Sonar+D

What Sonar+D does

Sónar+D is the technology, innovation, and creativity conference segment of the annual Sónar festival in Barcelona, organized by ADVANCED MUSIC, S.L., a Spanish private limited company (CIF B-66699216) headquartered in the Poblenou district of Barcelona. The company operates within Superstruct Entertainment, a pan-European festival conglomerate that provides group-level operational scale. Sónar+D delivers a hybrid conference-festival format combining daytime programming (talks, panels, workshops, exhibitions) with nighttime electronic music performances, hosting technologists, artists, designers, and creative professionals at the Fira de L'Hospitalet venue.

The underlying technology stack includes a digital event platform supported by a proprietary QR code-based CASH POINT cashless payment system (with €250 per-transaction reload limits) and RFID wristband access control for venue entry. Mobile applications are available on iOS and Android for attendee navigation and scheduling, built around the third-party Meetmaps platform. Programmatic content is delivered through annual events, the KNOWCASE installation showcase (in partnership with Cotec Foundation, offering up to €100,000 in project funding), and the AI & Music powered by S+T+ARTS track.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: multi-tiered event ticket sales (standard, Flex Tickets with refund option, VIP passes with add-ons such as fast-lane and backstage access), on-site food and beverage concessions via cashless payment infrastructure, and brand sponsorship and partnerships (Estrella Damm, Fira de L'Hospitalet, Generalitat de Catalunya, Ajuntament de Barcelona, and other consumer brands). The go-to-market approach is event-driven with direct-to-consumer ticket distribution through the authorized Bleep online platform and physical box offices at venue entrances.

Name

Sonar+D

Legal name

ADVANCED MUSIC, S.L.

Website

https://sonarplusd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sónar+D is the technology and creativity conference segment of Barcelona's annual Sónar festival, organized by ADVANCED MUSIC S.L. It serves creative professionals, technologists, and electronic music enthusiasts through a hybrid conference-festival format held at Fira de L'Hospitalet, generating revenue from tiered ticket sales, concessions, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Technology Conference & Music Festival

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Concerts & Music Festivals (Livestreamed Performances) (MPAGAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Premiere, Awards & Festival Access (HSACAMAD)

Keywords

• Creative technology conference
• Electronic music festival
• Digital culture events
• Art technology exhibitions
• Innovation conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from multi-tiered ticket sales including various modalities (standard tickets, Flex Tickets with refund option, VIP passes) offering different access levels to festival areas and add-ons such as fast-lane access, VIP zones, backstage access, and included consumptions
2. Venue Concessions: Food and beverage sales within the venue through cashless QR code and card payment systems, utilizing reusable cup deposit system
3. Sponsorship and Partnership: Brand partnerships with sponsors including Estrella Damm, Fira de L'Hospitalet, Barcelona city, Generalitat de Catalunya, and others visible on website and at venue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sónar+D is the technology, innovation, and creativity conference component of the annual Sónar festival held in Barcelona, combining talks, panels, exhibitions, performances, and networking into a single hybrid event. Attendees purchase multi-tiered tickets (including Flex Tickets and VIP passes) to access programming at the Fira de L'Hospitalet venue, supported by a proprietary QR-code cashless payment system, RFID wristband access, and the SonarApp mobile application. The offering also extends to curated programs such as the KNOWCASE Open Call with Cotec Foundation and the AI & Music powered by S+T+ARTS initiative.

Product overview

Sonar+D is the technology and innovation conference component of the Sónar festival, organized by Advanced Music SL. The program combines the Sónar+D conference track featuring talks, panels, and interactive installations with the broader Sónar festival ecosystem including Sonar de Noche (night music programming), SonarMix (audio content), and the Sonar Gallery documenting past events. The flagship product Sonar+D integrates with the annual Barcelona festival, the SonarApp mobile application for attendees, and special programs like the KNOWCASE Open Call partnership with Cotec Foundation and the AI & Music powered by S+T+ARTS initiative. The product portfolio represents an event-focused offering rather than a software-as-a-service platform, centered on live programming, exhibitions, and community engagement around creativity, technology, and innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sónar+D: The technology, innovation, and creativity conference component of the Sónar festival, featuring talks, panels, exhibitions, performances, and ideas that merge creativity with innovation and technology.

Products and services

• Sónar+D Conference Access Ticketed access to the annual Sónar+D technology, innovation, and creativity conference in Barcelona, featuring talks, panels, exhibitions, performances, and networking at the intersection of music, technology, and digital culture. Multiple ticket modalities offered including standard, Flex (refundable), and VIP passes with varying access levels and add-ons.
• Sónar de Noche (Night Programming) Ticketed access to the nighttime programming component of the Sónar festival, featuring electronic music performances, club nights, and evening entertainment across multiple venues within the festival grounds.
• KNOWCASE Open Call (with Cotec Foundation) A funded open call program organized by Sónar+D and Cotec Foundation that selects a digital culture project for installation at the KNOWCASE showcase space in Madrid. The selected project receives up to €100,000 covering conceptualization, design, development, production, installation, maintenance, and documentation, and is exhibited for a minimum of 24 months. Targets artists, collectives, designers, technologists, universities, research centers, startups, and creative agencies globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• KNOWCASE selected project receives up to €100,000 funding for 24-36 month exhibition
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Fundación Cotec para la Innovación (Cotec)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2026Strategic collaboration between Sónar+D and Cotec Foundation for innovation. Following successful experiment at Sónar 2026, partnership continues with international open call for KNOWCASE exhibition space at Cotec's Madrid headquarters. Joint selection committee chooses winning digital culture project receiving up to €100,000 funding. KNOWCASE visible 24/7 from street level, offering unique public-facing exhibition opportunity.
• Estrella DammminorOthersOfficial beer sponsor of Sónar festival, visible in event branding and logo display throughout website and venue.
• Fira de L'HospitaletcoreOthersPrimary venue host for Sónar+D and Sónar by Night events. Fira Gran Via location in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat serves as the main venue for all conference programming, exhibitions, and club experiences.
• Barcelona City / Ajuntament de BarcelonamoderateOthersOfficial city partner for Sónar festival, supporting event as key cultural initiative in Barcelona.
• Generalitat de CatalunyamoderateOthersRegional government institution supporting Sónar as cultural event in Catalonia.
• S+T+ARTS (Science + Technology + Arts)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for AI & Music powered by S+T+ARTS programming at Sónar, featuring AI Performance Playground Hacklab Showcase and related events. Demonstrates commitment to innovation at intersection of technology and arts.
• Superstruct EntertainmentcoreOthersSónar is part of Superstruct Entertainment group, a European festival and events company operating multiple festivals across Europe. Data sharing occurs within group for commercial and operational purposes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Primavera Sound: Primavera Sound is a Barcelona-based major music festival organized by the same parent group family. Comparable as a regional peer operating a multi-day music festival in the same city with overlapping audience, but focused on live music rather than the technology/creativity conference hybrid.

Direct peers

• Dekmantel: Dekmantel is an Amsterdam-based electronic music festival with associated conference and label programming. Comparable to Sónar+D's blend of curated electronic music, programming depth, and broader cultural positioning.
• MUTEK: MUTEK is a Montreal-based festival dedicated to electronic music and digital art, with a strong conference/forum component. Directly comparable to Sónar+D as an annual electronic music and creative technology festival with talks, exhibitions, and performances.
• Unsound: Unsound is an annual festival in Krakow, Poland, dedicated to electronic music and experimental art, with a strong discourse/conference component. Directly comparable to Sónar+D as an intellectually-curated festival at the intersection of electronic music and creative/artistic discourse.
• SXSW: SXSW is the canonical conference-festival hybrid combining music, technology, and film in Austin, TX. Directly comparable to Sónar+D's positioning as a festival/conference at the intersection of music and technology, with multi-tier ticketing and major sponsor ecosystem.
• TodaysArt: TodaysArt is a festival in The Hague combining music, art, and technology with conference-style programming. Directly comparable to Sónar+D's hybrid festival/conference model at the intersection of electronic music and creative technology.
• Ars Electronica: Ars Electronica is the annual festival in Linz, Austria, for art, technology, and society, featuring exhibitions, conferences, and performances. Directly comparable to Sónar+D's positioning at the intersection of creativity, technology, and innovation with curated programming.
• Berlin Atonal: Berlin Atonal is a Berlin-based festival for experimental electronic music and immersive art installations. Directly comparable to Sónar+D's experimental music programming combined with visual/technology exhibitions.
• Le Guess Who?: Le Guess Who? is an Utrecht-based music festival with a curatorial focus on boundary-pushing performances across genres, including electronic and experimental music. Comparable to Sónar+D as a European festival blending music programming with cultural/creative curation.
• CTM Festival: CTM is a Berlin-based annual festival for adventurous music and art, with a strong conference/discourse program. Directly comparable to Sónar+D as a European festival blending electronic music, art, and critical/creative discourse.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sonarplusd
• Facebookfacebook.com/sonarplusd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sonard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Sonar+D