POWER 50 2025: Blake Rayner (The Orchard)

BACKGROUND CHECK:

A driving force in the Australian music industry for more than 20 years, Blake Rayner has worked across marketing strategy, business development, artist management, A&R, and touring in both the domestic and international markets. With roles at Secret Sounds and Dew Process Recordings on his resumé, Blake joined The Orchard in 2018, where he now sits as VP of Australia and New Zealand.

Since then, Blake has overseen significant regional expansion, growing a two-person operation into a full-scale, 14-member team across Sydney and Auckland. 

THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIAN MUSIC:

Over the past year, Blake has continued to drive The Orchard’s growth and influence in the ANZ market, strengthening its artist-services offering and forging new partnerships that cement the company as a leader in the region. Alongside leading the strategy behind distribution and services deals for big-name local talent, his work with names like Dom Dolla, The Jungle Giants, Cut Copy, and ONEFOUR, has been paired with label-service partnerships with ABC Music, Civilians, and NLV Records.

On the business front, Blake has also fostered major relationships with both artists and local labels, with his work enabling high-profile local artists to access The Orchard’s global infrastructure – amplifying the presence and impact of Australian talent both at home and overseas in the process.

THE MUSIC SPEAKS:

The recorded music industry in Australia has moved from being major-label driven to being dominated by label services and distribution, and on pure chart share for Australian artists, Sony’s distribution arm The Orchard has pipped its other major label-owned distribution rivals at the post. 

It was also a nice night out at the ARIAs for Rayner, helped along by Ninajirachi, Dom Dolla and ABC Music wins.