ARIA Innovator Workshops Return To Focus On AI & Culture

Six months on from the inaugural events, ARIA Innovator has announced its return for two more special workshops across September and October.

First announced back in October 2024, ARIA Innovator launched with the idea of preparing its attendees for what the music industry has in store for them.

“[We’re] focusing on skills development and upskilling the industry to make sure that it is ready or able to address all of the big challenges that are facing us at the moment and also the big opportunities that we have in front of us,” explained ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd.

Following on from two events back in March, ARIA Innovator has now returned, detailing its second workshops that take place over the coming months.

The first of these is an AI Mastery Workshop, which takes place on September 16th, and sees AI and innovation expert Dr Nici Sweaney returning to deliver hands-on training in artificial intelligence applications for 50 music industry professionals.

Focusing on cutting through the AI hype to understand practical applications, the workshop aims to break down creative barriers while focusing on maintaining human control and learning safe and ethical AI use.

“I’m so excited to be returning to host an ARIA Innovator masterclass,” Dr Sweaney said in a statement. “Australian musicians are already some of the most creative people in the world. With the right tools and ethical frameworks, they can also become world-leading innovators.

“I see this moment as both an opportunity and a moral obligation. If we want a future where culture leads technology, where human expression isn’t lost in the noise, and where Australian creativity stays globally competitive – we need to build that future, now. We need to be involved in shaping the systems, not just using the tools.”

The second of these workshops is a Culture Leadership Masterclass on October 16th, with Dr Marcus Collins returning to discuss culture theory and brand leadership.

Collins has led digital strategies for Beyoncé and worked with Apple and Google. He’s also the former Chief Strategy Officer at Wieden+Kennedy New York, and will guide participants through understanding their tribes, positioning brands to lead culture, and applying the strategies behind some of the world's most successful cultural movements.

"The inaugural ARIA Innovator proved there's genuine hunger for world-class professional development in Australian music,” Herd said in a statement. “These masterclasses take that conversation deeper, giving participants direct access to expertise that has shaped global culture and technology.

"We're talking about learning from the strategist behind Beyoncé's digital dominance and an AI pioneer who's defining how technology will transform creativity. These are rare opportunities for our local industry to learn from minds operating at the absolute pinnacle of their fields."

Both events take place at The Gunnery in Woolloomooloo, with strictly-limited spaces requiring advance registration. Full details of the event and its registration details are available via the ARIA Innovator website.