A series of keynote conversations with leading executives, entrepreneurs, creators and innovators from across the music community.
There are a series of keynote conversations at the TGE Conference, each one putting the spotlight on the interviewee’s career to date, and getting their perspective and opinions on the very latest trends and developments in the business of music. The keynote conversations confirmed so far for 2024 include…
Lauren Mayberry, lead singer of the Scottish band CHVRCHES, is the first guest speaker to be announced this year. Lauren is an activist and singer-songwriter who has several top 10 albums under her belt with CHVRCHES. Having now launched two singles as part of her first ever solo venture, she will be heading to the Great Escape conference to discuss details of the “fun, freaky, sad, weird, joyful pop playground” she’s creating as a solo artist.
Colin Newman and Malka Spigel-Newman will discuss their experiences in the acclaimed post-punk bands Wire, Swim and Pink Flag, as well as owning your rights as an artist and a life experimenting in music, including their ongoing project Immersion.
Darcus Beese OBE will reflect on an incredible career as the UK’s first black record company CEO and one of the greatest A&Rs of his generation, having signed and nurtured venerated artists like Amy Winehouse, U2 and Florence and the Machine. This conversation will come soon after the publication of his upcoming memoir ‘Rebel With A Cause’.
Tom Gray, Chair of the Ivors Academy and Labour Party PPC for Brighton Pavilion, and YolanDa Brown OBE DL, musician, broadcaster and Chair of the BPI. Representing songwriters and record labels across the UK music industry, both are also successful artists in their own right. This session will cover what the industry needs to do to protect music copyright and culture on a legislative level.
Sacha Lord is the Chair of the NTIA, co-creator of Parklife Festival and the Warehouse Project and Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester. Highlighting the importance of the UK’s fifth biggest industry, he will be interviewed live on stage to address the unique concerns of the night time economy. The talk will come shortly after the publication of his new book “Tales of the Dancefloor”, a love letter to the city and dance floors of Manchester.
The They Think It’s All Sober podcast will record a live episode with creators Jamie Osman and Tom Hollings in conversation with Izzy Bee Phillips from Black Honey, discussing their journey towards sobriety, the prevalence of alcohol / drugs in the music industry, and what can be done to help those with addiction issues to find support. Previous podcast guests include Matt Willis (Busted) and RØRY among many others.