BIGSOUND has announced over three dozen speakers including top A&R executives and two artist keynotes from legends Neil Finn and The Church.
It’ll be a 'crowded house' (pinched from the press release and too good (bad?) to leave out) in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley from September 10-12 as the annual music conference takes over with three days of talk and two nights of live music. There promises over 140 artists playing over 14 venues and one of Australasia’s most successful songwriters Neil Finn will open proceedings discussing his long career from Split Enz and Crowded House to his solo albums and side projects. The Church, including outspoken frontman Steve Kilbey, will also discuss their time in the industry and play a very special album preview show exclusively for BIGSOUND delegates.
The list of international industry attendees has also tripled today with A&R heads from Atlantic Records (US), Burger Records (US), Transgressive Records (UK), Neon Gold (US), Sony ATV Music Publishing (US), Mom & Pop Music (US) and The Syndicate (US) amongst others joining agents from festivals and live music venues from around the world.
The event also welcomes a keynote speech from Bluesfest director and co-founder Peter Noble as well as panelists US YouTube blogger Anthony Fantano founder of The Needle Drop, Reggie Ba-Pe III from China’s Sonically Transmitted Disease, Anuj Gupta from India’s Only Much Louder and other new speakers adding new perspectives and viewpoints into the cutting edge industry debates.
“When we say BIGSOUND means business, we mean it,” said BIGSOUND programmer Nick O’Byrne. “Whether it’s labels, publishers, live bookers and more, we’ve got some of the most important players in the global music business here to see the best new music and join in the discussion about one of the most dynamic industries on the planet.”
Queensland Arts Minister Ian Walker said this year’s BIGSOUND was shaping up to be one of the best ever. “Each year, BIGSOUND, one of the nation’s top music industry events, draws national and international talent to Brisbane, delivering showcases, speakers and artists who will become the stars of tomorrow.
Line-up of speakers
| Neil Finn | NZ | |
| the church | AUS | |
| Peter Noble | Bluesfest | AUS |
| Anthony Fantano | The Needle Drop | USA |
| L-FRESH | The Lion | AUS |
| Justin Heazlewood | Funemployed/ The Bedroom Philosopher | AUS |
| Martin Elbourne | Glastonbury Festival/ The Great Escape | UK |
| Chris Porter | One Reel / Bumbershoot Festival | USA |
| Tor Hansen | Red Eye Distribution / Yeproc Records | USA |
| Julia Willinger | Mom and Pop Music/Q Prime | USA |
| Mike Harounoff | Transgressive / Rockfeedback | UK |
| Lee Rickard | Burger Records | USA |
| Derek Davies | Neon Gold | USA |
| Francesca Stabile | Neon Gold | USA |
| Michael Taylor | Universal Music Australia | AUS |
| Michelle Fantus | Sony / ATV Music Publishing | USA |
| Jaime Gough | Native Tongue | AUS |
| Mollie Moore | Atlantic Records / Lip Sync Music | USA |
| Ali Hedrick | The Billions Corporation | USA |
| Matt Hickey | High Road Touring | USA |
| Alex Bruford | ATC Live | UK |
| Grace Jones | Grandstand PR | USA |
| Brad First | SXSW | USA |
| John Kastner | Canadian Music Week | USA |
| Reggie Ba-Pe III | Sonically Transmitted Disease / Arkham / Arcade | CHINA |
| Anuj Gupta | Only Much Louder | INDIA |
| Claire Collins | Bossy Music | AUS |
| Andrew Stone | Chugg Music | AUS |
| Maggie Collins | Fans Creative Management | AUS |
| Pam Thornback | Inertia | AUS |
| Rebecca Young | Artist Voice | AUS |
| Graham "Asho" Ashton | Footstomp Music | AUS |
| Andrew Hayden | Poison City Records | AUS |
| Chris Scaddan | triple j | AUS |
| Dave Ruby Howe | triple j Unearthed | AUS |
| Meagan Loader | Double J + triple j Unearthed | AUS |
| Nick Findlay | triple j | AUS |
| Stephen Goodhew | FBi | AUS |
| Simon Winkler | Triple R FM | AUS |
| Michelle Brown | 4ZZZ | AUS |
| Adrian Basso | CBAA & PBS 106.7FM | AUS |
| Chelsea Wilson | PBS FM | AUS |
| Adam Christou | RTRFM 92.1 | AUS |
| Chris Johnson | Amrap / CBAA | AUS |
| Bex Chilcott | Ruby Boots | AUS |
| Julian Hewitt | Media Arts Lawyers | AUS |
| Julia Kosky | Brett Oaten Solicitors | AUS |
| Scott Fitzsimons | themusic | AUS |
| Adam Lewis | Planetary Group | USA |
| Rev. Moose | The Syndicate | USA |
