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The Great Escape confirms first keynote & speakers

UK music business conference The Great Escape (TGE) has unveiled the first keynote and featured speakers for its 2025 edition.

Scheduled for Brighton from 14-17 May, the programme will focus on industry topics such as fair compensation, AI, sustainability, UK counterculture, the cost of touring, and how independent artists can create a sustainable career in music.

Rizzle Kicks’ Jordan Stephens is the first keynote conversation to be announced. The musician, actor and writer will discuss his career and the evolving music industry landscape in an interview with BBC Introducing DJ Abbie McCarthy on Saturday 17 May.

“I’m buzzing to be part of The Great Escape’s conference this year,” says Stephens. “Music has always been my foundation, but my career has taken me down so many unexpected paths – from acting to writing to mental health advocacy. Sitting down with Abbie to unpack that journey and celebrate the grassroots movements that are keeping this industry alive is going to be something special.”

Another onstage conversation will feature broadcaster, footballer and DJ Pat Nevin and his long-time friend, Cocteau Twins member and Bella Union founder Simon Raymonde.

Hosted by DJ, broadcaster and music journalist Georgie Rogers, Nevin will share his passion for music and fandom, while Raymonde will talk through his career and new book In One Ear: Cocteau Twins, Ivor Raymonde and Me.

“TGE has also confirmed the return of the Steve Strange Award, in memory of the legendary agent, with the recipient receiving a £5,000 cash prize”

Elsewhere, leading music analyst and MIDiA Research founder Mark Mulligan will explore the latest trends in streaming, creator economies and market insights, while Songkick’s head of product Jordan Gemli will share insights on music discovery and fan engagement on the platform.

In addition, SoundCloud’s industry relations manager Hope Hale will host SoundCloud School, a deep dive into how artists can maximise their presence on the platform and PPL will present its PPL Licensing Masterclass, exploring the intricacies of rights and royalties.

Further workshops will come from Audio Network, Pollstar, The Spanish Wave, Brainchild Creative Studio, Ticketmaster New Music, Climate Live and AudioActive, Music Support, with other featured speakers to include BBC Radio 1 presenter Jodie Bryant; ATC Live agent Sarah Joy; Elspeth Merry, founder of PR agency Artists’ Way; NTIA CEO Michael Kill and Youth Music’s NextGen community producer Talia Andrea.

Also confirmed are the leaders of all the member organisations of the Council of Music Makers: Gee Davy (Association of Independent Music), Naomi Pohl (Musicians’ Union), Roberto Neri (The Ivors Academy), David Martin (Featured Artists Coalition), Annabella Coldrick (CEO, Music Managers Forum), and Cameron Craig (Music Producers Guild).

TGE has also confirmed the return of the Steve Strange Award, in memory of the legendary agent, with the recipient receiving a £5,000 cash prize. In 2024, the prize went to Faroese experimental rap-punk band Aggrasoppar, with this year’s winner to be revealed following the event on 19 May.

Delegate passes are available now, priced £282.

 


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FOCUS Wales dedicated to ‘healthier future for music’

FOCUS Wales, the country’s largest music industry event, returns to Wrexham between 8–10 May.

The conference and showcase event brings together over 400 industry professionals and more than 250 artists from across the globe.

This year’s conference is dedicated to building a healthier future for music, exploring evolving best practices, artist well-being, sustainable industry growth, and fostering a more equitable landscape for both performers and industry professionals.

Neil Ingham, executive director of Samaritans, will open Focus Wales 2025 with a keynote on the transformative impact of deep, empathetic listening in suicide prevention. Cardiff University will return to share updates on Prosiect Pūtahitanga, reflecting on music and language connections between Cymru and Aotearoa, alongside a visiting delegation from New Zealand.

Another session, led by PPL, will examine evolving priorities for labels, artists and their teams, weighing the balance between data-driven strategies and more traditional, fan-focused campaigns. Speakers will include Katherine Cantwell (Heavenly Recordings), Brad Kulisic (Lambrini Girls/Pigsx7), and Joe Howden (Dark Arts Digital). Meanwhile, Meg Devereux (Marshall) will be joined by Nova Twins and Henca Maduro (New Skool Rules Festival) to explore ways to better support grassroots musicians in building sustainable, long-term careers.

LIVE, meanwhile, will host a panel exploring what it takes for artists to break through to headliner status in 2025 and beyond, with insights from Nicklas Damkjær (Roskilde), Dev Sherlock (SXSW), Connor Cupples (Crosstown Promotions), Megan Evans (Deer Shed Festival), and Beckie Sugden (CAA Agency).

This year’s conference is dedicated to exploring evolving best practices, artist well-being, sustainable industry growth and more

British Council Wales will lead a discussion on the role of showcasing in fostering peaceful cultural exchange, with contributions from Ísleifur Thorhallsson (Iceland Airwaves), Alona Dmukhovska (Music Export Ukraine), Cecilia Soojeong Yi (DMZ Peace Train Festival), Asifuzzaman Khan (Dhaka International Folk Festival), and Login Kochishki (PIN Conference).

The Music Venue Trust will host a hands-on workshop to help attendees articulate their ethical values and demonstrate social responsibility — key factors in securing funding and building a resilient, future-proof industry. In addition, a series of panels and workshops will be presented by leading industry organisations such as PRS Foundation, PRS for Music, Sound Roots, Beacons Cymru and Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, alongside the festival’s new media partner, IQ magazine.

Beyond the conference, FOCUS Wales will facilitate international partner showcases hosted by M for Montreal, BreakOut West, Nova Scotia Music Week, Catalan Arts, Spanish Wave, CNM France, Westside Music (Sweden), Way Up North (Denmark), Wide Days (Scotland), and more to be announced.

Among the guests heading to Wrexham this May are KEXP’s Senior Programming Advisor & Variety Mix DJ/Host Kevin Cole, journalist and podcaster Mark Sutherland, Jose Marihno and Caroline Thiévent from Radio France Internationale (RFI), Jean-Louis Brossard, co-founder of the legendary French festival Transmusicales, Michel Attia, Head of Bookings and Events at Austrian national radio station FM4, Paola Wescher, director of booking at Last Tour PT and founder of Latina in Brazil, and Anne Runge, a curator and promoter who programmes Northern Germany’s acclaimed Fusion and at.tension festivals.

The FOCUS Wales industry conference will take place alongside the festival’s 250+ strong lineup of artists performing across 20 stages in Wrexham city centre over the three-day event.

Delegate passes are on sale now via focuswales.com. Passes grant access to all conference events, private networking sessions, the pre-festival showcase, the online delegate database, and all live performances with priority entry.

 


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Bridge Conference unveils first wave of speakers

Bridge has unveiled the first wave of speakers for its inaugural conference, set to take place this May on the Adriatic coast of Croatia.

Presented by Serbia’s EXIT Festival and a board composed of some of the top European music executives, Bridge is aiming to become the leading event at the intersection of the music and tech industries.

Among the first confirmed speakers for the exclusive event are Folkert Koopmans (CEO, FKP Scorpio), Maria May (Head of electronic, CAA), Indira Paganotto (DJ, Producer, and Founder, ARTCORE), Matthias Strobel (President, MusicTech Germany), Steve Hogan (Senior Agent, WME) and Greg Parmley (Head, ILMC).

Also joining the speaker lineup are Cindy Castillo (Deputy Director, Mad Cool), Juan Arnau (Founder & CEO, Elrow), Dušan Kovačević (Co-Founder and CEO, EXIT), Julie Pilat (CGO, FYI.AI, and former Apple Music exec), Ivan Milivojev (Co-Founder, EXIT), Turo Pekari (Founder, MusicTech Finland), Ruud Berends (Co-Founder and Head of Agenda, IFF), Nick Mathews (Senior Agent, Wasserman Music), Jess Kinn (Senior Agent, One Fiinix Live) and more.

“This is where future-defining partnerships are forged, where innovation meets opportunity”

“We are delighted to unveil the first wave of incredible speakers for the Bridge Conference,” says Jennifer Cochrane, CEO of Bridge Conference.

“This is where future-defining partnerships are forged, where innovation meets opportunity, and where the Adriatic coastline provides the perfect setting for both business and creativity to thrive.”

In addition the exploring the future of the music industry, the conference will also explore how technology is reshaping live entertainment.

Leading tech pioneers and companies will contribute to discussions on the latest technologies in the space like AI, blockchain, and Web3, highlighting their impact on industry growth. Attendees will gain insider insights, forge strategic partnerships, and uncover new income streams in an environment built for meaningful interactions.

Bridge will take place between 20–22 May at the five-star Kempinski Hotel in Istria, a Croatian region renowned for its rich history, culture, and world-class gastronomy. For passes, packages and more information, visit Bridge Conference.

EXIT founder & director Dušan Kovačević recently spoke to IQ and Yourope’s European Festival Report ahead of the event’s 25th anniversary edition. Read the full interview here.

 


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ILMC 37: Industry leaders join bumper programme

The countdown is on to the 37th International Live Music Conference, with a raft of new speakers joining the conference’s largest-ever programme.

The leading gathering of international live music executives will return to London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel between 25-28 February, with around 2,500 professionals expected to attend.

With five weeks to go, executives from FKP Scorpio, AEG Presents, Live Nation, Oak View Group and ASM Global have joined the speaker line-up.

FKP Scorpio’s Folkert Koopmans joins The Open Forum on Wednesday 26 February, while FKP’s Rauha Kyyrö is set to chair Ethics & Activism: Adapting to artist and fan views.

Festival Formats: Survive & thrive sees Alex Bruford from ATC Live take the chair, and Kelly Stelbasky from AEG Presents joins Pricing the Ticket: Balancing expectations.

The Venue’s Venue adds Tom Lynch from Live Nation EMEA, and Marie Lindqvist from ASM Global takes the chair for Wellness vs The Industry. The speaker lineup so far can be found here.

As previously announced, Superstruct co-founder James Barton will be the Hotseat interview for ILMC 37.

This year’s ILMC ushers in a new-look, refreshed programme, with session formats that range from question times to fan focus groups and panels to keynotes.

This year’s ILMC ushers in a new-look, refreshed programme, with session formats that range from question times to fan focus groups and panels to keynotes

A new element of the conference is Middle East Live supported by OVG, which will comprise two dedicated sessions on the rapidly expanding region: a state-of-the-nation review and a venue focus.

Other new additions to the programme include Question Time, which will see top industry leaders tackle questions submitted by conference delegates, and Meet The Fans – a fan focus group that gives the industry a chance to hear directly from regular gig-goers.

The Arthur Awards 2025 and the Gala Dinner will return on Thursday 27 February, with just a handful of tickets left.

Similarly, tickets for the third edition of London Calling – now rebranded as Soho Calling – are flying off the shelf. The showcase event takes place on Wednesday 26 February, bringing together over 20 exciting emerging artists to six of Soho’s iconic stages: The 100 Club, 21Soho, The Lower Third (presented by DIY Magazine), Phoenix Arts Club, The Social, and The Forge.

Performers include Tom Aspaul (UK), Monster Florence (UK), Giift (DK), Bluai (BE), Kai Bosch (UK), Lola Moxom (UK), Punchbag (UK) and Really Good Time (IE).

Also taking place on Wednesday 26 February is Touring Entertainment LIVE, which will offer a full day of big-brand live entertainment, exhibitions and touring family shows. The Greener Events and Innovations (GEI) Conference will tackle sustainability in the live sector throughout Tuesday 25 February and Futures Forum will offer a programme geared towards young and early-career live music professionals on Friday 28 February.

Key partners on ILMC 37 include Live Nation, Ticketmaster, CTS Eventim, ASM Global, Tysers Live, BWO Entertainment, AXS, Showsec, DEAG & LMP Group.

 


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ESNS concludes ‘phenomenal’ 39th edition

Organisers of ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) have hailed a “phenomenal” 39th edition of the annual showcase festival and conference, which wrapped up on Saturday (18 January).

The four-day event returned to the Dutch city of Groningen last week with 40,000 professionals and music fans in attendance.

More than 300 European acts from 33 countries demonstrated their talents during the sold-out showcase festival, while 500+ industry professionals took part in panel discussions, workshops and keynotes.

Though the festival programme has traditionally been staged in venues across the city, this year’s edition saw showcases in de Oosterpoort, the main conference centre, for the first time on Wednesday (15 January).

Oosterpoort also hosted the 14th edition of the European Festival Awards, which honoured the likes of Open’er, Hellfest, EXIT and Montreux Jazz.

“The diversity of European music was brilliantly showcased at ESNS25”

Elsewhere, the conference programme focused on topics such as the impact of AI on the music industry, the future of streaming, achieving sustainability goals for festivals by 2030, the fairness of dynamic pricing, tech innovations, the effect of private equity on business, and the devastating impact of rising costs and lack of personnel in the live music industry.

Keynote sessions saw Wasserman Music’s Alex Hardee discuss his illustrious 33-year career and Katie Melua and her manager Sumit Bothra (SB3 Artist Management) tackle parenthood in the music industry.

“ESNS25 has once again proved that music is both our cultural heartbeat and an investment that pays dividends,” says Anna van Nunen, managing director of ESNS.

“Across Groningen this week, from intimate venue showcases to major performances at De Oosterpoort’s main stage, and through inspiring sessions at the ESNS Conference, we’ve seen how our European music ecosystem thrives when properly supported – connecting grassroots venues with international talent agents, major festivals with sustainability experts, and emerging talent with industry professionals. To maintain this momentum, we must support the fundamentals: the rehearsal spaces, the small venues, and the talent development programmes across Europe. ESNS continues to show that when we invest in music’s foundations, we create both cultural and economic prosperity.”

Programme director Robert Meijerink adds: “The diversity of European music was brilliantly showcased at ESNS25. We witnessed outstanding performances from Daniela Pes, Big Mama and Bassolino from our Focus country Italy, MRCY (uk), Sylvie Kreusch (be), Maquina (pt), Meule (fr), CVC (uk), Personal Trainer (nl) and Kosmonauci (pl) among many others. It’s especially exciting to see artists like Music Moves Europe Awards winners YAMÊ (France), Judeline (Spain) Kingfishr (ire), Naomi Sharon (nl), Night Tapes (ee), Uche Yara and nominees like Loverman (be), Woomb (bg) and Zimmer 90 (de) breaking through internationally.”

 


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Futures Forum unveils first dozen speakers for 2025

ILMC Futures Forum, the leading conference for the next generation of live music industry leaders, has confirmed the first dozen speakers and moderators for 2025.

The fifth annual instalment of the gathering will again take place at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 28 February 2025 – the final day of its renowned parent event, the International Live Music Conference (ILMC).

ASM Global’s programming director Europe Anna Sjölund is among the first raft of speaker confirmations. She joins previously announced chair Jess Kinn of One Fiinix Live on Rob My Job, a session centred on the journies of industry professionals and advice they can impart to the next class of leaders.

The ‘Real’ World Tour session will see AEG Presents’ VP/GM of international touring Connie Shao take the helm, where she’ll lead panellists through several financially viable international markets where the business looks to expand.

Caroline Reason, director of London-based MATA Agency, will lead Show Me The Money: Alternative Revenue Streams. The session will bring together executives from left-of-live fields like concert films, corporate events, VIP (meet & greets), and the brand space.

Passes are available for the next edition of ILMC Futures Forum

Goodlive Artists’ booker Kedist Bezabih joins chair Julia Frank, Wizard Live head of booking, on Festival Forum: New Booking Strategies. Panellists will cover the many considerations when booking festival lineups, and how to stay competitive in the global marketplace.

And on the opening session Meet The New Bosses: Class of 2025, MOJO Concerts’ booker and promoter Gerbine Ulehake and Primary Talent International agent Dotun Bolaji join chair Matt Hanner founder and booker Runway Artists. The annual session sees the latest class of New Bosses reflect on their journeys, including breakthrough moments, career highlights, and invaluable mentors.

Previously announced chairs include Maz Tappuni (Communion ONE) on The Venue Evolution, leading the discussion on how venues will transform in the near future; Meera Patel (WME) on Tour Marketing: The Industry’s Secret Weapon, where tour marketers demystify their roles; and Alice Hogg (ATC Live) for Now That’s What I Call 2025, the music-sharing session where executives reveal what acts they’ve got their money on.

Passes are available for the next edition of ILMC Futures Forum here, with group discounts available.

 


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ILMC unveils largest-ever programme for 2025

The International Live Music Conference (ILMC) has unveiled its largest-ever programme for the 37th edition, which will take place at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel between 25-28 February 2025.

In the new-look, refreshed programme, session formats range from question times to fan focus groups and panels to keynotes.

New additions to the programme include Question Time, which will see top industry leaders tackle questions submitted by conference delegates, and Meet The Fans – a fan focus group that gives the industry a chance to hear directly from regular gig-goers.

Another new element, Middle East Live supported by OVG, will comprise two dedicated sessions on the rapidly expanding region: a state of the nation review and a venue focus.

As previously announced, Superstruct co-founder James Barton will be the Hotseat interview for ILMC 37, while other conference topics across the three-day event include ethics & activism, marketing, the arena market, festival formats, electronic music, fan data tools, wellness, a series of genre spotlight sessions, and a workshop programme including live music insurance, green riders, visas and programming gender-balanced events.

“We have gone back to first principles this year and completely refreshed the conference agenda”

Session chairs include Emma Banks (CAA), Rauha Kyyrö (FKP Scorpio), Sally Dunstone (Primary Talent International), Marie Lindqvist (ASM Global), Dan Steinberg (Emporium Presents), Tom Zaller (Imagine Exhibitions) and Clementine Bunel (Wasserman Music).

“We have gone back to first principles this year and completely refreshed the conference agenda, ensuring that we continue to deliver on ILMC’s core mission of being the premier place for the international live music business to discuss its most important issues,” says head of ILMC Greg Parmley.

“It’s the biggest ILMC agenda yet, and we’re excited to deliver the new sessions and formats in February.”

Running alongside the core ILMC programme, Touring Entertainment LIVE will offer a full day of big-brand live entertainment, exhibitions and touring family shows on Wednesday 26 February, and the Greener Events and Innovations (GEI) Conference will tackle sustainability in the live sector throughout Tuesday 25 February.

Friday at ILMC runs as Futures Forum, with an additional delegation of young and early-career live music professionals invited to attend sessions on festival booking, emerging markets, tour marketing, alternative revenue streams and more.

Key partners on ILMC 37 include Live Nation, Ticketmaster, CTS Eventim, ASM Global, Tysers Live, BWO Entertainment, AXS, Showsec, DEAG & LMP Group.

Over 2,500 live music professionals will take part in the 2025 ILMC programme, with full details available at 37.ilmc.com.

Further sessions will be announced in the coming weeks.

 


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Canadian Music Week reimagined after buyout

Canadian Music Week has been completely rehauled after Oak View Group (OVG) and Loft Entertainment jointly acquired it earlier this year.

Founded in 1983 by Neill Dixon, the Toronto-based event is Canada’s leading industry conference and music festival.

Following the acquisition, it has been reimagined under the new name Departure Festival + Conference and expanded to include music, art, comedy and technology.

The event will also debut an enriched programme including a songwriter showcase, comedy performances and an enhanced culinary experience with boutique food trucks and outdoor activations.

In the near future, the programming will include film and fashion, according to the announcement made by OVG and Loft in Toronto yesterday (13 November).

The announcement says the new event will include live performances, thought-provoking panels and the return of Radiodays North America Conference.

“Departure honours where we’ve come from and celebrates where we are going”

Furthermore, the annual event will be moved forward from its usual spot in June to 6–11 May. Next year’s event will take place at Hotel X in Toronto.

“Departure honours where we’ve come from and celebrates where we are going,” Loft executive producer Kevin Barton said in the announcement. “We’re creating a launchpad that opens doors to deeper, more inclusive conversations and showcases the richness of Toronto’s cultural scene, celebrates Canadian creatives, and welcomes global artists. We invite industry professionals, music and arts lovers and festival-goers to experience the event in a whole new way.”

CMW was launched in 1983 by David Farrell and his wife Patricia Dunn-Farrell–then co-publishers of the weekly Canadian music trade, The Record. It began as The Record Music Industry Conference and was modelled on competitor RPM Weekly’s “Three Days in March” conferences in the late ‘60s and ‘70s.

Dixon’s marketing company Chart Toppers was initially hired in 1983 to book speakers, and organise panels for the annual event. Over the next few years, the convention morphed into Canadian Music Week, and Dixon became a co-partner a couple of years after it began.

This year’s CMW drew some 3,000 delegates and hosted over 300 performing artists at 25 venues.

OVG, the Los Angeles-based venue development, management and hospitality company led by Tim Leiweke, made its first foray into Canada in 2021 with the Hamilton Arena Project, which recently broke ground.

Loft Entertainment is a Canadian entertainment company helmed by industry veteran Randy Lennox, who formerly ran Universal Music Group Canada and Bell Media.

 


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ILMC Futures Forum gears up for fifth edition

ILMC Futures Forum, the biggest gathering of young and emerging professionals working in the international live music industry, is returning for a fifth edition in 2025.

The one-day conference will take place at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on Friday 28 February 2025, the final day of the International Live Music Conference (ILMC).

More than 500 executives, including ILMC delegates, will explore the evolution of the live music business during the biggest-ever edition of Futures Forum.

Attendees can expect non-traditional conference formats, dynamic discussions, immersive workshops, mentoring opportunities, and TED-style ‘Soapbox’ presentations by thought leaders.

The agenda will once again be steered by a council comprising some of the brightest minds in the business, alongside affiliated associations, the ILMC agenda team and the IQ editorial team.

The 2025 flagship will capitalise on the success of Futures Forum’s 2024 satellite events, which included an artist development workshop hosted alongside MMF and a series of Soapbox Sessions curated alongside LIVE.

More than 500 executives will explore the evolution of the live music business during the biggest-ever edition of Futures Forum

Futures Forum has taken place in 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2024 featuring keynote interviews with Dua Lipa and her father Dugi, Team Mumford & Sons (Lucy Dickins, Ben Lovett and Adam Tudhope), Wasserman Music’s Marty Diamond and and Team Kilimanjaro Live (Stuart Galbraith, San Phillips and Alan Day).

The 2024 edition of Futures Forum included speakers such as Connie Shao (AEG Presents), Holly Rowland (Wasserman Music), Marc Saunders (The O2), Beckie Sugden (CAA), Sally Dunstone (Primary Talent), Vlad Yaremchuk (Atlas Festival), Niklas Magedanz (Goodlive Artists) and Kerem Turgut (All Things Live).

Futures Forum takes place as part of ILMC, which runs from 25-28 February 2025 at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel.

The 37th edition will welcome around 2,500 live professionals to explore ‘current’ affairs, plumb the depths of the business, and chart the new waves of headliners, as they navigate the ever-changing seas of the live music industry.

Passes for Futures Forum 2025 start from £149 + VAT. For more information or to buy tickets, click here.

 


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International Music Summit launches IMS Dubai

The International Music Summit (IMS) is expanding to the UAE with the inaugural edition of IMS Dubai.

Supported by partners AlphaTheta and Beatport, the electronic music conference is set for 14-15 November at W Hotel Dubai – Mina Seyahi in response to the growing importance of the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region.

The two-day summit will bring together  artists, thought leaders and industry stakeholders to explore the intersection of music, finance, culture and technology in the territory.

Created in 2007, the flagship IMS Ibiza welcomed 1,500 delegates from 54 countries across three days this year, alongside 159 speakers and 208 press attendees at an event hosted by BBC Radio 1 broadcasters Pete Tong and Jaguar.

The Dubai event continues IMS’ tradition of hosting international spin-offs, with previous events held in Los Angeles (IMS Engage), Shanghai and Singapore (IMS China and IMS Asia-Pacific) and Malta (IMS College).

“To make a global impact, IMS seeks to be where change is happening, which is why we’ve also hosted three editions of IMS Asia Pacific in Shanghai and one in Singapore, five IMS Engage events in Los Angeles, and three IMS College events in Malta,” say the IMS founders. “IMS Dubai will debut in the United Arab Emirates, marking a strategic expansion into the Middle East and North Africa. IMS, majority owned by Beatport, will not receive government or cultural funding or incentives for this initiative.

“Our goal is to inspire continued growth, support, and investment while addressing the unique cultural challenges musicians and start-ups face”

“Our goal is to inspire continued growth, support, and investment while addressing the unique cultural challenges musicians and start-ups face. Electronic music culture is built on long standing principles of bringing people together from diverse backgrounds on the dancefloor. Music has the power to unify and we all have a part to play in creating safer spaces for all; a principle that IMS and Beatport proudly stand behind.”

The first confirmed speakers include Maha ElNabawi (Billboard Arabia), Aloki Batra (Five Hospitality & The Pacha Group), Janet Ashak, (YouTube MENA) and Karima Damir (Warner Music ME) and Salam Kmeid (Anghami). In addition, Tomorrowland will present its Terra Solis venture in Dubai.

Artist speakers include Deep Dish, Abdell Rahman, Saliah,  Yas Meen Selectress, Cosmicat and Parvané, as well as producer Stryv, who will be interviewed by IMS co-founder Pete Tong.

IMS Dubai will also host a series of exclusive evening events featuring local and international talent, with the summit to culminate with a closing celebration at Dubai venue Hive, Soho Garden.

Badges will go on sale on Thursday (19 September) priced from dh435 (€107) with discounted badges available for full time students, under 27s and People of Determination priced from d215 (€53).

 


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