The Finest Sounds project got to full speed in March, when eight students from TAMK Media & Arts and Head of DP in Media & Arts Timo Kivikangas, lecturers Harri Karvinen and Sohvi Sirkesalo travelled to Tallinn to participate to Tallinn Music Week, in order to work together with students from Baltic Film, Media, Arts and Communication School (Tallinn University) and HUMAK in a Hackathon session and meet the Japanese delegation.

The programme was intensive. On Thursday evening, the students from three universities gave short presentations about their ideas for combining a music artist or band with Finnish and Estonian companies and brands. Students from Media & Arts had stylish and fresh demos with Finnish band Tuuletar and artist Venior. In the end of the session, three groups were formed by eight students from TAMK, two from HUMAK and three from BFM.




Friday's programme concentrated on the TMW conference with a special Finest Sounds session: “The Trials and Tribulations of the Japanese Music Market”, during which panelists Aya Ohi (JVCKENWOOD Victor Entertainment Corp), Takayuki Suzuki (ParadeAll), Onta Shiroh Kawaguchi (Creativeman Productions) and Tomoyuki Ohsawa (Office Ohsawa) talked about the uniqueness of music market in Japan - how to break into this lucrative market and what the future holds for their country. In the afternoon, everybody attented “Case study: The Moomin Story” by Paulina Ahokas (Tampere Hall) and Virpi Uimonen (Fullsteam Management). Tampere Hall and the new Moomin Museum will be one case in the Finest Sounds Project.

Saturday was the day for a hackathon, starting at 10 am with an intro and ideas, then working in groups and getting ready to present the ideas to the Japanese delegation. This was an exciting moment; what will the specialists of the music market say, how is their feedback? Their feedback was very informative, with sharp comments about audiences' and consumers’ behaviour in Japan. At the end of the day it was finally time for a pitching session of the companies and mentors with demos. There were three examples for brand developing and marketing co-operation for Tuuletar & Lapuan Kankurit, Venior & Aarikka and Alma & Angry Birds. Good ideas, great presentations and very inspiring for the Finest Sounds project!

Tallinn Music Week was great experience also with the huge variety of concerts and gigs. Luckily the TAMK team also had time to enjoy the music!




Text: Sohvi Sirkesalo
Photos: Benny Majabacka (HUMAK)
Text & image edits: Carita Forsgren