With a shared vision of creative collaboration, cross-border exchange, and strengthening the Balkan presence in the modern music industry, Stay Independent and Indie Balkans have teamed up for the fifth consecutive year to bridge the gap between musical communities across Southeastern Europe. AUTODIA’s contribution to the program was pivotal, both at an institutional level and throughout the camp’s creative process.
Ilianna Antoniou, Director of Communication & International Relations at AUTODIA, addressed the creators on topics including music copyright, AUTODIA’s local and international initiatives, the significance of collaboration, and the protection of authors’ rights. Furthermore, guided by the values of authenticity and creative expression, Ilianna emphasized the emotional impact of musical works, expanding on one of the program’s key themes: the value of ‘vulnerability’.
AUTODIA’s active presence at the camp clearly demonstrated the importance of connecting creators with institutions that support author’s rights, publishing, collective management, and the professional development of the Greek and Balkan music ecosystems. The event was attended by several Greek creators - AUTODIA members, including: Georgios Arvanitakis (Garvin), Thomas Papathanasis (Papatanice), Terence Billai (BeTaf Beats), Daphne Tsoulia (Daphne Lawrence), Konstantinos Manousakis (Display), Elias Demertzis (Gamecue), Apostolos Vintos (Vido), Stefanos Dasopoulos (ObieDaz), and Gerasimos Theodoros Georgiadis (Tr4cer).
The event culminated on May 6th at the Goethe-Institut Athen, where the material created during the camp was presented to a select audience of music industry professionals, including George Stampolis—A&R executive producer and AUTODIA’s Director of Business Strategy and Digital Development.
The 15 participants—who hailed from Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, and Turkey, and worked as songwriters, producers, artists, and A&Rs—rated the camp exceptionally highly. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, praising both the creative experience and the professional networking opportunities.
AUTODIA is proud to support an initiative that fosters a safe and productive environment for outreach, knowledge exchange, and creative development. Bridging Balkan Borders Vol. 5 – Athens Edition was made possible through the significant support of IMPF, the European Union, and the HMPA (Hellenic Music Publishers Association), in addition to AUTODIA.