BIGSOUND 2025 Reveals First Conference Speakers, Promises ‘Connection That Counts’

(L-R: Deb Grant, Darcus Beese OBE, Anne Booty, Ariana Morgenstern

The first wave of BIGSOUND 2025 conference programming has dropped — and it’s packed with international agents, promoters, broadcasters, and tastemakers set to descend on Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley from 2–5 September.

With a renewed mission to foster “connection that counts,” this year’s event positions itself as the definitive Southern Hemisphere meeting point for industry minds shaping what’s next in music.

The 2025 program welcomes a heavyweight cohort of international buyers and speakers actively investing in Australian talent, including agents from One Fiinix Live, Ground Control, Wasserman, and CAA, as well as promoters from Reading and Leeds Festival, Eat Your Own Ears, Communion ONE, and C2C Festival (Country to Country).

They’ll be joined by influential indie labels Secretly Group, Nettwerk Music Group, Third Man Records, and Believe — all heading to the Valley in search of the next big discovery.

“BIGSOUND is about taking stock of where we are and imagining where we want to go next,” said QMusic and BIGSOUND CEO Kris Stewart. “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.”

2025 sees a shake-up behind the scenes too, with new Conference Programmers Cathy Oates and Niriko McLure shaping the agenda with a focus on relevance, resilience, and real-world opportunity.

“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,” said Oates. “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.”

McLure 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.”

Among the most anticipated speakers is legendary music executive Darcus Beese OBE, known for signing Amy Winehouse during his time at Island Records UK, and later heading Island Records US, where he signed breakout stars like Sabrina Carpenter and Remi Wolf. Now leading his own company, Darco Artist Partnerships (DAP), Beese brings decades of insight to BIGSOUND’s global-facing agenda.

“When I went to America, TikTok and data signings were blowing up,” Beese said, reflecting on his A&R ethos. “I had to choose to find artists by thinking in terms of development rather than data.”

On the current state of the industry, Beese shared, “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.”

Joining Beese on the first guest announcement are:

Adam Ryan (The Great Escape, UK)

Anne Booty (SixtyFour Music, UK)

Ariana Morgenstern (KCRW, USA)

Deb Grant (BBC Radio 6, UK)

Rachel Lloyd (C2C Festival / AEG Presents, UK)

Josh Stern (Ground Control Touring, USA)

Sean Goulding (One Fiinix Live, UK)

Camille Augarde (Third Man Records, UK)

Boyan Pinter (Believe, BGR)

and many others.

Earlybird All-Access Delegate Passes go on sale Friday, 16 May at 9am via bigsound.org.au, giving access to the full conference, showcase events, networking sessions, workshops, and parties. Festival-only tickets will follow in June.

BIGSOUND 2025