Forwart

What Forwart does

Forwart operates as a two-division non-profit artist agency and cultural consultancy registered as FORWART e.V. (eingetragener Verein) under German law, headquartered at the Gasteig HP8 location of the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München (HMTM). The organization was founded as a student initiative of the Master's program in Cultural and Music Management at HMTM and is led jointly by Prof. Maurice Lausberg, Prof. Markus Bellheim, and Ines M. Schneider. Its first division, Künstler:innenvermittlung, mediates between event organizers and a roster of student and alumni musicians from HMTM, providing live performers for weddings, funerals, birthdays, corporate events, and concerts; the second division, Kulturberatung, delivers consulting services in cultural marketing, fundraising, audience development, cultural sponsorship, and event management to Munich-area cultural institutions.

The business operates two distinct revenue streams, both on quote-based, per-engagement pricing. The booking side earns commissions or service fees on each mediated engagement; the consulting side bills professional-services fees for project work. There is no proprietary technology platform — distribution is via the Jimdo-hosted website (forwart-muenchen.de) using contact and inquiry forms, supported by organic social presence on Instagram (@for.w.art) and LinkedIn. Customer segments are split across private event organizers, corporate event planners, and cultural institutions, with the consulting roster including Bayerische Staatsoper, Münchner Philharmoniker, Münchner Symphoniker, Residenztheater, Gärtnerplatztheater, ARD International Music Competition, NS-Dokumentationszentrum München, and HIGHLIGHTS Munich Art Fair.

Go-to-market is direct and domestically focused on Bavaria, with no disclosed revenue, funding events, or financial disclosures. The relationship with HMTM functions as the structural backbone of the business, providing both supply (musicians, ensembles) and institutional credibility, while also constraining operating geography and scalability due to the student-driven nature of the operating model.

Name

Forwart

Legal name

FORWART e.V.

Website

https://forwart-muenchen.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forwart is a Munich-based non-profit artist agency and cultural consultancy that books HMTM student musicians for private and corporate events and provides marketing, fundraising, and audience-development consulting to Bavarian cultural institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artist Booking Services

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Live Music Booking (Bands, Soloists, DJs) (HSACAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Artist Booking, Talent Buying & Agency Services (MPAGAAAF), Casting & Talent Placement (Sessions, Bands, Touring Musicians) (MPAIAGAM)

Keywords

• Artist booking services
• Cultural consulting
• Music management
• Event entertainment booking
• Live performance agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Artist Booking Commission: Forwart earns revenue by mediating between clients seeking musical performers and the pool of student musicians from HMTM. They charge a commission or service fee for connecting event organizers with suitable artists for private events (weddings, birthdays, funerals, corporate events) and concerts.
2. Cultural Consulting Services: Revenue generated from providing consulting services to cultural institutions, including marketing strategy, fundraising concepts, audience development, and project management support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Forwart operates two service divisions: Künstler:innenvermittlung (Artist Matching), a booking agency that connects event organizers with professional musicians, bands, and ensembles from the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München for weddings, funerals, birthdays, concerts, and corporate events; and Kulturberatung (Cultural Consulting), which provides cultural institutions with consulting on marketing strategy, fundraising concepts, cultural sponsorship, event management, and new event formats. The musicians are sourced exclusively from HMTM students and alumni.

Product overview

Forwart is a non-profit initiative operated by FORWART e.V., an association affiliated with the Master program 'Kultur- und Musikmanagement' at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München. The organization operates two main service divisions: Künstler:innenvermittlung (artist matching/booking), which connects event organizers with musicians and ensembles for various occasions including weddings, funerals, birthdays, concerts, and corporate events; and Kulturberatung (cultural consulting), which advises cultural institutions on marketing concepts, fundraising, cultural sponsoring, and event management. The organization sources musicians exclusively from students and alumni of the Munich University of Music and Theatre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Künstler:innenvermittlung (Artist Matching) A booking and matching service that connects event organizers — including private individuals and corporate clients — with professional musicians, bands, and ensembles from the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München. Services cover weddings, funerals, birthday celebrations, concerts, and corporate events (Firmenevent).
• Kulturberatung (Cultural Consulting) Consulting services for cultural institutions, cultural organizers, and companies, offering concept development in cultural marketing, fundraising concepts, cultural sponsorship, event management, and new event formats.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hochschule für Musik und Theater München (HMTM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForwart is an official initiative of the Master program in Cultural and Music Management at HMTM. The university provides institutional support, access to student musicians, and infrastructure. Forwart's mission includes supporting the Institute for Cultural Management and providing practical training opportunities for students.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Tonali Hamburg: Hamburg-based concert organizer and cultural platform that connects young classical musicians with audiences. Highly comparable in mission (showcasing emerging classical talent) but geographically separate from Bavaria.
• Musicboard Berlin GmbH: Berlin's municipal music industry office supporting local musicians and cultural projects. Operates in a similar cultural-sector support role but in a different geography (Berlin vs. Bavaria).

Direct peers

• Stargold Agentur: German booking agency representing musicians and bands for events including weddings, corporate functions, and galas. Direct competitor to Forwart's Künstler:innenvermittlung division in the same private-event live music market segment.
• Encore Musicians: UK-based online booking agency for live musicians at weddings, corporate events, and private functions. Closely comparable in business model and target customer to Forwart's booking service.
• A.S.S. Concert & Event GmbH: German concert and event production company that books artists and organizes live music events. Comparable to Forwart on the concert booking and event production side of the business.
• Gigmit: Berlin-based digital booking platform connecting event organizers with musicians and bands across Germany and Europe. A direct competitor that achieves what Forwart does via website forms through an automated marketplace.
• Live Musicians Network: UK booking agency sourcing professional live musicians for weddings, parties, and corporate events. Comparable in service mix (curated musician roster, event-type matching, quote-based pricing) to Forwart's booking arm.

Others

• Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg: Sister academic music conservatory in Hamburg with comparable Master's programs in cultural and music management. Thematically related through the academic ecosystem that incubates talent agencies like Forwart.
• Haspa Musik Stiftung: Hamburg-based foundation funding young musicians and music projects. Operates in the same broader ecosystem of supporting emerging classical talent and cultural-sector development.

Broad incumbents

• Gasteig München GmbH: Munich's flagship cultural center and concert venue where Forwart is co-located. A broader incumbent that operates the venue ecosystem in which Forwart's clients (e.g., Münchner Philharmoniker, Gärtnerplatztheater) perform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/forwart-e-v
• Instagraminstagram.com/for.w.art
• Facebookfacebook.com/FORWARTmuenchen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forwart