BIGSOUND 2019 Speaker Focus: Koo Abuali

Position/Title: Founder at FireWire Music Supervisor

How did you first become involved in the music industry and how did you end up where you are today? I was a professional singer, but I also had a university degree in business (I'm currently studying for a Juris Doctor). When I was in my 20s I travelled around the world, landing in New York, and then launched my career in the music biz.

What's been the biggest change in the music industry you've seen over the past 12 months? There's a lot more music out there but less opportunities for the majority of artists to make a liveable income. 

What do you think will be the biggest issue affecting the music industry in the next 12 months and why? Finding more opportunities to generate an income from your creative pursuits. 

What advice would you give young practitioners in your area starting out today? Diversify!

What will you be primarily discussing during your appearance at the BIGSOUND conference and what are you hoping that people will be able to learn from your panel? I'll be discussing music supervision and running a workshop on how to understand the industry and make it work for you - to create long-term income streams. I feel it's very important to understand the business side of the industry if you're going to work in it. 

When and where is your panel? 4 Sep, What Is Music Supervision?, Cellar, Cloudland, 11.15am; 5 Sep, Supervisionary Supervision, Heritage Room, Cloudland, 4.15pm.