WAMCon Unveils New Format & First Speakers For 2021 Event

Following the WAMAwards nominees announcement last week, West Australian Music (WAM) has unveiled details around this year’s WAMCon industry conference.

Returning to the State Theatre Centre of WA from March 26 – 27 as part of WA Music Week, this year’s event will take place in a “hybrid in-person and digital format, enabling attendees from all corners of the state to engage with the career-bolstering opportunity".

“In light of the challenges the music industry has faced in the past 12 months, we’re excited to be presenting the first-ever hybrid WAMCon event which will feature opportunities to engage both online and in-person!” WAM Industry Development Officer and WAMCon Director Claire Hodgson said.

“This year’s conference aims to provide a highly-inclusive space for musicians, industry representatives and music fans to come together to discuss and share ideas, celebrate the innovation and opportunities that have come about in response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, and though this navigate their own path forward as part of the industry’s road to recovery.”

Here’s who features on the WAMCon first speaker announcement:

Bruce Pavitt (Co-Founder Sub Pop Records, Co-Founder & Creative Director 8Stem interactive music) US

Susan Rogers (Professor Music Production & Engineering Berklee College of Music) US

Zaachariaha Fielding & Michael Day (Artists Electric Fields) SA

Amy Vee (Artist, Board Director Listen Up Music, Mental Health Advocate) NSW

Angie Ayers (Presenter Triple M South West) WA

Anna Laverty (Music Producer, Sound Engineer, Writer) VIC

Bel Skinner (Manager RedRock Music, Advanced Skills Lecturer North Regional TAFE) WA

Booka Nile (Mental Health Recovery Partner Southern Cross Care, Founder & Director Sonic Minds, Artist Make Them Suffer, Internet Friends) WA

Brodie Popple (Agent New World Artists) QLD

Cherie Hu (Founder and Publisher Water & Music) US

Em Burrows (Audience Development Officer WAM, Artist Web Rumors, Presenter RTRFM 92.1, Podcast Host Wide Open Road) WA

Geraldine Rey (Event & Marketing Consultant Suzette Collective, Manager Queency, Director Digital Chic) WA

Grace Barbé (Artist, Founder Afrotropik Records) WA

Jackson Hawdon (Presenter RTRFM 92.1) WA

Jaycee Edwards Vee (Artist) WA

Johnny Ma (Filmmaker Good Kid, Owner Johnny Ma Studios) WA

Jonathan “Jono” Harrison (Artist & Label Partnership Manager Spotify Australia) NSW

Kyron “Kyza” Smithson (Owner & Operator Kyza Presents) WA

Mike Wafer (Artist Tanami, Covøids, Co-Founder Fuck Yeah! Media) WA 

Natasha “Tash” Shanks (Artist Little Lord St Band) WA

Nic GidleyKing (Co-Founder Modern Day Entertainment, HipHopCharts.com.au, Manger Jaycee) WA

Ofa Fotu (Artist Odette Mercy & Her Soul Atomics, Hot Brown Honey) WA

Patricia “Trish” Adjei (First Nations Arts & Culture Director Australia Council for the Arts) NSW

Shelagh Magadza (Executive Director Chamber of Arts and Culture WA) WA

Skinny O’Leary (Coordinator Hyperfest, Manager Sly Withers, Flossy, Ursula) WA

Sose Fuamoli (Music Writer, Content Producer, Publicist) VIC

Taylah Strano (Breakfast Presenter, Producer RTRFM 92.1) WA

Tenille Elkins (Senior Writer Services Representative APRA AMCOS, Lecturer North Metropolitan TAFE) WA

Tonchi McIntosh (Artist, Manager, Community Music Development Balgo, Mulan, Billiluna, Kutjungka Music Festival) WA

Trent Rojahn (Artist Last Quokka) WA

Will Backler (Music Director, Interviews Coordinator, Program Director, Head of Training RTRFM 92.1) WA

For more details, head to the WAMFest website.