With the success of last year's event, Australian Independent Record Labels Association's (AIR) unique two-day independent music conference Indie-Con Australia has revealed a glittering line-up of industry-respected speakers who'll be attending the 2018 event in Adelaide.
Indie-Con Australia, which addresses the needs and issues of independent artists and record labels, will once again be held (26-27 July) in conjunction with this year's AIR Awards in Australia's UNESCO City of Music thanks to support from the South Australian Government.
The conference brings together the best and brightest of the world's independent music industry, with discussions ranging from partnerships in the music industry to smart marketing, streaming and indie repertoire, neighbouring and reciprocal rights and independent industry action.
"I love independent music because for me it has integrity, it is a community that believes in doing it ourselves and supporting each other on the way through." - Stu Watters (Indie-Con Australia)
This year's speakers are headlined by founding member of Riot Grrrl band Bratmobile and co-founder of the zine Girl Germs, pioneering indie legend Molly Neuman.
"She has also worked for eMusic, Kickstarter, Lookout Records, set up a management company that looked after Ted Leo and The Donnas, helped set up A2IM, AIR’s US counterpart and is now the Head of Global Business Development at Songtrust," Conference Programmer Stu Watters says.
"I hear she's a mean chef as well so I'm sure she'll love Adelaide. She has a great story that will inspire our own people."
Click here to read our recent Q&A with Stuart Watters discussing all things 2018 Indie-Con Australia.
Secret City Records' Justin West will share his knowledge about how to take control of your global rights as a small, indie label. While Head of International Marketing PIAS, Vincent Fenice will talk about what's in the Australian water that made them want to buy Inertia.
Recognised by Billboard in the 2018 list of the 100 most influential people in the music business, Aussie expat Charles Caldas will return this year in honour of Merlin's ten-year anniversary, offering a keynote outlining where the next new frontiers are for the indie sector.
"We're really excited to deliver a programme that ups the ante on the Australian independent label sector," Stu says.
"We have one of the strongest most vibrant indie sectors in the world and gatherings like Indie-Con are designed to help make our sector and the industry more broadly a better place to do business, putting our artists at the centre of the conversation."
Australian speaker highlights include closing keynote from Hoodoo Gurus' Dave Faulkner and long-time manager Michael McMartin, Dom Alessio speaking from his new found home at Sounds Australia, Victoria's new Music Development Office GM - Bonnie Dalton, Spotify's Tom Mee and Alicia Sbrugnera, and Andy Mak and Adalita teaming up with their publishers Matt Tanner and Linda Bosidis.
Indie-Con Australia is a must-attend event for anyone who works/ breathes/ lives independent music in Australia. "I love independent music because for me it has integrity, it is a community that believes in doing it ourselves and supporting each other on the way through," confesses Stu.
"It is unbridled and political, it is raw and fresh, it is diverse and welcoming and importantly it has no masters."
Click here to read our 2017 Indie-Con Australia review.
Bordering the 2018 AIR Awards ceremony and official after-party, the conference will tie in with Adelaide's Umbrella: Winter City Sounds and Scouted.
Thanks to the continued support from the South Australian Government, The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) will host its second two-day Indie-Con Australia Conference at The Hindley (Adelaide) 26-27 July. For full conference details and tickets please click here.
2018 Indie-Con Australia Speakers
Molly Neuman (Songtrust)Charles Caldas (Merlin)
Charlie Phillips (WIN)
Edward Ginis (OpenPlay)
Erik Gilbert (Entertainment Intelligence)
Greg Delaney (Entertainment Intelligence)
Justin West (Secret City Records)
Portia Sabin (Kill Rock Stars)
Richard Burgess (A2IM)
Vincent Fenice (PIAS)
Adalita (Artist)
Alicia Sbrugnera (Spotify)
Amanda Vitartas (Hysterical Records)
Andy Mak (Writer/Producer)
Anthony Zaccaria (Bolster)
Ben O’Connor (Chapter Music)
Blake Rayner (The Orchard)
Bonnie Dalton (Custom Made)
Chris Bosma (Poolside Records/The Smith Street Band)
Chris O'Neill (APRA AMCOS)
Damian Rinaldi (Sonic Lawyers)
Dave Faulkner (Hoodoo Gurus)
Dean Ormston (APRAAMCOS)
Deb Suckling (Sugar Rush Records)
Dom Alessio (Sounds Australia)
Ellen Kirk (Barely Dressed Records)
Emma Bosworth (Green Music Australia)
Eoin McCarthy (Hydric Media)
Gerry McKenna (Whitesky)
Glenn Dickie (Sounds Australia)
Grace Kindellan (Hysterical Records)
Greg Carey (Grow Yourself Up)
Guy Blackman (Chapter Music)
Harvey Saward (Remote Control Records)
Henry Compton (The Orchard)
Jane Slingo (Young Strangers)
Jay Mogis (QUT)
Lars Brandle (Industry Observer)
Leanne de Souza (AAM)
Linda Bosidis (Mushroom Publishing)
Lisa Bishop (Music SA)
Lynne Small (PPCA)
Mardi Caught (Annex)
Matt Tanner (Native Tongue Publishing)
Matthew Lymbury (Nightlife Music)
Matthew Rogers (Unified Music Group)
Merida Sussex (Stolen Recordings)
Michael McMartin (Melody Management)
Millie Millgate (Sounds Australia)
Paddy McHugh (Artist)
Paige X. Cho (Bolster)
Phil Brown (Nightlife Music)
Rachel Kelly (Downtown Publishing)
Steve Cross (Remote Control Records)
Susan Cotchin (IRR Music)
Tom Mee (Spotify)
+ more to be announced
