BIGSOUND: Scott Fitzsimons

Business: theMusic.com.au

Position/Title: Editor

How did you first become involved in the music business? I hung around the office doing for work for free until they agreed to start paying me so I could drop out of uni.

What is your area of expertise, and how did you gain experience in this field? The correlation between the consumption of whisky and the heightened enjoyment of country music. Also, the wider music industry.

Is this your first BIGSOUND? Nope – my fourth-ish in a row, I’m addicted.

What will you be primarily discussing during your appearance at the BIGSOUND conference? Country music – what we can do as an industry to make sure the genre’s not alienated and that the talent (which it so obviously has) receives the right support. How can we improve the existing structures.

What are you hoping that people will be able to learn from your panel/interview? That discussing issues in the country music scene is a healthy thing and not an attack. Also, that country music is the greatest music genre in the world.

What are you expecting to take away yourself from your visit to BIGSOUND? Opportunities, new friends, old friends and a hangover.