BIGSOUND Reveals 2025 Conference Co-Programmers

Big news out of the BIGSOUND camp today, with the music festival and conference event today announcing its new Conference Programmers, a skilled pair joining forces for the prestigious role in 2025.

Cathy Oates (of Original Matters) and Niriko McLure (of Third Person Management) will be BIGSOUND’s Conference Co-Programmers, replacing the departing Tom Larkin after his impressive seven-year tenure.

Oates, the Artist Manager and Founder of Original Matters signed Angus & Julia Stone in 2006 and Dean Lewis in 2017. In a statement, Oates said of her new appointment: “BIGSOUND has always been an essential date in the calendar for me, not only attending whilst my artists performed but as a major networking event and a lot of condensed fun.

“To undertake this role with Niriko is an exciting proposition, each having different vaults within the music world to draw influence from. We both thrive on catching up with industry people from all walks of life, therefore the role is an extension of what we do already.

“I also wanted to say a big thank you to Tom Larkin for faithfully handing over the Baton. Joining Katie [Rynne] and Casey [O'Shaughnessy] and the wider BIGSOUND team will be an opportunity to collectively do great things!”

McLure, the Artist Manager and Creative Producer at Third Person Management, has held senior positions within the music industry in management, label, publishing, music tech, policy, and event investments. She’s worked with the likes of Matt Corby and 5 Seconds Of Summer and has experience in national and global festivals like Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, Splendour In The Grass, and more.

McLure said of the BIGSOUND role, "I'm so excited to take on this role with Cathy. BIGSOUND provides access to knowledge and connection, which is so important to keep a dynamic and thriving music culture. Casey, Katie, the QMusic team and the music business community, I can’t wait to work with you next year as we help create spaces to exchange conversations and share ideas with all those making great music, unforgettable songs and experiences possible.”

Welcoming Oates and McLure, QMusic Director of Programming Mandi McIntyre said, “We are thrilled at BIGSOUND to welcome Niriko McLure and Cathy Oates to the team. The role of the BIGSOUND Conference programmer has an unbroken legacy of creating timely and pivotal conversations which reflect and translate the heartbeat of the music industry on an annual basis.

“Never has this been more important, and as such, Cathy and Niriko’s combined extensive global experience and networks, along with deep roots planted in our local industry arrive at BIGSOUND at the perfect juncture. We, the BIGSOUND team, are incredibly excited to work with Cathy and Niriko alongside our advisory groups and music co-programmers to help shape the future landscape of Australian music, both here and abroad.”

BIGSOUND 2024 kicks off next week (Tuesday, 3, to Friday, 6 September) and has launched the app for this year’s event in the iOS and Android systems so delegates can best plan their BIGSOUND week.