Internet Sensation Rebecca Black & #MeToo Founder Lead BIGSOUND 2022 Speakers

BIGSOUND has confirmed its first keynote and conference speakers, with organisers pulling no punches with the returning event’s first major announcement.

Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, and internet-born pop sensation Rebecca Black lead the reveal, with guests from across the globe and home set to take over Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley September 6-9.

An activist and author, Burke has dedicated her life to social justice work and will speak on important issues that impact the music industry during what promises to be a powerful keynote, delivered via live-stream.

Meanwhile, the singer behind viral hit Friday, Black will speak candidly in-person about her “tumultuous and life-changing career”, following the queer creator releasing the acclaimed Rebecca Black Was Here project last year ahead of her forthcoming debut album.

BIGSOUND 2022 will also boast keynotes from Mushroom Group CEO Matt Gudinski, multi-disciplinary artist and advocate for change and accountability Jaguar Jonze and UK’s chart-topping electronic producer Example.

Here’s who graces the first announcement:

Tarana Burke - Author / Speaker (US) – KEYNOTE (Live Digital Keynote)

Rebecca Black - Artist (US) – KEYNOTE

Matt Gudinski - Mushroom Group - KEYNOTE

Jaguar Jonze - Artist - KEYNOTE

EXAMPLE - Artist / Producer - KEYNOTE

Annabelle Herd – ARIA

Andrew Stone - Chugg Music

Casey O'Shaughnessy - Select Music

Eric Tobin - Hopeless Records (USA)

Heidi Lenffer – FEAT. / Cloud Control

Jake Taylor - In Hearts Wake

Jess Keeley - Music, She Wrote

Joan Westerberg - Moda Dao / Pizza Party Johann Ponniah - I OH YOU

John Mullen - Dew Process

Josh Taylor Anderson - Call & Response Kate Duncan - The PUSH Inc

Rebecca Young - Collective Artists

Regan Lethbridge - Lemon Tree

Sarah Joy - ATC LIVE (UK)

Shaun Faulkner - X Ray Touring (UK)

Tom Taaffe - Paradigm (UK)

Will Church - ATC LIVE (UK)

Today it’s also been confirmed that First Nations House will return to BIGSOUND in 2022 under the guidance of Elder in Residence Uncle Kev Starkey, musician and Founder of Darkwood Studio RLS, who will “assist in creating a space for supporting, promoting and celebrating First Nations music, and for artists to gather and share their music and messages”.

A dedicated First Nations House venue and First Nations' programming will be announced in the lead-up to the event.

“The BIGSOUND Conference 2022 represents the long-awaited opportunity for us to reconnect, engage and celebrate each other and the global music community we are a vital part of,” Conference Programmer Tom Larkin said.

“Our first announcement highlights our keynote speakers and the insights and stories they offer that point the way to a richer, more vibrant industry.

“This year we want to reflect the massive changes and innovation we have seen over the past two years and also pack the program full of advocates for new Australian music, the champions who actually sign artists and want to elevate their careers on a global level.”

This September’s event will be the first time since 2019 that BIGSOUND has been an in-person event, with artists, industry and fans reconnecting in a major way for the first time since the pandemic.

For more details on BIGSOUND 2022, click here.