Unreleased Berlin • Pop-Kultur Festival Berlin 2025

In the organizer's words:

"Songs before the release - stage instead of streaming!": The trio of organizers behind "Unreleased" in conversation | "ThemaTakt" live podcast

Federico Battaglia, Mehmet Kücük, Walmir Hong Thomé de Moura (Unreleased), Tobias Wilinski (Mod.) & surprise guest

What happens when songs are played live before they are released?
Federico Battaglia, Walmir Hong Thomé de Moura and Mehmet Kücük have created a unique concert series with "Unreleased" - raw, immediate and full of musical excitement. The monthly Berlin event series has quickly become the exclusive hotspot for hip-hop in Germany. Among the acts (kept secret in advance) who have presented their previously unreleased tracks in front of a live audience - and under strict photo and recording bans - are Nina Chuba, Trettmann and Headie One.

In the "ThemaTakt" live podcast, Tobias Wilinski talks to the three founders of "Unreleased " about the idea behind the format, the special atmosphere and why it is so important to show music in the process of creation. How does the relationship between artist and audience change when a song doesn't even officially exist yet? How does it feel to play a track in front of real people for the very first time - without filters, without streaming numbers? And what does it take to make a moment like this work?

Special highlight: there will be a special guest on the panel. Who is that? Find out on site - it's worth it.

About Pop-Kultur Talks

Pop culture is more than just music. Because pop culture is not just about sound, but also about attitude, questions and discourse. In addition to concerts, DJ sets and commissioned works, the festival also includes a series of talks - for the first time in 2025, separate from the live program and right at the start of the festival week.

On Monday, we will be asking the big questions at the interface of music, society and the future. We will talk about the relationship between culture and business, discuss sustainability in the music industry - and take a special look at the music scene in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Together we ask:

• How can independent labels and artists* regain more control over their art and careers?
• What role does counterculture play in a time of social upheaval? (Hosted by Deutschlandfunk)
• And: How much power is there in passion as a motor for creativity? (Hosted by Rolling Stone)
• We also present a new network of relevant music stakeholders in the German music industry - their aim is to make Black perspectives in the German music industry more visible and to strengthen them structurally.