BIGSOUND 2019 Speaker Focus: Tara Medina

Position/Title: Director at Strawberry Fields

How did you first become involved in the music industry and how did you end up where you are today? My first music job was writing for inthemix a long time ago. It wasn't paid so barely counts, but I did meet lots of folks and started promoting events before launching our own. A few small events led to a small and loosely organised camping festival. The rest is history. 

What's been the biggest change in the music industry you've seen over the past 12 months? The way we use social media. No longer just a tool for finding, sharing and talking about music and events, it's become the main facilitator for callout culture. That's great when truly awful deeds are exposed or questioned but often it seems to get nasty, even ruining careers. 

What do you think will be the biggest issue affecting the music industry in the next 12 months and why? Sustainability. Fans, in particular young people, put the musicians and the events they love on a pedestal. The world is also increasingly concerned about climate change. Pressure will mount for the industry to show what we are doing about it – token gestures are unlikely to suffice. 

What advice would you give young practitioners in your area starting out today? Don't go to university to get into the industry – focus on getting involved in a practical way any way you can. Volunteer, write for blogs/magazines, start your own, etc. Forming relationships will open more doors than a piece of paper.

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? Health and safety at events and why it shouldn't be treated any differently to health and safety in any other part of our society. Our responses should be informed by data, designed to deliver real results, and delivered with compassion. People will be able to learn the real hurdles stopping this approach from being implemented, and a bit of the psychology as to why.  

Which acts are on your must-see list at BIGSOUND and why? Gordon Koang – we're so lucky to have transplants from all around the world in Australia and hear their stories and sounds. 

When and where is your BIGSOUND panel? 5 Sep, Health And Safety: Music’s Long-Needed Wake-Up Call, Alice Room, Cloudland, 2.15pm.