THE TGE CONFERENCE
Download the TGE app for more information on The Great Escape Conference Programme.
Access to all conference activity is via a delegates pass.
WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY
Venues, Community and Sustaining Scenes: Music Venues Alliance Brighton
Presented in collaboration with Music Venues Alliance Brighton, this conversation will explore the opportunities and challenges facing venues across the country, and particularly in the home city of The Great Escape Festival, Brighton. Our panel of experts will discuss the importance of a thriving regional touring circuit in nurturing the careers of emerging artists, as well as digging into evolving audience expectations, and the importance of community and support amongst music venues themselves to ensure that regional music scenes survive and thrive.
Megan Thompson – Booker at Joy. / Band Manager / DJ / HOMEGROWN
Annie Dorrett – CLT DRP / The Prince Albert / HOMEGROWN
Sally Oakenfold – The Hope And Ruin / Music Venues Alliance Brighton
Grime, Rap, Jungle and Drum & Bass as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Assets
This panel brings together practitioners, cultural leaders, and community stakeholders to examine Grime, UK Rap, Jungle and Drum & Bass as influential intangible cultural assets within the context of UNESCO’s framework for Intangible Cultural Heritage. Originating in the United Kingdom’s urban and diasporic communities, these musical practices are understood not only as genres, but as complex cultural systems encompassing language, performance, production, and community-based knowledge transmission.
The discussion situates these forms within their historical development, tracing their roots in Afro-Caribbean sound system culture and their evolution through grassroots infrastructures such as pirate radio, raves, and independent studios. These environments have enabled the creation and intergenerational transmission of distinct artistic practices, including MCing, DJing, and vernacular expression.
The panel further considers the role of these music cultures as cultural influencers, shaping global music, fashion, and youth identity, while remaining embedded in localised social contexts. It also addresses the sustainability of these practices in the context of changing urban environments and cultural infrastructure.
Michael Kill, CEO, NTIA – Moderator
Jumpin Jack Frost – DJ Producer & Artist
Nolay – UK Rapper
Griminal – Grime Artist
Ras Kwame – DJ / Producer & Capital One Xtra Presenter
In Conversation: Emma Banks and Natasha Gregory – presented by IQ Mag
Join us for a standout keynote conversation bringing two of the most influential forces in live music into the spotlight: Emma Banks (CAA) and Natasha Gregory (Mother). Hosted by IQ Magazine, the session will take place on the TGE Beach Site on Wednesday 13th May.
Natasha Gregory – Mother
Emma Banks – CAA
THURSDAY 14TH MAY
AI, Streaming, Media + Touring: The Music-Maker Perspective On Key Industry Trends
There have been lots of big debates in the music business this year. Major deals with music AI companies have been announced. Issues remain with the economics of streaming, while streaming fraud and AI slop create new challenges. Changes in the broadcast media landscape are impacting on musicians and composers. And there have been important developments around touring and ticketing. Get an update on all these trends and hear the music-maker perspective from the Council Of Music Makers.
CMM
Chris Cooke (Moderator)
Keynote: Ian Murray MP, Minister of State for Creative Industries, Media and Arts
Ian Murray MP, Minister of State for Creative Industries, Media and Arts joins the conference for a special keynote session as The Great Escape celebrates its twentieth anniversary. As Minister of State at DCMS, Murray plays a key role in shaping government policy across the UK’s creative industries, including music, touring, broadcasting and the night-time economy.
“The Great Escape is a vital event in the live music calendar, and celebrating its 20th anniversary will be a significant occasion. I’m delighted to be attending, and speaking to delegates at the conference in May.”
From Awareness to Action: Building Safer Music Communities
Presented by the Council of Music Makers and CIISA
Following key campaigns and commitments – including the development of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) and the launch of the CIISA Standards – this panel brings together CMM members and allies to explore how meaningful change is being implemented across the music industry.
Speakers will share how organisations are putting policies into practice within their own networks, what progress has been made so far, and where gaps still remain. From accountability frameworks to grassroots cultural shifts, the discussion will highlight both successes and ongoing challenges in tackling bullying, harassment, and unsafe working environments.
This session will focus on practical action – what’s working, what isn’t, and what still needs to be done to build safer, more inclusive music communities.
Niyi Akeju – CIISA, Moderator
John Shortell – The Musicians’ Union
Janeace Thompson – Ihuman Ltd
Paul Bonham, MMF
Emma Townsend, MPG
The Team Behind The Campaign: Bon Iver, SABLE fABLE
Presented by the Association of Independent Music (AIM)
Go behind the scenes of one of the most creatively ambitious campaigns in recent years as the team behind Bon Iver’s SABLE, fABLE unpack how the project was brought to life. From shaping the narrative and visual world to building momentum across platforms, this session explores the strategy, collaboration and execution that powered the campaign which went on to win Best Creative Campaign at the Independent Music Awards presented by AIM.
Hear directly from the label as they break down key decisions, challenges, and standout moments, offering practical insights into how a cohesive, culturally resonant campaign is built in today’s landscape.
Rachel Bolland, Project Manager – Secretly Group
Matthew Fogg, Director, Promotions – Secretly Group
Charlene Browne-Marke, Digital Accounts Manager – Secretly Group
Gee Davy – CEO, Association Of Independent Music (Moderator)
In Conversation: Melanie C and Jaguar
Presented by CALM
Celebrating the release of her new album Sweat, Melanie C will sit down with British DJ and presenter Jaguar for a special keynote conversation presented in association with The Great Escape’s Charity Partner, CALM. This landmark session marks 20 years of The Great Escape and 30 years since the arrival of the Spice Girls’ – a cultural force that reshaped British pop and ushered in a new era of global girl power.
As a member of the Spice Girls, Melanie C helped define a generation. As a solo artist, she is the female artist with the most UK No.1 singles in chart history and the only female performer to top the charts solo as part of a duo, quartet and quintet. Across a career spanning three decades, from stadium tours to global DJ sets, Melanie C continues to shape conversations around creativity, identity and longevity in music.
PPL Presents a Panic Shack chat: Girl Band Starter Pack
Presented by PPL
PPL invite you to join Cardiff’s finest, Panic Shack, and their team to peek behind the scenes of their career to date and find out how funding support from PRS Foundation via the PPL Momentum and International Showcase Funds have played a part. Expect the journey into their Top 40 album, a viral TikTok dance craze, and becoming one of the most talked-about live bands in the country.
Emily Smith – Panic Shack
Meg Fretwell – Panic Shack
Adam Williams – Clwb Music
Ivano Maguilli – Brace Yourself
Sophie Roberts – Earth Agency
From FYP to Forever: How Independent Artists Are Building Lasting Careers Through TikTok
Presented by SoundOn
TikTok has launched more careers than almost any platform in music history – but what happens after the FYP moment?
This session brings together independent artists and their teams to explore how the tools available today, from data and distribution to creator marketing, are helping musicians turn viral attention into long-term fanbases. From uploading your first track to understanding your audience across platforms, we’ll look at what a modern independent release strategy actually looks like – and how SoundOn fits into the picture for artists who want to own their journey.
FRIDAY 15TH MAY – NEXT GEN DAY
CONFERENCE ROOM 1
All Things BBC Introducing
BBC Introducing presenter Emily Pilbeam hosts a conversation exploring the broad opportunities available for emerging and upcoming musicians through the BBC Introducing platform.
Get to know what BBC Introducing is, how to get involved and how it can support your music, before delving deeper into how to get paid from your music, and the importance of taking care of your business.
Kelly Betts – BBC Introducing
Millie Carter – BBC Introducing
Paul Moore, Senior Music Rights Manager at the BBC
Emily Pilbeam – BBC Introducing
Nurturing Regional Music Scenes
Presented by Youth Music
In a time where several awards shows are moving north, and accents are often emphasised in artists’ tracks, Youth Music will guide a conversation about what regionality means for the UK’s music industry today. They’ll be joined by speakers from across the industry – an agent, manager, artist, promoter and publicist – to give a holistic view on their journeys into their roles, and their reflections on the future for regional music scenes. We’ll discuss the challenges and benefits of being involved in these scenes, and what it takes for regional to go national – and even global.
Elle Palmer – Sonic PR
Jed Wright – NextGen artist and promoter
Lily Cowdry – Agent, 13 Artists
Natalie Hutton – Manager, Big Life Management
Talia Andrea – Youth Music
Black Music Means Business: Driving Economic Growth in the UK
Presented by UK Music
Following the launch of its new report ‘Black Music Means Business: Driving Economic Growth in the UK’, UK Music will lead a conversation exploring the impact of Black British music over the last 30 years and its contribution to the success of the UK music industry.
In Conversation: Peaches & ILĀ
Presented by The Independent
The Independent presents a standout keynote conversation bringing together boundary-pushing artist and cultural icon Peaches with multifaceted artist, producer and TRANS VOICES co-founder ILĀ. The session will offer a rare opportunity to hear from two uncompromising voices as they reflect on artistry, identity, innovation and community in today’s music landscape.
Peaches
ILĀ
Moderator: Roisin O’Connor – The Independent
Music Saved My Life – Presented by CALM
Presented by CALM
The Great Escape’s charity partner Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) presents an exploration of the mental health benefits of music, and its power to save lives.
Ed O’Brien – Musician, songwriter, Radiohead
Nadine Shah – Musician, Songwriter
Dr George Musgrave – Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Cultural Sociology and Creative Industries at Goldsmiths, University of London
Chris Price – CALM Trustee and Head of Music, BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra
Harpz Kaur – broadcaster and DJ (Moderator)
What’s next for music marketing?
Presented by the BPI
Join a host of experts from UK labels, digital marketing and social media companies for a discussion on what the future of music marketing looks like – with insights from the people cutting through the noise.
CONFERENCE ROOM 2
Women’s Voices & Safety in Music: Power, Boundaries, and Real Experience
Presented by AudioActive
AudioActive is convening a panel at The Great Escape focused on women’s voices and safety in the music industry. Creating a space for open, honest conversation around safety, power, and navigating industry environments.
The panel will focus on the experiences women face in studios, performance spaces, and professional settings. We will move beyond surface-level discussion to explore how safety, boundaries, and confidence are actively negotiated in real time.
Abi Flynn – Artist
Imani Ruiz – Artist
Chantelle Marquez – Artist
Cathy Mathalone – Tileyard Music
Hosts: Michelle Hunter & Hatter, AudioActive
Live and Rising: Gigs, Growth and Getting Noticed
Presented by PRS
Breaking into live music can feel unpredictable, and the landscape is constantly evolving. Bringing together emerging artists alongside those with experience of touring at scale, this panel explores what it takes to get booked, grow audiences and navigate the realities of playing live today. Through honest stories and practical insights, the conversation will unpack what’s changed, what still matters and how to build momentum that lasts.
The Next Generation of British Cultural Curators and Music Formats: AWAL Creator Fund
Presented by AWAL
Sam Potts, Co-MD of AWAL, Rebecca Barry, AWAL Creator Manager and lemontank founder Jacob Rickard showcase the 3 successful creators taking part in the first AWAL Creator Fund programme and discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by British music content creators, as well those interested in starting out in the space.
Sam Potts, Co-MD of AWAL
Rebecca Barry, AWAL Creator Manager
Jacob Rickard , lemontank founder
50 Years of Rough Trade: Independence in Music Retail
Having first opened its doors in 1976, Rough Trade celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. From its punk beginnings in West London, Rough Trade has grown to play host to 9(?) retail locations throughout Europe and the US, and continues to find itself at the forefront of the independent retail sector. This conversation will explore Rough Trade’s storied history and anniversary celebrations, as well as the trends and challenges facing the independent retail sector today.
Nigel House – Director, Rough Trade
Lawrence Montgomery – Managing Director, Rough Trade
Ruth Barlow – Chair of the Association of Independent Music (AIM) and Director of Live Licensing at the Beggars Group
HELP(2) : An Album That Is Making A Difference
The team behind the critically acclaimed #1 album HELP(2), released in March for War Child UK featuring Arctic Monkeys, Olivia Rodrigo, Fontaines DC, Ezra Collective, Cameron Winter, Wet Leg and many more tell the story of how the record came together: why now was the time to release it, and the continued impact it is having for children whose lives have been torn apart by war. Discussing the A&R vision and release strategy, this creative campaign is putting children front and centre, and NME will guide a discussion on how War Child are using those funds to help the most vulnerable.
Toby L (Transgressive) – A&R
Helen Kennedy (Freelance / Beggars) – Marketing / Campaign Manager
Rich Clarke (War Child) – Head of Music
Andrew Trendell – NME