Reading & Leeds Festival, Island Records UK Heavyweights Lead First BIGSOUND Speaker Announcement

BIGSOUND has announced a stacked first speaker announcement with international heavyweights set to present in the Fortitude Valley this September.

The first industry Conference announcement has arrived ahead of the return to Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley from 2-5 September; a powerhouse list of global buyers and speakers has been announced today.

Island Records’ Darcus Beese OBE, music industry entrepreneur Anne Booty, Executive Producer and Music Curator at KCRW, Ariana Morgenstern, and DJ, broadcaster, and writer Deb Grant are among the speakers announced today.

Beese is the first Black President of a major label in the UK – Island Records UK – and the CEO of Island Records US. He recently released the memoir, Rebel With A Cause. Beese is a legendary music industry executive responsible for signing Amy Winehouse, Sabrina Carpenter, and Remi Wolf.

Ahead of his appearance at BIGSOUND, Beese said, “When I went to America, TikTok and data signings were blowing up. I had to choose to find artists by thinking in terms of development rather than data.”  

He continued, “The landscape is tougher. The industry seems to be re-setting itself. But music still matters, people still experience profound moments through music, they still buy tickets for shows, so the future is healthy, we just don’t know exactly what shape it will be. So, I’m excited to head down to BIGSOUND to talk about this and to check out potential new acts for DAP (Darco Artist Partnerships).”  

BIGSOUND has also locked in agents from Ground Control, Wasserman, and CAA, promoters from C2C Festival (Country To Country) and Reading & Leeds Festival, and indie record labels including Secretly Group, Nettwerk Music Group, Third Man Records, and more. You can see the full first speaker announcement below.

QMusic and BIGSOUND CEO Kris Stewart said of today’s announcement, “At a time of rapid transformation in the music sector - across tech, touring, sustainability, and artist income - we want to amplify the value of meaningful connection.

“Between creators and audiences, between industry peers, and artists and the people who can take their careers to the next level. Whether it’s onstage or over coffee, BIGSOUND is where new ideas and partnerships begin.”  

Co-Conference Programmer Cathy Oates stated, “We don’t need to tell you that the Australian music industry landscape has shifted and over the last five years, consumer habits have changed forever.

“The gatekeepers of music may not be as influential, and the old strategies no longer have the same impact on fan building and careers. But on the upside, there are less barriers to entry than ever before, and Australian talent continues to cut through in the new landscape.”   

Co-Programmer Niriko McClure added, “The 2025 BIGSOUND Conference will have two focus areas, to provide as many export opportunities as possible to the showcasing artists and the industry as a whole, and to acknowledge the unique challenges that Australian artists are facing.

“We want to platform those doing things differently, inviting new voices and perspectives to tell their stories. It’s about what’s working now, and what’s next.”  

Early Bird all-access delegate passes will be available on Friday, 16 May, at 9 am AEST. Festival-only tickets will go on sale next month. BIGSOUND offers the following Early Bird ticket prices: $659 for general punters, $559 for QMusic members, and $399 for students. You can find more ticketing information on the BIGSOUND website.

BIGSOUND 2025

2 - 5 September Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, QLD

BIGSOUND 2025 SPEAKERS & BUYERS - FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT:

Adam Ryan - The Great Escape (UK)  

Anne Booty - SixtyFour Music (UK) 

Ariana Morgenstern – KCRW (USA) 

Boaz Saidman – Wasserman (USA) 

Boyan Pinter – Believe (BGR) 

Calhoun Rawlings – Creative Artists Agency (USA) 

Camille Augarde – Third Man Records (UK) 

Darcus Beese – Darco Artist Partnerships (UK)  

Deb Grant – BBC Radio 6 (UK) 

Eve Thomas – Communion ONE (UK) 

Jana Recmanikova – Festival Republic (UK) 

Josh Stern – Ground Control Touring (USA) 

Lau Frías - Secretly Group (USA) 

Lucy Pitkethly – Eat Your Own Ears (UK) 

Mario Stresow – FKP Scorpio (GER) 

Rachel Cragg – Nettwerk Music Group (CAN) 

Rachel Lloyd – AEG Presents / Country to Country / C2C Festival (UK) 

Sean Goulding – One Fiinix Live (UK)