BIGSOUND announces whopper second speaker lineup and first-of-its-kind mental health workshop

Following last month’s first speaker announcement, BIGSOUND have hit us with a second list of keynotes, workshops and panels – and it’s a whopper!

Australian music legend Paul Kelly will look back over his extensive career in a keynote interview, discussing topics relevant to industry newbies and veterans and reminding us why Australian music is the best in the world.

On the flip side of the patriotic spectrum, we’ll be looking to the States via punk label Fat Wreck Chords, with Californian punk rock band Lagwagon’s Joey Cape and label founder Erin Kelly-Burkett making the journey Down Under to share better words of American wisdom than the guff in Trump’s twitter feed.

After last year’s phenomenal Support Act Mental Health Summit, which culminated in the launch of the Wellness Helpline in June, there’s following it up with an exclusive workshop for delegates.

“This was a major recommendation from the panel discussion at last year’s conference and it couldn’t come at a better time,” Support Act CEO Clive Miller told TMN.

A proactive approach to breaking down the stigma and collectively addressing the mental health issues plaguing the industry, the partnership with Support Act,  Levi’s® and Access EAP will see a practical session lead by trained clinicians.

“The workshop is being specially developed for artists, artist managers and music workers so they can identify the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues, learn how these can be managed, offer help to friends and colleagues in need, and ensure their own self-care,” explains Miller.   

“Employees of corporate organisations in other industries have free access to professional development opportunities that independent music entrepreneurs could only dream of being able to afford,” says QMusic CEO and BIGSOUND producer Joel Edmondson.

“This is a big reason that the music industry is decades behind many other industries in terms of gender equity, mental health, corporate governance and overall people and culture development.

“The evolution of the BIGSOUND conference experience is designed to give delegates exposure to learning experiences that can radically transform how they think, work and relate to other people.”

This year’s BIGSOUND theme is encouraging a hands-on, experiential approach to the conference, continued in this second announcement by a new list of experts who will be running workshops, panels, case studies and forums.

Catch triple j, Double J and Unearthed music directors Nick Findlay, Dorothy Markek and Dave Ruby Howe, US visa expert Brian Zabinski (Tamizat), expat legend and Collab Asia YouTube guru Jerry Soer, indie label organisation A2IM UK’s Sky McElroy, Gusher Magazine’s Juliette Younger and Isabella Trimboli and ex-industry worker-turn-life coach Viv Fantin.

The ever-growing BIGSOUND Music Tech showcase (applications open until July 15, apply here) will include mentors such as Innovyz’s Philip Vafiadis, international funding expert and consultant Paul Niederer and Techstars’ Terry Gold to assist budding startups through business advice and industry connections.

Visit the BIGSOUND website for tickets and more information here.

BIGSOUND 2018 industry speakers and buyers second announcement:

Erin Kelly-Burkett – Fat Wreck Chords (USA) – KEYNOTE

Joey Cape – Lagwagon (USA) – KEYNOTE

Paul Kelly – Himself (AUS) – KEYNOTE

Anna Benefield – Panache Booking LLC (USA)

Blake Rayner – The Orchard (AUS)

Brian Zabinski – Tamizdat (USA)

Brianna Liebling – The Billions Corporation (USA)

Clemence Renaut – ATC Live (FRA)

Dan Rozenblum – 33 And West (USA)

Daniel Sheinberg – Nettwerk Music Group Inc (CAN)

Dave Ruby Howe – triple j (AUS)

Dorothy Markek – ABC – Double J (AUS)

Emilie Davaine – LA Factory by Caramba (FRA)

Emily Roehl – Superfly (USA)

Emma Zillmann – From The Fields (UK)

Isabella Trimboli – Gusher Magazine (AUS)

Jen Pearce – Low Profile (USA)

Jerry Soer – Collab Asia (AUS)

Juliette Younger – Gusher Magazine (AUS)

Karen MacMillan – Universal Music Group (USA)

Kevin Pedersen – WhatsYourRupture? (USA)

Liz Rogers – Brett Oaten Solicitors (AUS)

Nick Findlay – triple j (AUS)

Paul Niederer – Raiseworth Pty Ltd (AUS)

Peta Ellis – River City Labs (AUS)

Philip Vafiadis – Innovyz Institute (AUS)

Rachel Kelly – Downtown (AUS)

Rhianna Patrick – ABC Radio (AUS)

Sky McElroy – A2IM (USA)

Terry Gold – Techstars Adelaide (AUS)

Tom Bownes – Live Nation (UK)

Vanessa Burt – Fat Wreck Chords (USA)

Viv Fantin – Next Act Coaching (AUS)

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

Mardi Caught – The Annex (AUS) – KEYNOTE

Virginia Hanlon Grohl – From Cradle to Stage (USA) – KEYNOTE

Alex Berenson – Vinyl Me, Please (USA)

Alison Rosenfeld – Aperture Music (USA)

Amber Carew – Saddle Creek Records (USA)

Ben Rafson – We Are Free (USA)

Bernie Cho – DFSB (KOR)

Brontë Jane – Third Side Music (USA)

Carlos Lopez Jr. – Domino (USA)

Eric Fritschi – Mtheory (USA)

Fabrizio Onetto – OCESA Seitrack (MEX)

Jessi Frick – Citrine Management (USA)

Joe Greenwald – C3 Management (USA)

Jon Box – Universal Canada (CAN)

Katie Garcia – Secretly Group / Bayonet (USA)

Lucy Pitkethly – Eat Your Own Ears (UK)

Madison McCabe – Hidden Track Music (USA)

Markell Casey – Pulse Music Group (USA)

Nevin Domer – Maybe Mars Music (CHN)

Owen Mallon – Paradigm Talent Agency (USA)

Paul Bridgewater – Line of Best Fit (UK)

Rachel Cox – Sad Grrrls Club (AUS)

Shaun Faulkner – X-Ray Touring (UK)

Tim Luckow – Stem (USA)

Tom Wironen – Friendly Announcer (USA)