CAST (Centre For Arts, Sports & Technology)BIGSOUND and CAST (Centre for Arts, Sports & Technology) continue their multi-year partnership, with BIGSOUND unveiling the operation for its Ideas & Innovation Hub taking place at this year’s industry conference.
Once again, the hub serves as a dedicated conference space for members of the music industry, educators, and technology and government stakeholders to explore ideas about the future of Australian music.
In 2026, CAST and BIGSOUND will co-program the Technology Stream of the Ideas & Innovation Hub, building on last year’s first-ever Tech Showcase. Together, the organisations will curate speakers and conversations appearing at this year’s Showcase.
This week, it was announced that Emmy Award-winning composer, author, investor, and technologist Lucas Cantor Santiago is the first speaker in the Technology Stream. Having worked with Lorde and holding production and composition credits for events such as Olympic broadcasts and Super Bowl campaigns, his appearance is a coup for BIGSOUND.
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“I’ve travelled around the world speaking about AI in the creative industries and, more importantly, listening,” said Lucas Cantor Santiago. He continued, “The more I’ve learned about AI, the less I’ve come to view it as an existential threat to music and musicians.
“Our role as artists won’t change much — we need to do what we’ve always done: use the tools at our disposal to share stories and move audiences. I look forward to attending BIGSOUND, learning how Australians feel about the future of creativity and to share my own perspectives.”
CAST and BIGSOUND will also present a Startup Showcase this September. Applications are now open for startups amongst creator tools, live events, fan engagement, and more.
The selection committee for the Showcase includes industry figures such as Vanessa Picken (TEG), Drew Thurlow (Adjunct Professor, Berklee College of Music; Investor, Mindset Music Tech Fund), Sophie Robertson (Partner, TEN13), and Yvan Boudillet (Founder, Music Innovation Consulting).
Applications for interested startups close on Thursday, 24 July, at 12 pm EST. You can find more information about applying here.
Gav Parry, General Manager of CAST, said of the company’s ongoing partnership with BIGSOUND, “We’re back for our second year with BIGSOUND, excited to expand our partnership. Supporting tech programming that reflects what’s happening locally and internationally is an incredible opportunity to contribute to the conversation on technology’s role in the future of creativity.
“For us, it’s about bringing the industry into these conversations — not talking about them, but with them, from a place of curiosity about what things could look like five years from now. Our hope is that this programming invites open conversation about how collaboration between music and technology can create the best possible version of the industry.”
BIGSOUND returns to the Fortitude Valley from Tuesday, 1 to Friday, 4 September. More announcements are on the way, but the industry conference and music showcase has already locked in performers, international guests, and musicians for the Artists In Conversation line-up.
