Special Report: Warner Opens Music Support Hub in Berlin

How hubs are shaping the next generation of musical talent.

Did you see the news?

A few days ago, Warner Germany (label and publishing) celebrated the opening of a flashy new music industry support hub in Berlin.

This multi-million dollar project restored an iconic 130 year old building as a creative base for Warner's artists, songwriters and partners. State of the art studios, performance spaces, terraces, and the latest immersive audio technology...Warner spared no expense.

“The design and build-out was conducted by architectural firm Graef, creating a dynamic and inspiring environment.  The interior design concept, called “The Wave”, is all about bringing music to life.  It connects the interior and exterior, incorporating wave-like elements in the structure, floor coverings, and special features such as the soundstage and the bar area.”

The grand opening hosted music stars, politicians and 700 invited guests. Impressive, without a doubt. Currently Warner Music Central Europe has 45% share of Albums Chart and Warner Chappell Music Germany is the No.1 domestic publisher, so this project represents their renewed investment in the Berlin creative ecosystem.

The Future of Music

WMG's move into Berlin is not just about the past; it's about the future. Creative hubs like these are shaping the next generation of musical talent, setting new industry standards, and fostering innovation.

Here are a few ways that creator hubs provide a new model of development that benefits independent as well as label endeavors:

  • Professional grade resources: Top notch recording gear, instruments, streaming equipment etc. removes limitations for artists who struggle to find the right resources to support their creative vision. With hubs, there’s no need to scrape by with subpar tools.

  • Community: The connections with fellow artists provide support, inspiration and collaboration opportunities. Battling isolation and burnout alone is eliminated when you embrace the hub model.

  • On-demand studio access: Hubs eliminate the headaches of booking dilapidated studios with flaky availability. Artists and producers can easily book time and space.

  • Hands-on learning: Through workshops and immersive training, hubs help artists gain skills quickly. Career progress isn't gated by formal education. I’m not sure if Warner offers workshops and training in their new hub, but hopefully they do!

  • Business resources: Hubs can also offer classes on branding, marketing, booking, merchandising, social media, etc. This expands career capabilities beyond just music creation and into the broader category of artist development as a team dynamic.

  • Affordable rates: I’m sure Warner’s artists and writers don’t have to pay for access to their hub… at least not up front. They instead pay for the resources through the money generated from their music. However, the magic of membership-based hubs is that they can provide access to premium facilities at affordable prices compared to commercial studios and services. Creators get excellence for less, and if they can afford to pay reasonable up front costs, they can also retain full ownership of their music instead of hoping a label or publisher can provide those resources for them in exchange for ownership.

  • Sustainability: It’s also worth mentioning that hubs are not set up to be transactional, but instead, developmental. Hubs take a long-term stake in nurturing local talent over quick profits. Artists can count on hubs for the long haul. Hubs give artists the stability and focus to build their careers creatively on their own terms. The infrastructure empowers longevity and adaptability.

So, while WMG's hub is making waves, remember that HOME - Helping Our Music Evolve - has been at the forefront of this music evolution since 2018. An open-armed, all-encompassing support hub, HOME is redefining the rules of music creation, production, and collaboration.

It's not just a support hub; it's a movement. 

And HOME is located at the epicenter of music creation - Nashville, TN.

Nashville’s music industry population density exceeds all other cities, including New York and Los Angeles by 2.5 to 4 times.

Let's examine why HOME's trailblazing vision makes it the most forward-thinking and open music hub out there. The one truly designed for you - the creator of the future.

Creative Freedom Tailor-Made for You

We engineered HOME from the ground up based on the creativity engineering principles. This means every design decision catalyzes musical inspiration and output.

You get access to acoustically treated studios that minimize sound distortion. The broadcast-ready performance stage fits your needs for live shows and streaming innovation.

Important note: We designed the live streaming infrastructure to be built into the facility in 2017… long before the pandemic proved how useful that technology is for creators and their teams.

All this bleeding-edge infrastructure is there to empower you to create professional, radio-ready content directly from your own HOME Base.

Open Access That Welcomes You

Unlike private corporate hubs, HOME's nonprofit mission ensures the space stays dedicated to community impact - not profit. HOME's mission is to provide a supportive community for artist development and music production.

At HOME, you access the same leading-edge creative resources as stars. No gatekeepers or velvet ropes. Just you and your vision.

This open access unlocks freedom to create without barriers or ceilings.

We even put together monthly pitch opportunities to make sure that top industry professionals hear the music and see the content that our members (Homies) are creating!

Networking with Industry Professionals

Beyond community, hubs tear down barriers between promising talent and the industry professionals who can help them to the next level. HOME facilitates this with their monthly pitch sessions - both in person at HOME HQ and virtually for Online Members.

Artists finally get facetime with managers, agents, label A&Rs, publishers, and other insiders that normally ignore unsolicited demos. And industry veterans get first dibs on tomorrow's stars.

By bringing these worlds together under one roof, hubs break the bottlenecks and silos that have long stagnated the discovery process. Hubs help organic chemistry and talent shine through.

In-Studio Music Pitch with Concord Publishing, Big Yellow Dog, and Silver Side Sync

A Tech Ecosystem Designed Around You

HOME embedded innovative technology into its model from day one. You benefit from infrastructure designed for efficiency and connectivity.

Remotely schedule sessions, work online with collaborators, and access production tutorials on-demand. HOME's online community technology means that we can grow the network globally.

By leveraging tech to enhance creativity, HOME built a futuristic hub designed to empower you and dedicated to evolving with the industry in a helpful, creator-first way.

Spaces to Expand Your Community

At HOME, we also designed communal areas to make sure those lucky casual connections keep happening on a consistent basis.

Hang out in the lounge, sparking creative chemistry with other artists. Cook up new projects together in the kitchen. Brainstorm in the outdoor courtyard or on the rooftop deck.

By fostering an encouraging community, HOME helps expand your personal and professional networks.

Optimized for Your Productivity

HOME optimized their hub with your efficient creation in mind.

Onsite shared gear and choice microphones with 24/7 access removes wasted time and excuses.

Just book space and focus on your craft.

With full creative autonomy, you can record an album or livestream a virtual concert with ease.

HOME built an inspiring playground for you to create freely and prolifically.

Join the Hub of the Future

HOME pioneered the inclusive music hub of the future.

One designed for you.

Become part of a passionate community eager to hear your voice and help you grow. HOME's purpose never wavers: empower creative potential without limits!

While major labels play catch-up, HOME's head start continues redefining what a music hub can be. One purpose-built for a tech-enabled, collaborative future.

You have a choice. Create alone, or join a visionary community… one already engineered to spark your talents in ways you never imagined possible.

Stay tuned for more updates on this ever-evolving industry. The future looks bright, and the best is yet to come!