Iceland Airwaves Conference Program Announced

11
.  
October
 
2024

Iceland Music, Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavik Music City and Business Iceland proudly present one of the most ambitious music conferences ever seen in Iceland. The IA conference will take place alongside the Iceland Airwaves festival on November 7th and 8th, offering a diverse and exciting program where many of the leading experts in various areas of the music industry will gather to tackle a multitude of issues and discuss the future of the music industry. Below is the extensive schedule along with information about 14 additional conference speakers announced.  

Thursday, November 7th:

Management: Do You Build a Team to Break Through or Break Through to Get a Team?

This panel delves into the chicken-or-egg dilemma of music management, exploring whether it's better to build a strong team first or achieve success and attract the right team later. The evolving role of a manager and the essentials for a sustainable career will also be discussed. 

Speakers: James Sandom, Will Larnach-Jones, Ruth Barlow, Steinunn Camilla, Paul Stokes.

Shut Up and Play - Artistic Integrity and Commercialism

A discussion about balancing artistic expression and the pressures of a highly commercialized music industry. Can artists maintain their integrity, or is this a privilege reserved for a few?

Speakers: Diana Burkot, Ai Jing, Ragnar Kjartansson, and more TBA.

Iceland Music: A Cultural Exploration

A conversation about Iceland’s rich musical heritage and its potential as a hub of international creativity, collaboration, and innovation.

Speakers: María Rut Reynisdóttir, Colm O’Herlihy, Augustin Eude, Kevin Cole, and more TBA.

From Broad Strokes to Pinpoint Focus: Redefining Music Marketing in the Stan Era

This panel will explore the rise of intensely focused, story-driven music marketing campaigns and how parasocial relationships between artists and superfans are key to success.

Speakers: Sophie Leigh Walker, Junia Jonsdottir, Natasha Cutts, Hildur Maral, Brian Lowit.

Tim's Listening Party x Of Monsters and Men

Tim Burgess (The Charlatans) brings his famous Listening Party to the Iceland Airwaves Conference. He will be joined by Of Monsters and Men to discuss their debut album *My Head is an Animal*.

Speakers: Tim Burgess, Nanna Bryndís (OMAM), Brynjar Leifsson (OMAM).

Friday, November 8th:

All Aboard! - Music Festivals and Community Integration

A discussion about the relationship between music festivals and local communities, exploring how they can foster collaboration and support the music scene.

Speakers: Ása Dýradóttir, Bjarni Daníel, Lauren Down, Lena Ingwerson, and more TBA.

Future of Curation: How Music is Curated, Discovered, and Critiqued in an Evolving Digital Landscape  

This panel will examine how algorithms and human expertise shape music discovery in today’s world and the changing role of critics.

Speakers: David Fricke, Rory Connolly, James Foley, Rebecca Mason, and more TBA.

Lifelong Learning: Can Music Education Help Shape an Industry Worth Working In?

Exploring how continuous education in music can foster innovation, career development, and a sustainable industry.

Speakers: Emilien Moyon, Sadie Bryant, and more TBA.

State of Live: Is the Global Live Industry Prepared to Survive, Thrive, or Die?

A look at the future of live music, its challenges, and whether the global live industry can survive in its current form.

Speakers: Caitlin-Finn, Pascal Van De Velde, Elliot Lefko, Tamsin Embleton, and more TBA.

25 Years of Iceland Airwaves and Bringing Icelandic Music to the World

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Iceland Airwaves, this panel will explore how the festival has promoted Icelandic music internationally.

Speakers: Andy Duggan, Nick Knowles, and more TBA.

Participants

In addition to announcing the program, we also welcome 14 more professionals who have confirmed their participation in the conference.

Tim Burgess
Frontman, The Charlatans, Tim’s Twitter Listening Party
Tim is best known as the frontman of The Charlatans and the creator of the popular Tim’s Twitter Listening Party, which has featured over 1,000 artists worldwide.

Ragnar Kjartansson
Artist
Ragnar is a globally renowned contemporary artist known for blending music into his video installations and performances, rooted in his background as a musician.

Rory Connolly
Head of On Demand Music, BBC
as head of On Demand Music Rory shapes the digital music landscape and leads BBC’s renowned Glastonbury festival coverage.

Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir & Brynjar Leifsson
Members, Of Monsters and Men
They are key figures in one of Iceland’s biggest musical exports, Of Monsters and Men, known for their globally acclaimed sound and storytelling.

Ruth Barlow
Director of Live Licensing, Beggars Group; Chair of AIM
Ruth manages global live streaming rights and is a pivotal figure in shaping live music strategy for independent labels.

Sadie Bryant
Project Manager, 4AD
Sadie works across all aspects of record campaigns, collaborating with cutting-edge artists like Dry Cleaning and Erika de Casier.

Ai Jing
Promoter, Haze Sounds
AJ is a leading figure in China’s international music scene, having booked top acts like Slowdive and Wolf Alice.

Sophie Leigh Walker
Lead Staff Writer, The Line of Best Fit
Sophie focuses on long-form storytelling and has profiled some of today’s most era-defining artists.

Brian Lowit
Label Manager, Dischord Records; Owner, Lovitt Records
Brian has been a key figure in the independent music scene for decades, managing Dischord Records and owning Lovitt Records.

Rebecca Mason
Senior Publicist, Inside Out
Rebecca has worked with major names like CHVRCHES, Bloc Party, and Iceland Airwaves, shaping the media narrative for artists and events.

Colm O'Herlihy
Co-founder, INNI
Colm is a co-founder of INNI, a music publishing house and label in Reykjavík.

Natasha Cutts
Independent Manager, Hoof Mgmt
Natasha has managed artists like Squid, Mandy, Indiana, and Jerkcurb since 2018, following her work in marketing at Domino Records.

Nick Knowles
Manager, KxKn ManagementNick represents top Icelandic artists like Eydís Evensen and Sóley and has deep ties to the Icelandic music scene.

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