# Balkan music industry developments

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/balkan-music-industry-developments
> Updated: 2026-10-12T04:37:20.000Z. Sources: 44. Developments: 3.

The Balkan music scene continues to be characterized by a mix of tributes, industry news, and new creative releases. In late September 2026, regional developments included a planned tribute concert in Split for Macedonian singer Toše Proeski, the death of Serbian singer Goran Maksimović in a traffic accident, and various industry updates regarding performers like Dragica Zlatić and Vesna Vukelić Vendi. By October 2026, the focus shifted toward new musical works and live performances. Mostar-based singer Josip Drinovac released the song ‘Divlji moj cvijete’ accompanied by a music video, while in Croatia, Jakov Jozinović completed a sold-out concert in Zadar as part of his ‘Ja za čuda letim’ tour.

Recent events in early October 2026 highlight continued activity in Zadar, where actress Marijana Mikulić celebrated the 50th performance of her autobiographical monodrama, ‘Mare #ženamajkaglumica’, at the Croatian National Theatre. Jozinović also performed at the Krešimir Ćosić Hall, including a tribute to rock legend Goran Bare with the song ‘Teške boje’. In Tuzla, a classical music concert featuring works by Beethoven, Debussy, and Brahms was performed by violinist Katarina Pavljašević and pianist Anja Riđešić at the Sveti Franjo Croatian Cultural Center.

In mid-October 2026, Jakov Jozinović faced significant social media backlash following the circulation of a video in which he performed ‘Ako ne znaš šta je bilo’ by Marko Perković Thompson, a song noted for its historical associations with Croatian nationalism. Consequently, some social media users in Serbia have called for a boycott of his upcoming performances, including scheduled concerts in Belgrade. Jozinović responded to the controversy by stating, “I am a musician, not a politician,” and emphasized that he does not think through the prism of nationality, religion, or skin color. While some regional celebrities like Milica Todorović defended him, others, such as Angellina, criticized the performance of war-related songs.

## Claims

- Jakov Jozinović stated he is a musician and not a politician. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The video causing controversy is nearly two years old and was recorded when Jozinović was 19. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Jozinović claimed he never intended to offend anyone based on nationality, religion, or skin color. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- There have been calls to boycott Jozinović's upcoming concerts in Belgrade. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Jelena Karleuša claimed Jozinović's popularity is a serious project by foreign services. (single source)
- Karleuša described Thompson's songs as 'war-mongering'. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-12: Jakov Jozinović responds to boycott calls over Thompson song

Croatian singer Jakov Jozinović responded to calls for a boycott in Serbia after a viral video of him singing a Thompson song sparked regional controversy.

16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jakov-jozinovi-responds-to-boycott-calls-over-thompson-song

### 2026-10-10: Jakov Jozinović responds to regional controversy over Thompson song

Singer Jakov Jozinović addressed regional backlash and calls for concert boycotts in Serbia after an old video surfaced of him performing controversial songs by Marko Perković Thompson.

29 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/regional-musicians-release-new-works-and-perform-live-concerts

### 2026-09-21: Balkan music scene: Tributes, new releases, and industry news

Various updates from the Balkan music scene include a tribute concert for Toše Proeski, the mourning of singer Goran Maksimović, and new musical releases from regional artists.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sneana-urii-discusses-music-industry-trends-and-toma-zdravkovis-legacy

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Cite as: Balkan music industry developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/balkan-music-industry-developments
