Let's get local. In the age of Internet, peer-to-peer file-sharing and digital restrictions management, the netlabelfestival broaches the issue of free music distribution.

The discussion about copyright in the digital age is nowadays not only a topic for lawyers but also for representatives of culture and politics. What brings the future for the cultural assets? Who will control the rights and where will the borders between the well-being of the individual and the good of community be drawn? Is music a commodity like all the other trading goods and therefore needs to follow the same principles?

The creative act of music production represents the emphasis of the mentioned context. In all forms of art, new ideas are influenced by previous and so to say, the old works revive within the new interpretation. Unlike in the praxis of fine arts or literature, the quotation in music field became a dangerous terrain.

Since the theoretical viewpoint on copyleft was already widely presented and discussed in the media, we would rather focus on music itself. We offer musicians, domiciled in the virtual space of Internet, a physical stage with the local public and furthermore, the insight into the sounds and topics of the netlabel movement.

Beside the concerts of international and local musicians, the netlabel-organizers, software/web developers and musicians also plan to present the world of free music in short presentations and call upon a critical discourse.

Thanks to Rote Fabrik, we have an extremely nice location to enjoy free music in all it's facets. For people too far away to attend the festival, we organize a permanent live stream which will start on Friday 17th. Tune in and have fun!

Netlabelfestival Gallery :