Międzynarodowy Festiwal Producentów Muzycznych Soundedit
Soundedit is a Łódź-based festival dedicated to music producers and sound designers. Since 2009, it has combined live performances with workshops and discussions about making music. A defining part of the event is the Man with the Golden Ear award.
Indoor
Łódź, PL
About the brand
Soundedit was founded in Łódź in 2009 as a festival dedicated to the people who shape the sound of music. Alongside performers, it highlights producers, sound engineers and sound designers whose work influences the final character of a recording. This perspective sets Soundedit apart from festivals built solely around live shows.
Its programme brings together concerts, artist conversations, workshops, lectures and industry events. Soundedit opens up the process of making music to audiences while giving sound professionals opportunities to exchange ideas with creators from Poland and abroad. It explores both the artistic and technical sides of music production.
One of the festival’s defining symbols is the Man with the Golden Ear award. It recognises people whose sensitivity and achievements have helped shape music and sound. Guests and award recipients associated with Soundedit’s history include Brian Eno, John Cale, Daniel Lanois, Giorgio Moroder, Karl Bartos and Eugeniusz Rudnik.
Soundedit is closely connected with Łódź. Klub Wytwórnia at Łąkowa 29 is its best-known venue, while past events have also taken place at the Łódź Philharmonic, Radio Łódź, Fabryka Sztuki and Manufaktura. Its city-based format brings large concerts together with smaller meetings and educational activities.
Event Character
Soundedit puts the people behind the sound of recordings and concerts in the spotlight. Rather than presenting live artists alone, it explores music production, sound engineering and the influence producers have on the finished work.
The festival combines performances for audiences with educational and industry events. Its programme has included workshops, lectures, presentations and discussions about studio practice and the legal and business sides of music. Its motto is “I Am The Sound”.
History & Evolution
Soundedit has taken place in Łódź since 2009. From the start, it has combined concerts with recognition for the work of music producers and sound creators. The Man with the Golden Ear award became an important expression of that idea.
Over time, the programme expanded to include workshops, lectures and industry meetings. The festival also began using different cultural venues across Łódź, bringing educational events and original music projects together with live performances.
Cities & Locations
Łódź is Soundedit’s home city. The festival takes place in the city’s concert and cultural venues, most notably Klub Wytwórnia at Łąkowa 29. Its history also includes events at the Łódź Philharmonic, Radio Łódź, Fabryka Sztuki and Manufaktura.
Brand Facts
- Founded2009
- Event TypeIndoor
- OriginŁódź, PL
Genres
electronic musicsynthpoppost-punkalternative rockpunk rocknew wavealternative popexperimental music
Practical Info
Soundedit takes place mainly indoors, in Łódź’s clubs, concert halls and cultural venues. Its programme combines live performances with events dedicated to music production and sound. Individual concerts, workshops and meetings may use different venues and admission arrangements.
Klub Wytwórnia at Łąkowa 29 in Łódź is the festival’s main concert venue. Soundedit does not have a permanent outdoor festival site or campsite.
Trivia
- •Soundedit celebrates creators whose work is heard on recordings even when they are not seen on stage. Its motto is “I Am The Sound”, and its signature award is called the Man with the Golden Ear.
- •The Man with the Golden Ear statuette was designed by Artur Malewski, a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź. According to the festival, Maciej Werk envisioned a meeting of James Bond and Salvador Dalí aesthetics.
- •The first awards in 2009 went to Daniel Lanois and Gareth Jones. Grzegorz Ciechowski received a posthumous award, accepted by his daughter Weronika.
- •In 2010, Peter Hook of Joy Division and sound engineer Chris Nagle accepted a posthumous award for producer Martin Hannett.
- •Brian Eno visited Soundedit in 2016. Alongside honouring him, the festival presented his sound installation.
- •Soundedit hosted Laibach’s only performance of songs dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising insurgents.
- •The festival hosted the first Polish club concerts by OMD, Public Image Limited, Gavin Friday, The Divine Comedy, Daniel Lanois and Marc Almond.
- •Together with Poland’s National Centre for Culture, Soundedit developed The Anthology of Polish Electronic Music. One instalment focused on pioneers and another on younger artists; a book about Polish electronic musicians also followed.
- •Soundedit produced a documentary about Władysław Komendarek and the Metropolis project, in which musicians perform their own soundtrack to the silent film.
- •Since 2014, the festival has held a dedicated industry day with workshops for sound engineers working in theatres, philharmonic halls and opera houses.
- •The award recognises more than music production alone. Bob Geldof was honoured for using music in the service of peace, while Lech Janerka was also recognised for his songwriting.