Salon 188: Japan - Connect creativity, publishing, sync and international opportunity
Conference
Salon 188: Japan - Connect creativity, publishing, sync and international opportunity
The signature session of the week highlights Japan as both a creative and commercial powerhouse. Focuses on how international producers and songwriters can establish long-term sync, publishing, and creative pipelines with Japanese partners.
Timetable
10:00 – 18:00: "Sound Garden” by KIKUNO x Studio Eva de Laat
13:00 – 14:30: Café S188 Open: Networking, coffee & matchmaking
14:30 – 14:55: Keynote Takayuki Suzuki - The Future of Sound, Gaming & Tech in Japan: Inside the SEGA Music Ecosystem
Japan is not only the world’s second-largest music market, but also the global powerhouse of gaming, interactive entertainment, and emerging creative tech. In this opening keynote, Takayuki Suzuki—Head of SEGA Music and founder of MusicTech Japan—unpacks the rapid convergence of electronic music, global gaming IP, and digital transformation. Suzuki explores how international producers, composers, and tech innovators can navigate Japan's unique corporate landscapes, tap into massive gaming soundtrack ecosystems, and leverage cross-sector partnerships in an era where game audio and electronic dance music are deeply intertwined.
14:55 – 15:10: Break & Changeover
15:10 – 16:00: Regional Focus Panel - Cracking the Japanese Market
Japan remains the second-largest recorded music market in the world, characterized by an enduring physical collector culture, world-leading gaming franchises, and a fiercely loyal fan base. Yet for Western artists, labels, and producers, breaking in remains notoriously difficult. Standard European strategies—relying on cold pitches, streaming algorithms, or one-off headline club dates—routinely stall against Japan’s relationship-driven business etiquette and sophisticated domestic copyright landscape.
This panel dismantles generic market assumptions to unpack how international creators and rights-holders can build enduring, multi-stream businesses in Japan. Across 50 minutes, three Tokyo-connected industry veterans examine the three primary commercial entry routes: major label songwriting and J-Pop publishing, game audio and interactive entertainment licensing, and independent dance label operations.
Attendees will learn how to navigate domestic rights collection, pitch international studio talent to Asian entertainment conglomerates, integrate music into gaming IP, and build authentic connections within Tokyo's melodic and underground dance communities.
16:00 – 17:30: B2B Networking Mixer: A relaxed networking session connecting Japanese and European artists, labels, publishers, promoters, agencies and other music professionals
18:00 – late: Open Salon / Free evening / Club crawl
Meet Asia. Understand the markets. Make the connection.
Salon 188 serves as ADE's Asia Hub for 2026: the meeting point where Asian and European electronic music, art, creativity and industry come together. The Asia Hub is anchored in the European salon tradition, reframed through an East-West lens.
Rather than creating another busy conference or another club night, the Asia Hub offers a relaxed, high-quality environment where people can discover new markets, meet potential partners and exchange ideas.
Each day focuses on a different Asian market or region. The format remains deliberately simple: one keynote, one panel and one networking session. The rest of the day is dedicated to informal meetings, coffee, drinks and conversations.
Salon 188 operates as an informal Asia meeting point:
COFFEE · DRINKS · SMALL BITES · MEETINGS · INTRODUCTIONS · MATCHMAKING
Visitors can drop in, have a coffee, meet someone, join a panel, return later for drinks, or simply use the space as a meeting point during ADE. This creates a natural flow between content and community.
“The only ADE venue built as a standing bridge between Asian and European scenes.”
Meet Asia. Understand the markets. Make the connection.
Salon 188 serves as ADE's Asia Hub for 2026: the meeting point where Asian and European electronic music, art, creativity and industry come together. The Asia Hub is anchored in the European salon tradition, reframed through an East-West lens.
Rather than creating another busy conference or another club night, the Asia Hub offers a relaxed, high-quality environment where people can discover new markets, meet potential partners and exchange ideas.
Each day focuses on a different Asian market or region. The format remains deliberately simple: one keynote, one panel and one networking session. The rest of the day is dedicated to informal meetings, coffee, drinks and conversations.
Salon 188 operates as an informal Asia meeting point:
COFFEE · DRINKS · SMALL BITES · MEETINGS · INTRODUCTIONS · MATCHMAKING
Visitors can drop in, have a coffee, meet someone, join a panel, return later for drinks, or simply use the space as a meeting point during ADE. This creates a natural flow between content and community.
“The only ADE venue built as a standing bridge between Asian and European scenes.”
Conference FAQ
The ADE Pro Pass provides access to our complete conference program. As well as:
+ Year round access to ADE Pro's networking platform & database
+ Join dedicated networking events and sessions
+ Access to all official ADE Business Hubs
+ Access to the complete festival program (limited capacity at venues)
+ Access to the Arts & Culture program (limited capacity at venues)
+ Receive the official ADE bag
We do not sell ADE Conference only or Day Passes. The only way to get access to the ADE Pro Conference is the ADE Pro Pass.
✓ Valid all five days
ADE Pro conference takes place from Wednesday through Saturday, but the ADE Pro Pass benefits go well beyond those four days. The ticket grants access to ADE’s full offering, including all conference programs as well as all ADE Festival and Arts & Culture events* — read on below to get an impression of everything included with your ADE Pro Pass.
✓ Full access to all conference keynotes, panels and locations
ADE Pro is the ultimate business and inspiration gathering for the electronic music industry. The four-day conference returns to live action at our iconic home base Felix Meritis and features dedicated programming at the forefront of our industry. In addition, ADE will also continue to host conference programs dedicated to young creators and aspiring professionals.
✓ Year round access to ADE Pro's networking platform & database
Get a head start on connecting with fellow music professionals and companies with the ADE Pro networking database, available throughout the year. The online networking tool enables you to find and connect with all ADE Pro delegates, showcase your business with a dedicated profile page, plan meetings during ADE and much more. Over 50.000 messages are being sent on the platform yearly, with new professional connections being made on the regular.
✓ Join dedicated networking events and sessions
With over 11.000 music professionals from around the globe gathering in Amsterdam, you’re almost guaranteed to find who you need. An abundance of networking events and opportunities with fellow ADE delegates and industry leaders provides an advantageous base for dealmaking and career advancement.
✓ Access to all official Business Hubs
Whether you’re planning a meeting with fellow delegates, looking for a comfortable spot to work or simply want to hang out between conference events, your ADE Pro Pass grants access to all of ADE’s official Business Hubs.
✓ Access to the complete ADE Festival and Arts & Culture program*
With the entirety of ADE Festival and ADE Arts & Culture accessible with the ADE Pro Pass, your ticket enables you to explore the full spectrum of electronic subgenres in over 300 of Amsterdam’s finest music and nightlife spaces — with 3.300+ artists performing at 1.200+ events during five days and nights.
* Limited capacity at high-demand venues – read more at our FAQ.
✓ Receive the official ADE 2026 Bag
Your ADE Pro Pass comes with the limited edition ADE 2026 Bag, an ADE Pro Pass exclusive included with your ticket.
✓ And many more Pro Pass benefits
ADE Pro Pass holders receive 7 days free access to all 250 Basic-Fit clubs across the Netherlands.
ADE Pro Pass holders can claim a free eSIM with unlimited data for one week during ADE.
Exclusive to all ADE Pro Pass buyers, GVB offers public transport, free of charge, for five whole days
Our conferences are accessible for all ages in general. Do note that when alcoholic beverages are served, access can be denied.
If you want to apply for ADE 2027, you can fill in the form here. If you're interested in contributing to ADE Pro or Lab, whether through a keynote, panel, workshop, or proposal for a relevant speaker or topic, we’re open to ideas with clear focus and industry value.
Info & Ticket Desks for picking up your personal ADE Pro Pass badge & wristband
Felix Meritis (outside)
Address: Keizersgracht 324, 1016EZ Amsterdam
Tuesday October 20: 14:00 to 20:00
Wednesday October 21: 09:00 to 20:00
Thursday October 22: 09:00 to 20:00
Friday October 23: 09:00 to 20:00
Saturday October 24: 10:00 to 20:00
Sunday October 25: CLOSED
~ The best location for collecting your accreditation when you want to visit the ADE Pro Conference immediately after pick up.
Stromma - Pier 6 | Central Station
Address: Damrak 16, 1012 LH Amsterdam
Tuesday October 20: 10:00 to 22:00
Wednesday October 21: 09:00 to 22:00
Thursday October 22: 09:00 to 22:00
Friday October 23: 09:00 to 22:00
Saturday October 24: 09:00 to 22:00
Sunday October 25: 12:00 to 18:00
~ This Info & Ticket desk is the most convenient location for people who'd like to pick up their accreditation right after arriving in Amsterdam at the central train station.
NOTE
Please be aware that your e-ticket is strictly personal and non-transferable. It is mandatory to show your ID/passport during pick-up. Your items cannot be picked up by someone else.
Also, don’t forget to complete your profile details before ADE, to make sure we have the right information to prepare your personal badge.
Haven't received your ticket(s) or cannot find them? You can easily find them by following the steps on this page.
NOTE: This leads you to a page of the Weeztix website, where you can find your ADE passes, as well as some ADE festival tickets - only if the tickets of the event are sold via ticket provider Weeztix.
If you are stil unable to find your festival ticket(s), please contact the individual festival event organizers.
If you are still unable to find your Pro Pass, please contact us at [email protected].
Scrolling through ADE’s festival page can often feel overwhelming, with takeovers happening across the city at all hours. Together with EY, we’re introducing the ADE Assistant, a tool built into the ADE web app that considers the human factors behind your ideal night out: vibe, energy, timing, venue size and a range of personal preferences that you can define on a spectrum- from niche to mainstream and every shade in between.
Discover your new Favorites with the ADE Assistant.
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