WAM Festival: Larry Heath

Business/Position: Editor in Chief, the AU review

Tell us about how you first became involved in the music business and where you are now? I created the online publication the AU review as a side project to another business I was running. It took on a life of its own and now six years later it’s my full time job, seeing me travel the world, discovering incredible music and meeting my heroes. Life gets a lot worse than this... though it’s definitely a job all the same.

Is this your first WA Music Conference? My first and only WAM trip came in 2010. I found it not only a great networking opportunity (with excellent panels), but it gave me real insight into the WA music scene. There’s such an incredible and eclectic scene that happens here; it’s a shame I haven’t been able to get over more often to take it all in.  

What will you be primarily discussing during your appearance at the WA Music Conference, and why is this area important? I’ll be moderating a panel on networking at international conferences; there are few more important skills to develop, especially in an industry as social as the music industry. It’s rarely about ‘what’ you know, as they say. I’ll also be speaking on a panel about trends in digital promotion, which is something everyone in the music industry needs to be on top of!

What are you expecting to take away from your WAM Festival visit? I’m hoping to discover some great new Perth and WA bands!

One piece of advice to help others succeed in the music industry? If you’re passionate about something, people eventually take notice. Sometimes it takes longer than it does for others, but keep at it long enough, and keep hold of that passion, and great things will happen. I’ve seen it time and time again.