Artificial Intelligence continues to fundamentally transform how music is created, performed, and experienced. This year, the conversation is being taken to a new level.
On July 10, 2025, SoundTrack_Cologne, in cooperation with the Landesmusikrat NRW, presents AI MusicCon 2025, a full day of keynotes, hands-on workshops, panel discussions, and talks dedicated entirely to the intersection of AI and music. The event invites all interested professionals to explore the challenges and opportunities that AI presents for music creators and the wider industry.
With 15 events at the COMEDIA Theater in Cologne, AI MusicCon aims to break down access barriers, clarify legal frameworks, introduce practical tools, and address the ethical questions of our time.
Participation in AI MusicCon is included on the SoundTrack_Cologne accreditation or available separately with a 19€ ticket.
10:45-11:30 · DIE EINS • COMEDIA
GEMA Talk with Dr. Tobias Holzmüller, CEO GEMA and Dr. Anselm Kreuzer, President Composers ClubAdd to your calendar: GoogleOutlook
GEMA
Talk with Dr. Tobias Holzmüller, CEO GEMA and Dr. Anselm Kreuzer, President Composers Club
Y. Birkhoff works as a composer and sound designer. He creates music for media and international event productions. He is also a keynote speaker and an expert on AI-powered audio and music tools, sharing his insights at various industry events.
Yevgeni Birkhoff works as a composer, music producer, and sound designer. He creates music for media and international large scale event productions, composes and produces songs, and engages in the creation of acoustic sound art. Birkhoff's musical diversity is evident in his wide-ranging repertoire, from authentic EDM tracks and Musique Concrète soundscapes to orchestral scores. He has applied his talent and expertise to create tailored music and sound designs for renowned brands and clients such as Mercedes, Porsche, Electronic Arts, the Chinese Ministry of Tourism and Emaar Properties. His sound installations have been exhibited in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the German Rock and Pop Museum in Gronau, the Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood and the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.
In 2010, Birkhoff received the Peer Raben Award at "Soundtrack Cologne" for the best music in a short film. Additionally, many of the large-scale events underscored with his music have been recognized with international event industry awards, including the BrandEx Award in 2019, the German Design Award in 2016, and The Special Event 2015 Gala Award.
Recently, Yevgeni Birkhoff has been engaging with real-time media and Artificial Intelligence. He regularly holds lectures and workshops, sharing his expertise in these cutting-edge fields. In his teachings, he contributes his broad knowledge and innovative perspectives on how these technologies can be leveraged in music, audio post and event productions. His insights are highly valued in both academic institutions and industry forums.
Marc du Moulin is Secretary General of ECSA (European Composer and Songwriter Alliance). He has an in-depth understanding of the functioning of the creative industries and an extensive experience in European Affairs.
Marc du Moulin is Secretary General of ECSA (European Composer and Songwriter Alliance). He has an in-depth understanding of the functioning of the creative industries and an extensive experience in European Affairs.
He previously worked for the European Film Agency Directors, the Motion Picture Association, the European Commission (DG CNECT) and for Eurocinema.
Marc holds a master's degree in UK-EU-US Copyright Law from King’s College London and a master's in European Studies from the Catholic Institute of Paris.
Michael Edwards is a composer, improvisor, software developer, and since 2017 Professor of Electronic Composition at ICEM, Folkwang University of the Arts, Essen.
Michael Edwards is a composer, improvisor, software developer, and since 2017 Professor of Electronic Composition at ICEM, Folkwang University of the Arts, Essen. His compositional interests lie mainly in the development of structures for hybrid electro-instrumental pieces through the integration of algorithmically produced scored materials with similarly generated computer-processed sound. Michael Edwards ist member of the head of Landesmusikrat NRW.
Verena Fink is the managing director of the strategy consulting firm Woodpecker Finch. Through numerous publications and lectures, she is one of the thought leaders of the emerging AI economy.
Verena Fink is the managing director of the strategy consulting firm Woodpecker Finch. Through numerous publications and lectures, she is one of the thought leaders of the emerging AI economy. She supports companies in implementing digitization strategies and artificial intelligence.
As the author of specialist books such as “KI einfach machen” (Making AI Easy) and “Künstliche Intelligenz in der Personalarbeit” (Artificial Intelligence in Human Resources), she is committed to the practical, responsible use of AI in organizations. Her mission: to bring people and machines together in a way that creates real sustainability – through digital sovereignty, ethical reflection, and entrepreneurial courage.
Jürgen Geuter / tante is a sociotechnologist and Research Director specializing in new media technologies. A founding member of the Otherwise Network, he advises NGOs and government bodies and writes for outlets like DER SPIEGEL, VICE, and DIE ZE
Jürgen Geuter/tante studied Computer Science and Philosophy and works on the conceptualization, implementation and testing of new technologies as Research Director in a studio for spatial new media. As freelance consultant, writer, sociotechnologist and keynote speaker he focuses on issues at the intersection of technology, society and politics. He’s a founding member of the interdisciplinary Otherwise Network, which connects experts from different domains as a platform working on the changes that digital technologies have brought. He writes for many German and international publications (DER SPIEGEL, VICE, DIE ZEIT among others) and advises NGOs, political parties as well as the German parliament.
Thomas Hanz is a digitalization expert in music education, leading Musikschule.digital.NRW and overseeing digital strategy for VdM’s training programs. He implemented NRW’s public music school digital initiative and pioneered online teaching at FMS.
Thomas Hanz ist Referent für Digitalisierung beim LVdM NRW und Leiter des Netzwerks Musikschule.digital.NRW. Im Berufsbegleitenden Lehrgang für Musikschulleitungen des VdM verantwortet er das Thema Digitalisierung. 2022/23 setzte er die Digitalisierungsoffensive an öffentlichen Musikschulen der Landesregierung NRW um. Für den berufsbegleitenden Lehrgang „Führung und Leitung einer Musikschule“ verantwortet er das Themengebiet Digitalisierung.
Während seiner langjährigen Tätigkeit an der Folkwang Musikschule der Stadt Essen (FMS) erprobte er frühzeitig die Möglichkeiten des Fernunterrichts via Videokonferenzsoftware u.a mit hochbegabten und auch hochsensiblen Schülerinnen und Schülern und betrieb dort eine moodle-Plattform als Kommunikations- und Fortbildungsinstrument insbesondere für digitale Themen. Diese Vorarbeit ermöglichte es dem Kollegium der FMS, während des ersten Lockdowns der Coronapandemie in eigenen virtuellen Klassenräumen online zu unterrichten.
Thomas Hanz studierte Musik mit Hauptfach Gitarre an der Folkwang Universität Essen und an den Musikhochschulen Hannover und Köln, wo er sein Konzertexamen ablegte. Neben der künstlerischen Leitung des Gitarrenfestival-Ruhr verwirklichte er europaweite Konzertreisen als Solist und in Kammermusikbesetzungen folgten und arbeitete als Komponist und Arrangeur für verschiedene Verlage. Von 2019 bis 2021 hatte er einen Lehrauftrag für Gitarre an der Folkwang Universität in Essen.
Musikschule und KI: Technologische Optionen und menschliche ,Verarbeitungsmodi'
Steffen Holly has been active for many years as an expert at the interface of music and technology. After his time in product development of music software and music recommendations at the Fraunhofer Institute, among others, he was one of the co-founders of the MusicTech Germany association. As a founder, he has been active in the field of privacy enhancing technologies for 4 years and as an interims CEO for a Swiss music AI startup. For more than 10 years he has been giving lectures at the Popakademie Mannheim in the areas of metadata, blockchain and AI. As a studied musician and trained electronics engineer, he is also intensively involved in the interrelationship of technological progress and artistic creativity in his private life. Currently he is leading the Business Development at Fraunhofer IDMT.
Tobias Holzmüller, Chairman of the GEMA Executive Board since 2023, has led GEMA’s legal department since 2013 and ZPÜ since 2016. A copyright and EU law expert, he previously practiced at Gleiss Lutz and holds a doctorate and LL.M. from NYU.
Tobias Holzmüller was appointed Chairman of the Executive Board on October 1, 2023. He studied history and law at the Universities of Glasgow, Montpellier, Heidelberg and New York (NYU, LL.M. 2007). He was a doctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property and Competition Law from 2004 to 2006 and completed his doctorate at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. After being admitted to the bar in 2007, he worked for the law firm Gleiss Lutz until 2012. During this time, he advised clients on antitrust law, copyright law and EU law. The lawyer has been responsible for GEMA's legal department as in-house counsel since January 2013 and has also managed the business of ZPÜ since 2016.
Matthias Hornschuh lives and works as a media composer in Cologne. Hornschuh represents authors and artists as spokesman for the umbrella organization Initiative Urheberrecht and on the board of GEMA.
Matthias Hornschuh lives and works as a film and radio play composer in Cologne. The studied musician and musicologist teaches at various European colleges and universities and is part of the founding team of SoundTrack_Cologne, which he left 2018. Hornschuh is involved in industry and cultural politics, among others in the professional association mediamusic, in the Landesmusikrat NRW and in the supervisory board of GEMA. Since 2021, Hornschuh has represented the interests of German authors and performers in Berlin and Brussels as spokesman for the authors rights initiative (Initiative Urheberrecht). In October 2025, his book "Wir geben uns auf. KI, Kultur und die Entwertung der Wissensarbeit." will be published by Carl-Auer Verlag
René Kampka is one of the Managing Directors of scholz+kampka audio operations GmbH & Co. KG, a media production company in Munich specialising in film sound post-production.
René Kampka is one of the Managing Directors of scholz+kampka audio operations GmbH & Co. KG, a media production company in Munich specialising in film sound post-production. After earning his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Audio Production, he worked freelance for various film and music productions until he founded his studio in Oberhaching with his business partner, Philipp Scholz in 2019.
In collaboration with Beta Film, a leading european film- and television group, they further developed their expertise in dubbing and M&E creation.
As a technology-driven audio nerd and major cinephile, René began integrating AI modules into daily workflows at an early stage.
Today, AI-assisted tools are an integral part of scholz+kampka’s production processes.
Dr. Anselm Kreuzer is a proven specialist for TV title music, station IDs, soundtracks for series and TV drama as well as music for new media and advertising. He sets soundtracks for series like "In aller Freundschaft" and "Rosenheim-Cops".
Anselm Kreuzer began playing the Cello at age 9 and soon discovered composing as his major passion. Already back then he combined the classical approach with modern sounds. After finishing school he studied musicology, media science and phonetics at the Cologne University and achieved a Ph.D. with a dissertation on Film Music. During his time as a student, he received several assignments for media compositions, especially in the field of radio and television. Now, he is a designated specialist for TV title themes, station IDs, scores for series and TV drama as well as music for new media and advertising.
Anselm also has an oeuvre of more than 1000 internationally successful production music titles. Among the magazine and news shows he has composed for are Weltreisen (ARD), Check Eins - Neuneinhalb (ARD), Die Chefin (ZDF), Die lustigsten Schlamassel (RTL), Lebensläufe (MDR), RBB UM6 (RBB), ZIBB (RBB), Täter Opfer Polizei (RBB). He recently scored for TV series like Küstenwache, Kripo Holstein - Mord und Meer (ZDF), Rosenheim-Cops (ZDF), In Aller Freundschaft (ARD) and documentaries like Natur Exklusiv (BR).
He is co-founder of the production music library MUSIC SCULPTOR. Whether symphonic orchestra or electronic approach - Anselm has a passionate faible for emotional, narrative and often catchy thematic music that merges with moving pictures and stories. He often transcends the borders between composition and sound design. He is also engaged in several professional associations. He is president of the German Composers Club and board member of the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA).
Hanna Sophie Lüke is a composer and music journalist M.A. for broadcasting and multimedia. 2024 her debut album „Human In Our Hearts“ has been released, feat. German Film Orchestra Babelsberg. Her new album „Ocean Stories“ was published in June 2025.
Hanna Sophie Lüke is a composer and music journalist M.A. for broadcasting and multimedia.
In 2024, her debut album „Human In Our Hearts“ (Sonoton Music) has been released, featuring German Film Orchestra Babelsberg. Her latest album „Ocean Stories“ (Music Sculptor) was published in June 2025.
She received composition commissions for WDR Funkhausorchester (2022) and Institute for Beam Physics and Technology (IBPT) at Karlsruher Institute for Technology (2023). In 2024, she gave a lecture about her composition commission for the IBPT at the Natural History Museum in Karlsruhe.
Her original compositions in the field of production music have been released eg. by Sonoton Music, West One Music, Universal Production Music, Music Sculptor (Credits include WDR, BBC, Netflix, RTL, ORF). She regularly writes audio demos for Orchestral Tools, Berlin.
2025, her music for the artistic documentary „Geschrei“ (director: Damian Szmurlo) premiered at 25th Landshut Short Film Festival, Germany.
Hanna Sophie Lüke brings more than 10 years of expertise as a music journalist, author, presenter and music planner for various radio stations at WDR Cologne, as well as more than 12 years of stage experience as a presenter for well-known event formats in the fields of science (Helmholtz Institute Ulm, HEIKA-Symposium) and classical and film music (SoundTrack_Zurich, SoundTrack_Cologne, ARTE Film night, WDR Funkhausorchester Cologne).
She holds a master degree in „Music Journalism for Broadcasting and Multimedia“ (University of Music Karlsruhe) and took part at several international masterclasses in the field of vocal art (Belcanto on Broadway, Jazz Vocals).
Alexander Lüngen is the CTO and Co-Founder of Klangio, a company dedicated to empowering musicians worldwide with innovative AI tools. He leads product development, is passionate about the future of human-AI interaction and loves to play the guitar.
Miriam Mentz has been working as a project manager at RockCity Hamburg e.V. since 2015. Since 2020, she has led the Hamburg Music Award KRACH+GETÖSE and, since 2024, has been responsible for the organization’s digital transformation management.
Miriam Mentz has been working as a project manager at RockCity Hamburg e.V. since 2015. Since 2020, she has led the Hamburg Music Award KRACH+GETÖSE and, since 2024, has been responsible for the organization’s digital transformation management, within which she also oversees the Artist Navigator project.
Head of the Culture Department at the Ministry of Culture and Science since May 2024, previously almost four years as group and division manager with a focus on cultural education, fundamental issues and state legislation on culture.
Head of the Culture Department at the Ministry of Culture and Science
Head of the Culture Department at the Ministry of Culture and Science since May 2024, previously almost four years as group and division manager with a focus on cultural education, fundamental issues and state legislation on culture.
From 2010 to 2020, director of the Ludwig Windthorst House in Lingen, one of the largest adult education centres in Lower Saxony and the Catholic Social Academy of the Diocese of Osnabrück, focusing on teacher training and political youth education.
Prior to that, he spent around ten years in various roles in the state parliament, the Ministry of the Environment and the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia, particularly in the areas of culture, science and research.
He studied Catholic theology and biblical studies in Paderborn, Rome and Münster.
Andrea Rothaug, managing director of RockCity Hamburg since 2002, co-founded Music Women* Germany and the Bundesverband Popularmusik. She developed Bremen’s POP Office, launched OPERATION TON, and is a leading mentor, author, and coach in pop culture
Andrea Rothaug has been managing director of RockCity Hamburg - Center for Popular Music since 2002, initiator and co-founder of the Bundesverband Popularmusik, Music Women* Germany and its country networks and Clubkombinat Hamburg e.V., the Music Future Convention OPERATION TON and ARTIST NAVIGATOR. As Commissioner for Music and Pop Culture in Bremen 2021-2022, she developed and established the POP Office Bremen, is a lobbyist for change processes in music throughout Germany and is active as a mentor in various programs. As an author and artist and business coach, she writes and advises pop funding institutions and musicians at state and federal level.
Philipp Scholz is co-founder and post-production supervisor of scholz+kampka audio operations GmbH & Co. KG, a media production company in Munich specialising in film sound post-production. After studying audio engineering, he was involved in various film post-productions before founding the studio in Oberhaching together with René Kampka in 2019.
Philipp is known for his creative approaches and workarounds, which enables the company to efficiently master complex post-production challenges. As a result, scholz+kampka has established itself as a reliable partner by developing customised solutions. In which AI-supported tools playing an increasingly important role.
Katharina Uppenbrink has been the managing director of Initiative Urheberrecht (Authors’ Rights Initiative) since May 2014. She worked for various publishing houses and has been managing director of the Association of German Screenwriters (VDD).
Katharina Uppenbrink has been the managing director of Initiative Urheberrecht (Authors’ Rights Initiative) since May 2014 (https://urheber.info/about-us) and represents the interests of approximately 140,000 authors and performing artists.
After training and studying in Berlin and London, Katharina worked for various publishers in Berlin, then heading several departments at a medium-sized publishing house in Frankfurt/Main.
In 2002 she became managing director of the Verband Deutscher Drehbuchautoren (VDD), the special interest group for screenwriters in Germany, focusing on marketing and organization. From 2004 she was also responsible for the national and international political activities of the professional association. Her focus in this capacity was on copyright and film funding. She was appointed to various German Federal Film board (FFA) committees. She helped to set up the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE) in Brussels and played a leading role in the development and implementation of several World Conferences of Screenwriters.
Martin Villiger has composed the music for over 130 films and series. That’s about 450 series episodes and counting.
“I love to bring different people and art forms together and to dare new things.“, Martin says. In addition to songs he writes and produces with pop greats, he has always tried new areas of music. He has, for example, composed the music for a circus show, for installations, numerous commercials and corporate sound for companies. Martin Villiger is also interested in 3D audio like Dolby Atmos, spatial audio for VR (virtual reality) and games. The new feature film “Early Birds” where he co-composed music with the main composer Adrian Frutiger is premiering at this years Zurich Film Festival.
Martin Villiger is helping companies use music to connect to their audience. With Music for their brand and special live Events.
Villiger was born in Glasgow and grew up in Jerusalem, among other places. He feels at home all over the world and speaks six languages. His new concert series “Culture Clash” fits in with this. He is married to Catherine, and together they have four children.
Alexander Wankhammer is one of the co-founders of sonible, an Austrian company dedicated to developing intelligent audio plug-ins that serve as assistive tools for modern audio production.
Alexander Wankhammer is one of the co-founders of sonible, an Austrian company dedicated to developing intelligent audio plug-ins that serve as assistive tools for modern audio production. sonible’s products leverage the power of AI and adaptive processing to tackle complex tasks such as EQing, dynamics control, limiting and spatial processing — always with the goal of assisting, not replacing, the creative decisions of sound professionals.
With a background in electrical and audio engineering, Alexander has always been fascinated by the intersection of sound and technology and how innovation can expand the possibilities for creative expression. After completing his studies in Audio Engineering and Electrical Engineering in Graz (at the University of Music and Performing Arts and Graz University of Technology), he worked in the fields of sonification and Music Information Retrieval at the Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics (IEM), before co-founding sonible in 2013.
Today, Alexander leads product design and marketing at sonible, while remaining actively involved in shaping the company’s future technologies. His work focuses on developing AI-driven tools that empower musicians, producers and audio professionals — helping them stay focused on what matters most: the creative process.
