Indie-Con Australia is the only event of its kind in the country that addresses the needs and issues of independent artists and record labels.
The conference was held for the first time last year in Adelaide, in conjunction with Australian Independent Record Labels Association's AIR Awards and is on again this year.
With the recent announcement of Indie-Con speakers, we asked a number of industry influencers who'll be speakers at the event, how Indie-Con helps to further develop the local music industry.
What's your involvement with this year's conference?
“Harv and I are on a panel discussing how we’ve run Remote Control as a true partnership since we set the company up in 2001.“No doubt we will discuss our specific roles and the blurry areas in-between them, where we both have input and welcome ideas from our team. Someone famously described Led Zeppelin as being ‘tight but loose’; that’s not a bad description of Remote Control.” - Steve Cross & Harvey Award (Remote Control Records)
Steve Cross“I will be sitting on a panel with some of the smartest minds working within the indie community to highlight the dark, dark corners of the globe where money is hiding for our labels.
“The modernisation and globalisation of our industry has been rapid, but one area has fallen behind and that is neighbouring rights; international societies are not communicating, rights in one territory are not recognised in another and data forms are different globally.
“This conversation will aim to start to uncover some of these issues and how indie labels may best respond or act to ensure that dark corner doesn’t consume their money.” - Matthew Rogers (Chief Operating Officer, Unified Music Group)
“I’ll be part of a session called Independent Women empowering future generations. I will be a panelist together with Molly Neuman, Portia Sabin, Kirsty Rivers, Leanne De Souza, Gerada McKenna and Chris O’Neal.
“We’ll be sharing stories of who has supported us in our careers and discussing how to overcome difficult situation and empower ourselves and future generations.” - Lisa Bishop (General Manager, MusicSA)
“I have the great honour of interviewing the keynote speaker, Molly Neuman, about her amazing life and accomplishments.
“From being one of the original Riot Grrls to running the iconic Lookout! Records to her more recent history as a major player in the music industry in the US, Molly has done so much. It’s a true pleasure to get to share the stage with her.” - Portia Sabin (Kill Rock Stars)
Portia Sabin“I'm so thrilled to be joining Indie-Con this year about my career journey and its alignment with independence as well as joining a discussion on women and music and our sector taking a leadership position in developing opportunities in our industry.” - Molly Neuman (Songtrust)
“Bolster will be doing a presentation about the 'state of play' for music, media and advertising in 2018.
“Together with Bolster's co-director Anthony Zaccaria, we'll be discussing changing media consumption patterns for the average Australian, data in a post-Cambridge Analytica age, advertising trends from our data, plus budget weighting for campaigns.” - Paige X. Cho (Bolster)
“At Indie-Con this year I will be involved in a discussion group as opposed to the panel format that ran last year.
“We will be discussing rights with a particular focus on Neighbouring and Reciprocal Rights. Much of the industry find Neighbouring Rights complex internationally, so while I’m joined by three music lawyers, I imagine my role will be to illustrate the issues with getting Australians paid internationally rather than going into detail about the legislation.
“I like to get my hands dirty in a discussion group and paint scenarios that the audience can relate to.” - Susan Cotchin (IRR Music)
“Grace and I will be talking on the 'Partnerships In Music' panel. We'll look to expand upon how we maintain our friendship and business relationship in regard to Hysterical Records.
“We'll also talk in more detail about how we've benefited from being friends; from an appreciation for the similar music, a more rounded understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses, and holding a greater empathy for the other due to an understanding of what's happening in the each other's personal life.” - Amanda Vitartas (Hysterical Records)
How does an event like Indie-Con further develop the local music industry?
“Alongside the panel discussion, we want to catch other presentations and have less formal conversations. It’s always good to get a grasp of how the indie sector is travelling, the successes and the challenges, and how we can work together to support indie music.“Harv and I came out of the DIY scene way back and have always tried to stick to it. We never feel competitive with other, genuinely independent labels. Our long-standing opinion is that we all benefit from the development and growth of a strong, vibrant indie scene.” - Steve Cross & Harvey Award (Remote Control Records)
“Indie-Con is crucial for our industry for many reasons; it allows labels to communicate about the issues that need to be addressed by advocates, we can share experiences with our peers and help to ensure that Australian labels can be a part of the global growth in the music industry.” - Matthew Rogers (Chief Operating Officer @ Unified Music Group)
“Adelaide is a designated UNESCO City of Music and we are recognised as a thriving live music hotspot. The Indie-Con conference creates an opportunity for local musicians to be ambassadors for the industry, taking part in and learning from a national and internationally-flavoured programme that is a now a major fixture on the music calendar.
“With the Indie-Con and the AIR Awards, we have the perfect opportunity to highlight our position as a UNESCO City of Music, particularly in the eyes of the national music industry which rarely visits Adelaide for business matters as industry is well and truly established on the eastern seaboard.” - Lisa Bishop (General Manager MusicSA)
Lisa Bishop“I think you can’t put a price on connections. Being able to get people into the same room who need to talk to each other, either because they do business together or because they work in similar jobs at different labels, it’s so helpful to have a network of peers, and Indie-Con facilitates those meetings.” - Portia Sabin (Kill Rock Stars)
“It's incredible to see the ways in which new and established companies can learn from one another at events like Indie-Con and the access given to insights in the industry can be critical in the development of local music communities.” - Molly Neuman (Songtrust)
“Indie-Con is the only pure, label-focused conference in Australia that I'm aware of, so it's fantastic to get so many of Australia's best minds related to indie music in one place.
“Music is not a zero-sum game, so it's wonderful to have the opportunity to share insights and knowledge and help indie labels and artists sell more records.” - Paige X. Cho (Bolster)
“The discussion topics at Indie-Con are not generic, but zero-in on concerns felt across the breadth of the industry. With an international and a local perspective, the right questions are asked and this provides the opportunity to drill right down into the heart of the issues.
“Dependent on the complexity of the matter, the formats this year seem to be a mix of either panel discussions or group talks which better informs and takes the ‘presentation’ edge off the table.
“If we begin asking the right questions, if we can provide case studies relating to our local industry - then this will grow our knowledge in the local music industry and enable us to fight for change.” - Susan Cotchin (IRR Music)
Susan Cotchin“Events such as Indie-Con allow for like-minded labels and artists to engage in a neutral setting and learn from other similar labels and artists.
“We recently attended a conference in North Carolina for indie labels and through this, we realised that we weren't the only ones competing with major labels and distributors for play-listing; or trying to maintain a work-life balance; or that we weren't the only ones doing this for the love of it and trying to break even the best way we could.
“It allowed us to build relationships with other indie labels and support each other; from co-releasing or finding out how other people ran their labels and sharing knowledge.” - Amanda Vitartas (Hysterical Records)
What does independent music mean to you?
“At Remote Control, we believe labels cannot be genuinely independent if they are funded in any way by the major companies. You are either independent or you’re not.“The key to independent music for us is the true expression of the artist’s creative vision, without unwelcome interference from record company apparatchik.
“We work with Adele and Radiohead. We work with Methyl Ethel and Courtney Barnett. They are the artists. They deliver the music. We are not here to filter their creative vision, we’re here to serve it.” - Steve Cross & Harvey Award (Remote Control Records)
“Independent music means putting not only your own money, but your heart, soul and passion in to delivering on the artists' artistic dreams. There are no shareholders here to please, the reward comes in the artists success.” - Matthew Rogers (Chief Operating Officer @ Unified Music Group)
Matthew Rogers“For me, it means music that is produced in an autonomous and DIY kind of way that is true to the maker’s artistry, is unapologetic and self-controlled.
“I think the definition has changed from my experience of the '80s independent music and lines seem to be blurred around independent/ majors collaborating across production, distribution and marketing in different territories. I have no idea how Spotify come up with their 'indie' playlists - everyone seems to have their own meaning.” - Lisa Bishop (General Manager MusicSA)
“Independent means we have our own ideas about how things should be done and manage to run businesses at the same time somehow. “We are also the risk takers of the music industry, breaking new ground and trying things before others get onboard.” - Portia Sabin (Kill Rock Stars)
“Independent music reflects the nexus of creativity and community. So many incredible artists and genres are nurtured by independent labels and the scenes that support them.” - Molly Neuman (Songtrust)
Molly Neuman“Independent music evokes a ‘can do’ emotion in me that fits really well in the arts sector. Music that is pasteurised or moulded into a brand, especially in its infancy, loses its creativity and magic.
“I think that the ingredients need first to be bottled correctly and the independent industry allows you to do that. From allowing the creativity to grow and be luminous, to embarking on alternate ways to market and break an act, and even to the rights sector; if you can set yourself up correctly at the start of your career, there is an opportunity to be ‘holding the cards and maximising your royalties'.
“You want to be in a better bargaining position before the big fellas get involved.” - Susan Cotchin (IRR Music)
“Independent is a word that is getting even more ambiguous by the day in the music industry. Gone are the days where it was seen as a dirty word, now we see major labels creating subsidiaries to act as 'independent'.
“To me, independent is a way of life. It's being wholeheartedly independent from the big three major labels and not having to answer or be indebted to anyone but ourselves.
“Our distributor is not associated with the big three labels either and although we have to work ten times as hard for play-listing or exposure in record shops, we are truly proud of our independence.” - Amanda Vitartas (Hysterical Records)
Who should be attending Indie-Con Australia?
“In this day and age the DIY ethos is amazingly strong. Partly because the days of getting signed to a big label are pretty much over… and partly because there is no reason to follow that path any more, it just doesn’t work for most artists.“Indie-Con is a place to discuss and grow that idea. There’s a possibility that some panels may not be relevant to some people, but the overarching 'takeaway' from the event is that people are independently creating and supporting music, they are doing great work, it’s a thriving and welcoming scene and you can be a part of it.” - Steve Cross & Harvey Award (Remote Control Records)
“Indie labels of course, from the top down, as we need everyone to be a part of this conversation, but also tech companies, come and share your ideas and let’s work together to innovate and succeed.” - Matthew Rogers (Chief Operating Officer @ Unified Music Group)
“Anyone involved in the contemporary music industry and in particular independent labels and artists.
“The conference will enable participants to gain insights into the latest innovations and technological advancements in products, services and strategies available to the independent music sector as well as providing an opportunity for the advancement of professional development, leadership and business performance skills, plus the chance to network and check out some great new bands at Scouted.” - Lisa Bishop (General Manager MusicSA)
“Certainly young labels who want to learn from more experienced people and people who want to share new ideas or technology in the marketplace. We can all learn from one another. We may be independent, but that doesn’t mean we have to go it alone.” - Portia Sabin (Kill Rock Stars)
“I imagine anyone who cares about being an active participant in what's growing and transforming our industry. It's my first one and I'm very excited and honoured to be participating.” - Molly Neuman (Songtrust) “Anyone interested in learning or sharing knowledge around indie music in Australia.” - Paige X. Cho (Bolster)
Paige X. Cho“I am constantly amazed in Australia at how we are too embarrassed to say we don’t know something and then run with a 50 per cent knowledge of it to save face. Unfortunately this wastes a lot of time in our industry with the to-and-fro emailing between various parties: manager, artist, lawyers, labels etc.
“I have dealt with many New York music attorneys who come straight out and say 'I don’t understand. Tell me what you know!' This puts the specialist front and centre to explain a complex issue simply, which invites inquiry and investigation. It’s the best way to learn.
“At Indie-Con you have the opportunity to hear these specialists and there is always something new to learn in our industry. I’ve racked up 30 years in the biz, as a singer/ songwriter to a recording artist to copyright lecturer and a royalty accounts manager. The last 15 years I’ve run my own rights company both in Melbourne and London and I can’t wait to attend.
“There is still so much I’m learning about other sectors of my industry that I am not specialised in, so I would say people like me with 30 years of industry experience should attend. And if I need to attend and your just starting out or have ten years experience in the biz, you need to attend also!” - Susan Cotchin (IRR Music)
Amanda Vitartas“Though we haven't been to Indie-Con before, we'll be looking forward to learning more about what our peers are up to.
“How others think about and manage a small music business, how power is being transferred from the corner offices of major labels to fans and independent artists, how music services are rapidly changing and what new advances there have been in the past six months, and what artists everyone's excited about.
“If that sounds like you, we reckon Indie-Con is gonna be your thing too.” - Amanda Vitartas (Hysterical Records)
