Jazz professionals from across the UK are invited to join a free, interactive online session designed to help them make the most of their visit to jazzahead! 2025, the world’s premier jazz trade fair and showcase festival taking place in Bremen, Germany, from 24-26 April.
The one-hour Zoom session, hosted by two of ECN Music’s managing partners Elaine Crouch and Nadja von Massow, will provide invaluable insights for both first-time attendees and returning participants looking to enhance their experience at this pivotal industry event.
“jazzahead! represents an unparalleled opportunity for networking and career advancement, but the sheer scale of the event can be overwhelming without proper preparation,” explains Elaine Crouch, who brings over 14 years of experience in jazz education, artist consulting and label management. “Our goal is to equip UK jazz professionals with practical strategies to navigate the event confidently and effectively.”
Monday, 7 April 2025, 5pm
Register here!
The virtual session will take place on Monday, 7 April at 5pm and cover essential aspects of trade fair participation, including pre-event preparation, setting clear objectives, managing your schedule between showcases and meetings, maintaining energy throughout the intensive three days, and implementing effective follow-up techniques. Participants will also benefit from the wealth of knowledge offered by Nadja von Massow, whose background includes artist and tour management, digital development and design, having provided creative support to artists, record labels and international music organisations for over 15 years.
Structured primarily as an interactive Q&A, the session welcomes questions from all UK music professionals currently registered for jazzahead! 2025 or still considering attendance. Topics will include:
- Assessing whether jazzahead! aligns with your professional goals
- Preparation strategies that make a difference
- Setting realistic objectives to measure success
- Balancing scheduled meetings with spontaneous networking opportunities
- Essential dos and don’ts for productive engagement
ECN Music will also be holding a post-event session to compare experiences, discuss best next actions and allow participants to share ideas about how to build on their visit.
These sessions come at a particularly significant moment for UK jazz, with Arts Council England recently announcing a £25,000 investment to support England’s jazz scene. This investment includes enhanced representation for English artists at jazzahead! 2025, raising their visibility on the international stage alongside delegates from other UK nations.
This strategic funding builds upon Arts Council England’s established support for organizations like Tomorrow’s Warriors, Jazz re:freshed, and the London and Manchester jazz festivals, which have been instrumental in nurturing talent such as the Mercury and Brit Award-winning Ezra Collective. The investment also extends to supporting the Breakthrough Act of the Year award at the 2025 Jazz FM Awards, further celebrating England’s diverse jazz talent.
