>
https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/markomuze\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Marko Anastasov (BG)","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"marko-anastasov-bg","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-20 13:57:44","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-20 10:57:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athensmusicweek.gr\/?post_type=speaker&p=25828","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32752,"post_author":"2133","post_date":"2026-04-29 15:27:22","post_date_gmt":"2026-04-29 12:27:22","post_content":"\n