Mehmet Dede

Mehmet Dede serves as Associate Professor in Live Music Production and Design at Berklee College of Music's New York campus (441 West 53rd Street). An internationally recognized music curator and festival producer with 20+ years of industry experience, he directs programming at NYC's Drom club—dubbed "New York’s premiere venue for world music" by The Wall Street Journal—and curates the NY Gypsy Festival.

His research focuses on world music curation, live event production systems, and sustainable artist marketing strategies. Dede pioneers methodologies for cross-cultural artist promotion and grassroots festival development, informed by his fieldwork with institutions like Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center. His scholarship bridges academic theory and industry practice through publications like "Make It Live: The Handbook for Getting Gigs".

Key recognitions include:

• 2021 globalFEST Impact Award for curatorial excellence
• PollStar Magazine's "Ambassador of World Music" designation
• Royal Society of Arts Fellowship (London)

Dede actively coaches emerging artists on concert booking strategies and consults for cultural organizations across Europe. His industry partnerships span Lincoln Center, Central Park Summerstage, and Universal Music Group, facilitating international artist tours while shaping Berklee's graduate curriculum in live music production.