EMC 2019 Details Announced Including First Speakers & Program Highlights + More

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Global changemakers, influential industry figures, tech and social entrepreneurs and more form the first speaker announcement for the eighth edition of the Electronic Music Conference (EMC) for the Asia-Pacific region. The event will be hosted at UTS in Ultimo, Sydney on Wednesday 13 November and Thursday 14 November.

THE NEXT NOW

The last five years have seen the global music sector adjusting to the new world of streaming and a more conscious approach to diversity in programming, A&R and recruitment. EMC’s 2019 conference theme focuses on THE NEXT NOW – diving into the needs and fears of the new decade ahead. The conference program deeply explores forthcoming technology, new disruptions, and the systematic changes that will alter the way we work, model our businesses, collaborate and create our music and art. THE NEXT NOW asks the questions:

  • How do we prepare for and embrace the next wave of changes ahead for our business?

  • How do we move beyond conversations about mental health to creating a future foundation in our sector that is supportive of health and wellbeing for all within it?

  • What are the traditional business models that are out of date and holding us back from a sustainable and thriving future?

  • What needs to be done to ensure a fair and equitable playing field for our ecology of businesses, individuals and artists?

  • What are the opportunities to harness new technologies to create new revenue streams and influence a sustainable music business?

EMC also announces newly appointed Conference Program Lead Lauren Neko. A programmer and lecturer in the music education sector, a recording and performing artist and event producer, Lauren has curated the conference program with the support of Arlo Enemark and the 2019 EMC Programming Collective comprising Emily Collins from MusicNSW; Spotify’s Lilan Hautemuller; DJ, Curator and Radio Host Ayebatonye Abrakasa; DJ and FBi Radio Host Carolina De La Piedra; Anthony Colombi from Global PR; Curator/Programmer/DJ Sullivan Patten; gaming specialist Meghann O’Neill; Jerry Poon from The Operatives and DJ/Promoter Mitch Lamb.

The 2019 conference program features keynotes and ‘In Conversations’ from national and international pioneers, a program stream dedicated to mental health and wellbeing, spotlight sessions on Western Sydney and the fast-emerging Middle East North Africa region, investigative sessions on financial stability for managers and artists, an interactive session on the future of the Australian music media landscape, an exploratory session on today’s value of music education, and much much more.

“EMC is a world class conference that welcomes people from all sides of the industry. I attended and participated in things from production workshops, to panels on sync, even keynotes with highly respected industry figures. Sydney comes alive during the event and the showcases are the perfect way to discover new talent, and have paved the way for some of our finest exports.” – Mike Warner, Author Work Hard Playlist Hard & Artist and Label Relations Manager, Chartmetric

Australian-Founded tech-focussed ticketing platform The Ticket Fairy will partner with EMC for the first time in 2019. The Ticket Fairy Co Founder Jigar Patel says: “The Ticket Fairy is delighted to partner with EMC for the first time, supporting such an important gathering of Australian and international industry thought leaders. We look forward to making a positive contribution to Australia’s music economy.”

First international speakers announced

(in alphabetical order)

Andreea Magdalina – Founder, Shesaid.so (USA)

Donald Hau – CEO, Mixmag China (China)

Georgia Taglietti – Head of Communication, International Media & PR, Sónar (Spain)

Liliane Chlela – Artist, Producer, DJ (Lebanon)

James Locksmith – Curator, DJ, Artist, Jemba Music (UAE)

Megane Quashie – Artist (Megatronic) and CEO, Female First Sessions (UAE)

Ritesh Patel – Co Founder & CEO, The Ticket Fairy (USA)

Scott Cohen – Chief Innovation Officer, Warner Music (UK)

Zaran Vachha – Founder, Collective Minds (Singapore)

Joining first announced domestic speakers (in alphabetical order)

Alissa Cronau – Founder, Maven Music

Ayebatonye Abrakasa – DJ/Curator/Event Producer, House of Ayebatonye

Carolina De La Piedra – DJ & Presenter, FBi Radio

Clarissa Mei – Artist, New Age Noise Collective

Darren Levin – Content Director, Bolster Group

Elise Reitze-Swensen – Founder and Manager, Women of Music Production Perth

Lawrence Huskisson – Artist (Husky) and Director, Random Soul Recordings

Patrick Nellestein – Higher Education Compliance Manager, Navitas

Rosie Taylor – Co Founder, Women of Music Production Perth

Sarah Houbolt – Circus & Theatre Performer, Arts Manager & Diversity Advocate

Simon Caldwell – DJ, Radio Host & Promoter

Tara Medina – Co-Founder & Director, Strawberry Fields Festival

2019 Keynotes and In Conversations (First Announcement)

  • Keynote: ‘Are You Ready For A New Sensation?’ – Scott Cohen, Warner Music

In his keynote ‘Are You Ready For A New Sensation?’, Warner Music’s Chief Innovation Officer Scott Cohen focuses on what’s on the horizon, how we adopt and deploy these new technologies, what we have learned from the music industry’s resistance to the last two decades of change, and how we must apply these learnings to tomorrow.

2019 Program Teaser – workshops, panels, interactive and networking sessions

  • Panel: ‘Embracing The Fringe: How we’re driving diversity within culture and nightlife’

  • Workshops: Beginner, Intermediate/Advanced Ableton Workshops

  • Listening Session: ‘Pass The Auxiliary’ Listening Lounge to demo your tunes

  • Panel: ‘Can music events survive without its silent partner… alcohol?

  • Investigative Session: ‘Music Recognition Technology: How Do I Get Paid When My Music Played?’

  • Spotlight Session: Western Sydney

  • Panel: ‘Music Education: Is it worth the investment?’

  • Interactive Session: ‘The Future of the Australian Music Media Landscape’

  • Spotlight Session: ‘The fast-emerging Middle East North Africa market’

  • Investigative Session: ‘Financial Stability (and realities) for Artist Managers’

  • Panel: ‘VIP / Bottle Service Culture in Electronic Music: Help or Hindrance?’

  • Music Making Challenge: The Beat Collective

EMC 2019 Tickets

Tickets are priced from $104.94 including fees and are available online now at electronicmusicconference.com.

Student prices, group rates and payment plans from approx $18 per week are also available. (conditions apply).

Electronic Music Conference is supported by Australia council for the arts, nsw government through create NSW, city of Sydney, The Ticket Fairy, MusicNSW, Roland, FBI Radio, Muzeek.

EMC 2019 will also feature a string of festival events from Wednesday 13th November to Sunday 17th of November. More details to be announced in the coming weeks.

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