Amy Thomson and Will Page join FastForward line-up as conference confirms its final programme
07 September 2023 - Press releaseChat GPT, the future of live music, the economics of streaming and more set to feature in the two day event on 19-20 September in London
Having announced its return for an 11th edition earlier this year, the future-focused music business conference FastForward has confirmed its full programme of speeches, panels and showcases that will take place over two days on 19 and 20 September in London. Day one of the conference will focus on the key dynamics in recorded music while day two will explore live music trends, with the overall aim of generating deeper discussions and identifying tangible actions to develop a healthier and more sustainable music industry.
The recorded music programme on day one will examine industry challenges in 2023 and navigating the complex music landscape, looking at how new technologies and business models can be harnessed to create opportunities for artists and build a more vibrant and equitable system. Will Page, former Chief Economist at Spotify and author of Tarzan Economics, joins the ‘Is Streaming Broken?’ panel whilst Amy Thomson, former manager of Swedish House Mafia and ex-Chief Catalogue Officer at Hipgnosis, will close the day with frank assessment of the rights and wrongs of the modern music industry and how to build a better future.
Now CEO of ATM Artists, Amy Thomson commented: “As we get to grips with a rapidly evolving market, there is still a huge amount of work to do before we see a fair playing field for artists and songwriters, while we grapple with the question of whether we are prepared for the continuing development of AI. There has never been a more crucial time to consider how to build a more equitable industry, and FastForward provides the perfect platform to do so.”
Other newly announced speakers include War Child Records’ Rich Clarke on unlocking music for good and Key Production’s Karen Emmanuel on whether the rejuvenated importance of vinyl can be reconciled with its impact on the environment. The topical subject of how artists can maximise the utility of ChatGPT will be discussed by David Boyle and Richard Bowman, the former SVP Insight at EMI and Global Insight Director at Universal respectively, who are both currently working with brands to develop audiences and drive growth.
Day two will tackle some of the most urgent and fundamental questions facing the live music sector. With a focus on the health of the UK’s talent pipeline, Chloe Pean of AEG Presents UK, ATC Live’s Cils Williams, THE N3XT UP’s Marley Azu Jones and Lucy Wood, Head of Music at the Roundhouse, will explore what more the industry can do to develop the stadium headliners of the future, whilst the Music Venue Trust’s Clara Cullen will focus on the practical support needed to protect grassroots venues in the challenging economic climate.
Sarah Jones, General Manager of Songkick, and Noel Edwards, Ticketing Director at The Ticket Factory, will discuss some of the negative trends in the behaviour of post-pandemic crowds, while Tour Manager Joanne Crockford and Help Musicians’ Director of Musicians’ Services Laurie Oliva will lead a conversion on how to keep the touring family healthy on the road.
The conference will conclude with debate on two vital questions surrounding the future of live music: ‘Can we make live music sustainable?’, with Earth Percent’s Executive Director Cathy Runciman, Jamal Chalabi (Backlash Productions) and Carol Scott (Principal Sustainability Advocate at TAIT); and, with prices skyrocketing for headline shows and festivals in an increasingly competitive space, how can they attract the best talent, manage longstanding customer expectations and deliver on value for money against a backdrop of rising supplier prices?
Leading concert discovery app Songkick and data analytics platform Music Tomorrow join Tickets for Good, Musiio by Soundcloud and 21Soho in sponsoring the event.
FastForward founder Chris Carey said: “The aim of FastForward is to drive positive change in our industry, with one eye firmly on the future. With that in mind, we have devised a carefully curated programme with some of the foremost voices in the industry to lead conversations around some of the key pillars that the industry needs to focus on over the short to medium term, including economics, environmental sustainability, technology and attracting and retaining talent throughout the business.
“Our newly added guests complement the expertise of the speakers we have already announced, encompassing a huge breadth of experience across the entire music industry that can collectively identify meaningful paths to a more equitable, sustainable and future-proofed music industry.”
David Boyle, Founder of Audience Strategies, added: “The music industry is changing so rapidly around us. Now, more than ever, the ecosystem needs good people with the skills and passion to help artists find long-term success. FastForward brings together forward-thinking industry pros to do just that.”
Tickets for FastForward 2023 can be purchased here.
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