Connect with the best at BIMM Institute Hamburg

When it comes to opportunities in the music and creative industries, Hamburg is the place to be.

As well as being a musical hub, Hamburg has grown to become Germany’s media capital. It’s now home to the nation’s highest density of media, film and advertising businesses, and this exceptional interdisciplinary connectivity makes Hamburg the ideal place to study and begin your music or media career.

The city’s high quality of living offers additional appeal. Average incomes are around ten per cent higher than the German average, and stable networks and industry structures ensure fertile ground for creative start-ups.

Hamburg may be smaller than its sister city, Berlin, but it still packs a mean punch when it comes to music. With some of the country’s hottest record labels on its doorstep, such as Warner Music, PIAS Germany, Audiolith Records and Buback Records, and more live music venues than any other European city, Hamburg locals are spoilt for choice when it comes to professional networking or even just taking in a gig after work.

In fact, Hamburg – with just half of Berlin’s population – boasts some pretty impressive music industry statistics overall:

• 12,000 people work in the Hamburg music industry (versus 14,000 in Berlin).
• The city has 2,000+ music companies (versus 4,600 in Berlin).
• Hamburg has an annual music industry turnover of €700 million.
• The average music industry income is also up to 50 per cent higher in Hamburg than in Berlin.

Timo Wiesmann, Managing Director of the Hamburg Music Business Association, sums up the city’s influence: “Hamburg, as Germany’s second-biggest city, is one of the most dynamic regions for the creative industries in Europe and has been an established hub of the music industry for decades. The city attracts both artists and music business professionals and hosts the complete music business value chain, including studios, publishers, musicians and composers, orchestras and bands, concerts and clubs, labels and organisers.”

He continues: “Hamburg is also the home of the most influential German music scenes, including the world-famous Reeperbahn, where the Beatles began their career. The surrounding St. Pauli district has Germany’s highest club density. Since the 1980s it has been home to a huge left-wing punk scene. In the 1990s and 2000s, indie rock of the so-called ‘Hamburger Schule’ and hip hop from Hamburg deeply influenced a whole musical generation and youth culture in Germany. In addition, internationally well-known festivals spanning genres from indie, jazz, metal, classic and contemporary, such as the MS Dockville festival for music and art, Reeperbahn Festival, Elbjazz, Wacken, Blurred Edges, Überjazz, Hurricane Festival, or Klub Katarakt, mark the diversity of Hamburg’s musical scene. Since 2017, Hamburg has also been home to the world’s best concert venue, the Elbphilharmonie, which reflects the diversity of Hamburg’s music landscape in its programme.”

You’ll also find leading booking agencies in Hamburg, such as FKP Skorpio (Hurricane, Southside) and Neuland Konzerte and, perhaps surprisingly, the city ranks third globally for musicals, promising continuous, well-paid engagements for creative professionals such as session musicians.

There’s clearly no underestimating Hamburg when it comes to industry excellence and opportunity. And thanks to BIMM Institute Hamburg’s strong partnerships with all aspects of this industry, you’ll enjoy easy access to an unbeatable network, as you get involved with internships, gigs and student jobs from day one of your studies.

“BIMM Institute made a good choice to choose Hamburg for their next location. Ever since the Beatles played in Hamburg the City  has been shaping up into what probably became the music capital of Germany. You had all the major labels being based here, you had (and still have) most of  the music publishing companies here. We have plenty of small Indie labels and music lovers here and Hamburg has the only relevant German based Music convention with Reeperbahnfestival. What more can you ask for !”

Stefan Strüver, Managing Director PIAS Germany

We all know a well-populated address book is a key component of success. Students benefit from BIMM Institute Hamburg’s membership of the two most relevant local groups: IHM, the association of Hamburg Music Companies, connecting local music entrepreneurs with future employers; and RockCity Association, a 4,000-strong network of local musicians.

Industry networking peaks annually during Hamburg’s famous Reepbierbahn Festival, a jam-packed four-day convention that can perhaps only be compared to the US’s South by Southwest (SXSW).

If you’d like to learn more about studying at BIMM Institute Hamburg, order a prospectus, book to attend a BIMM Hamburg Open Day or contact our Admissions Team on +49 (0)40 874 09 632 or by email at [email protected].