Guest lecture by Amke Block

When the acronym "DRM" is mentioned, tempers flare - nobody wants digital restrictions! Nevertheless, the use of rights, for example music rights, which almost always results in a business, must be regulated and managed - nowadays mostly digitally: digital rights management.

Based on "DRM" and the development of this term, Amke Block takes us through the legal and technical development of the digital music market, looks at the consequences and thus the status quo of today's music industry and dares to look into the crystal ball.

Vita Amke Block

Amke Block is a recognised expert and pioneer in the field of the digital music industry in Germany. Her business administration thesis in 1997 was one of the first ever on this topic; with mov.a.bit she launched the first commercial Internet download platform in Germany.

With her wealth of experience with online music start-ups and as a pioneer of structural change in the industry, she has numerous consulting assignments at national and international level; renowned associations, organisations and companies such as Edgar Medien AG ("edCard"), BKM (Federal Ministry of Culture and Media), IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), German Music Council, VUT ("Verband Unabhängiger Tonträgerunternehmen"), City of Berlin, departure Vienna, City of Dortmund, Jägermeister ("Rock-Liga"), the German collecting society GEMA, the Dutch BUMA, Refazenda Produções and GeGe Edições (of the Brazilian superstar and Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil), the Berkman Institute of Law (Harvard University), the German music export office GermanSounds, the industry conference "Popkomm"24/7 Entertainment AG, Mediatransfer AG, SPW (management of "Die Ärzte" and "International Pony"), EDEC (management of José Carreras), Zebralution, Finetunes and Subsequent rely on Amke Block's expertise, pragmatism and vision to realise their projects in the exciting environment of music, media and brand.

After just five months, she led the "edCard" website edgar.de to the top 10 entertainment websites in German, advised GEMA on its future-oriented restructuring, and conducted numerous studies for German music exports and location strengthening in Berlin and Dortmund.

In addition, Amke Block occasionally lectures at universities and training institutions (University of Lüneburg, University of Osnabrück, University of Oldenburg, Hamburg University of Music & Theatre, Europrix Summer School, EBAM Academy) and has published specialist articles in publications such as the B2B online magazine she founded, "momag.net", which she founded, as well as "Die Welt", "Musikmarkt", "Musikwoche", "Musikforum", and is involved in associations such as the VUT-Nord (which she co-founded in Hamburg), the Interessengemeinschaft Hamburger Musikwirtschaft e. V. and the ThinkTank Kreativ.V. and the ThinkTank Kreativwirtschaft, which she founded together with Prof Dieter Gorny ("VIVA/MTV", President of the German Music Industry Association, Creative Director of the Capital of Culture 2010 in Essen).

Amke Block attaches great importance to three-dimensional networking in the music industry and its old and new partners in the media, brand, IT and telecommunications sectors, which are becoming increasingly important. Thanks to her extensive activities, she has an excellent personal network in all these areas.