RUSSIA - Road Map

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Fast facts

Dial Code: +7

Population: 146,1 million

Language: Russian

Capital City: Moscow

Currency: Russian Ruble (RUB)

GDP Per Capita: $29,485

Publishing & Performance rights

PUBLISHING

Most Russians perceive recorded music as free - public domain. This attitude was reinforced by a practice called Samizdat, which is the private reproduction, copying, self-publishing and distribution of unwanted or censored products in the Soviet Union.

The largest music archive on the Russian internet, VKontakte, provides easy and free access to all kinds of music.

Media, PR & Promotion

MEDIA
TV:

Few central TV and radio stations play new music on the air. In terms of genre, this leads to a dominance of Russian pop and chanson. TV, otherwise the most powerful media channel in Russia, is not the most relevant for new music. Relatively important channels of cultural programming include Dozd, Moscow 24, Pyatnitsa!, U , Peretz. Historically, Russian pop-oriented music television was represented in Russia on Muz-TV and MTV Russia.

Radio:

Ownership concentration is particularly typical of the radio sector. Internet radio broadcasting is well known and practiced. Moskva.FM is an online service that enables online listening to 53 radio stations in Moscow, and provides information about playlists, rotations and radio lists.

Newspapers:

Top national publications include:

Specialized magazines:

Cultural publications, especially important for the music offer, include:

  • Afisha.ru (paper and net) 

  • Colta.Ru TimeOut (paper, especially strong in St.Petersburg).

  • The music press has never been well developed in Russia because the music industry has never paid for advertising in the music press and the sources of funding were scarce. The Russian edition of Rolling Stone is the only traditional music magazine that can be considered influential. Another local edition of an international publication with a significant focus on music is Vice, which will also be online.

  • Zvuki.Ru is a well-known internet-based channel dedicated to music, and includes all sub-genres of music journalism. 

  • Jazz.Ru (since 1997) is a resource on all topics related to jazz music, exceptionally professional and unparalleled in Russian niche music journalism. 

  • LookAtMe.Ru is a trendy internet-based medium with a strong social media component where users are inspired to create their own content.

PR AGENCIES

Companies that offer PR - support for artists and music events exist, but most typically the organizer itself is behind PR campaigns, as well as the promoter, booker or record company that presents the artist. It is rather unusual for an international player to make agreements with a Russian PR agency. However, the companies listed below can secure coverage in traditional Russian media if needed.

Live & Venues

LIVE

Jazz festivals are quite well developed in the region (compared to the lack of pop - rock festivals). Many are traditionally held in State Philharmonic Halls. St.Petersburg, in particular, hosts several mainstream jazz festivals throughout the year:

  • White Night Swing

  • Jazz at the Hermitage

  • PetroJazz

  • Jazz Province

  • Jazz-on-the-Volga

  • MuzEnergo

  • SibJazz

  • FestEni

  • Jazz Masterskaya in Arkhangelsk organizes the annual Vladimir Rezitsky Festival


VENUES

Moscow:

St.Petersburg:

BOOKING AGENTS


Other

MUSIC INDUSTRY NETWORKING ARENAS

Russian federal authorities are only vaguely familiar with the concept of cultural exports in popular genres. The few sporadic examples of exports of Russian music remain a matter of private enthusiasm or initiatives from foreign cultural diplomats. In the Russian industry, there is an understanding of the need for shop windows and networking arenas in the form of industry meetings, but no Russian events of this type are perceived as absolutely necessary to be present at by international professionals today.

  • Colisium - during the NAMM Music Fair, was first held in May in Moscow in 2012. Today, the fair is mainly a meeting place for Russian professionals from the regions, with professionals from Moscow and St. Petersburg invited as speakers and panelists. Most of the programming is in Russian.

  • Sochi Winter Music Conference, since 2006. The event was initiated by the professional dance club scene in Moscow. Most of the programming is in Russian.

In 2013, the industry meeting V-Rox was founded in the eastern port city of Vladivostok by the national star band Mumiy Troll in collaboration with the local authorities. The indisputably interesting initiative focuses on the Asian, Australian and North American markets. It is unclear whether it will be relevant to European professionals.

  • Rasia.com - big conference, showcase arena aimed at Asia.

Russian industry participates in major international trade fairs and showcase festivals. Tallinn Music Week in Estonia has taken a place in this niche and has become a showcase and a platform for, among others, Russian up-and-coming bands and artists.