This week sees the launch of Face The Music’s full program, as Melbourne gets set to host one of the most important events on the Victorian music calendar this November.
Mark Seymour - Photo By Ros O'Gorman
The contemporary music industry summit brings musicians and music industry people together to explore new ideas, share advice, create opportunities and further their careers. Check out www.facethemusic.org.au for the details on all 22 big conference panels and map out your own Face The Music program. Highlights this year include a dream team of manager Gregg Donovan (Wonderlick), Select Music agent Stephen Wade, Publicist Claire Collins (Bossy Music) and Music Lawyer Darren Sanicki leading us through ‘A Band’s Life’ – a romp through a hypothetical Australian band’s developing career, plotting common real life successes, pitfalls, deals and expectations.
In a must see session for anyone whose band doesn’t fit the mainstream mould, ‘The House Meets The Hurricane: A Case Study’ is a fascinating music tale of a band preparing for their sophomore album after removing both their front-man and their symphonic keyboards sound that made them pioneers in their scene. The resulting release entered the ARIA charts at #20 and received critical acclaim. Take a look at how they managed to keep their grassroots fans and achieve an ARIA charting album with limited access to airplay, then break overseas markets.
Face The Music also announces more than 250 exclusive opportunities to get up close and personal with some of Australia’s most powerful music decision-makers, innovators and visionaries in one-on-one, small group meetings and masterclasses. Get some advice, pitch your music, discuss the big issues or just get these people in your network.
Highlights include ‘The Art of Speaking to the Media’ masterclass with Jane Gazzo (MAX TV), guiding you through what every artist should know before that big interview, how to answer the tricky controversial questions and steer the interview your way. ‘The APRA|AMCOS Songwriting Session’ gives songwriters the chance to join a hands-on masterclass with Chet Faker, or join a ‘Songwriters Breakfast’ with artists Angie Hart, Jess Cornelius, Mark Seymour, Van Walker and Charles Jenkins.
Appointments are available at www.facethemusic.org.au for meetings with music community leaders like Jaddan Comerford (Staple Group), Johann Ponniah (I OH YOU), Sophia Brous (BROUS), Simon Winkler (3RRR), Roger Field (Live Nation), Susan Forrester (Big Day Out), Dylan Michel (This Thing), Jerome Borazio (Get Notorious), Leigh Treweek (SPA) as well as music lawyers Darren Sanicki and Yasmin Naghavi.
Don’t miss ‘Meet the Media’, offering up Jaymz Clements (JMag), Darren Levin (FasterLouder), Nicholas Jones (Tone Deaf), Shane O’Donohue (Inpress), Taryn Stenvei (Beat) and Doug Wallen (Mess+Noise). While Meet The Managers puts you in direct contact with some of Australia’s most successful managers including Bernadette Ryan (Bernadette Ryan Management), Maggie Collins (Golden District), Nick Yates (UNFD) and Rae Harvey (Crucial Music).
Be sure to register early to receive access emails to all the master classes, speed meetings and exclusive small group opportunities available throughout the two day event, some sessions are subject to appointment only with applications due by November 12th.
