Aus’ first Music Tech Summit, free in Sydney

Ticket Squad, the local start-up that makes events go viral through its marketing innovations, is hosting the inaugural Australian Music Tech Summitin Sydney next week. The free event, which is co-presented by The Music Network, will bring together major industry figures for a night of keynotes, networking and panel discussions.

Attendees include stakeholders from major concert/festival promoters, streaming sites, record labels, music publishersand start-ups including GiggedIn, Muru Music and Muzeek.

Alongside Bob Moczydlowsky (Former Head of Music at Twitter and SVP Product & Marketing at Topspin), seasoned tech entrepreneur Stephen Phillips will be opening the Summit with a keynote speech.

Perhaps most globally known as the mastermind behind We Are Hunted – the music search company that was sold to Twitter in 2012 – Phillips knows first-hand what it takes to build a tech business from the ground up. His following companies like SoundCloud aggregator Wonder.fm, publishing tool software company Shorthand and current venture robot manufacturer Mawson Robotics – which was created to protect and grow Australia’s natural treasures – are proof that not only is he mission-driven, but he’s also highly effective.

In the Q&A below, Phillips offers his expert view on Australia’s tech landscape, the biggest lessons he’s learned from his growth in the start-up sector and why Australia needs more events like the Australian Music Tech Summit.

You’re no stranger to the start-up, what’s the biggest lesson you learned from your experience pitching?

Here are a few start-up lessons I’ve learned:

1) Story telling is everything.Great start-ups tell a story about an amazing future that people want to believe in.

2) Income is survival. It doesn’t matter what you believe, only what you can sell.

3) Never assume. The lies you tell yourself are the lies that hold you back.

Two of your past ventures (We Are Hunted, Wonder.fm) were created to service the music industry. Why have you ventured away from it with your current business Mawson Robotics?
I am a programmer who fell into the music industry. I love music, but I love software more. Robotics is about to go mainstream and I want to be part of it.

In your opinion, is there a start-up trend emerging in Australia right now?
A lot more people are talking about innovation and start-ups in Australia than ever before. I think that is awesome. Only good can come from more people finding better ways to live, work and grow. I hope we have a few really big wins to inspire the next generation.

What are your thoughts on tech trends that might emerge in the music industry in the future?
A lot of money has moved from recording to touring. There will continue to be a lot of innovation there. Hardware like headphones and sound systems are still hot and present a lot of opportunity.

Music discovery and analytics for the big subscription services like Spotify and iTunes will also remain super competitive.

How important are venture capitalists when it comes to raising funds?
I hope you have enough success that VC money is an option! They can help your business really take off. But know that there are many ways to grow and fund your business. Don’t chase money. Improve your product and investors will find you.

How can events like Ticket Squad’s Australian Music Tech Summit help emerging entrepreneurs?
You can talk to people who have done music start-ups and had some success. You can talk to people who are doing a music start-up now and looking for talent and connections. If you are thinking about doing a music start-up yourself, these people may be valuable. It will also be lots of fun to talk music and tech.

The first ever Australian Music Tech Summit takes place Wednesday, April 27 from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM (AEST) at Fishburners in Ultimo.

Tickets are free and can be secured here.