Jess Willoughby (Fair Play Report Research Leader and Author, WAM)
How did you first become involved in the music business and how did you end up where you are today? I'd always been a writer from a young age. But it transitioned from angsty teenage zines about love, puberty, punk and other stuff to something more mature when I graduated with a journalism degree and started up my own music and arts weekly liftout at the Geraldton Guardian, the first newspaper I worked at when I was a cadet. Since then, my passion for the heavier side of music has grown and has seen me write for Drum Media (now The Music), X-Press, The West, Sunday Times, Vice Mag, CVLT Nation and many, many more.
What's been the biggest change in the music business you've seen over the past 12 months? Gender representation. It's interesting and inspiring to see it finally getting the attention it deserves.
What do you think will be the biggest issue affecting the music industry in the next 12 months and why? Seeing that attention being translated into real life action and positive change towards gender parity.
What advice would you give young practitioners in your area starting out today? Talk to people doing what you want to do. Be present, engaged and open to learning. And, above all, question everything.
What's the secret to success in the music industry? Know your shit, always seek further knowledge and be honest about what you want from the industry.
What will you be primarily discussing during your appearance at the WAMCon? I will be chatting about the Fair Play report. Spearheaded by WAM chief executive Mike Harris, this research report will be the first of its kind in WA and will investigate issues surrounding gender representation in the local music industry.
What are you hoping that people will be able to learn from your panel/interview? We just want to fill the WA music community in on all the basics to do with the report. We're also launching a series of surveys' in line with WAMFest, with the results to be published in the report itself. All the juicy details will be revealed in our WAMcon interview.
What do you personally hope to take away from your time at WAMCon? I'm just out there to meet new and interesting representatives from the broader national and international music community and pick their brains.
Which acts are you most looking forward to checking out at WAMFest? Literally all of them. No sleep 'til the end of WAMFest!
Check out the WAMCon website for all the details.
