TMW Gears For 2010

Helen Sildna says Tallinn Music Week went “better than anybody would have dared to expect” and has already announced the dates for the second gathering of the Estonian conference in 2009.

Last month’s inaugural TMW attracted more than 300 delegates, with about one-third of them coming from outside of Estonia. The evening showcases featuring mainly national acts attracted 4,000 people. TMW’s Web site had 27,000 visits from 53 countries.

Delegates voted Popidiot, an Estonian electro-pop duo, the best of of the local talent, which won them a 50,000 crown ($4,250) cash prize from major-sponsor Skype, the local software provider that allows users to make telephone calls over the Internet. Skype was written by Tallinn-based developers Ahti Heinla.

Sildna is moving on from being a promoter for Baltic Development Group to set up a new company to turn Tallinn Music Week into a successful annual conference and showcase – like a Eurosonic or ILMC for The Baltics.

Peeter Rebane, Sildna’s boss at BMG, is a shareholder in the new company.

TMW 2010 is March 25-28.