First 30 speakers announced for WA Music Conference

West Australia’s peak music association today announced the first 30 speakers for the WA Music Conference.

It is held Friday November 7 and Saturday 8 at the Central Institute of Technology in Northbridge.

Names include Heath Bradby (Warner Music), Michael Szumowski (Alberts), Nick O’Byrne (BIGSOUND/Look Out Kid Management), Pete Guazzelli (Dept. of Culture and the Arts), Clive Hodson (Perfect Pitch Publishing), Esti Zilber (Sounds Australia), Yvette Myhill (Association of Australian Managers), Jake Snell (Monster Management, AAM), Adam Christou (RTRFM), Luke Rinaldi (Sweet Mate Music), Stephen King (Media Arts Lawyers), Alex Paioff (Pilerats), Candice Lorrae (Abmusic), Katie Rynne (Select Music) and Bel Skinner (Red Rock Music). Two internationals are Al Dawson of the USA’s Earache Records and Reggie Ba-Pe of China’s music events company S.T.D.

The conference is part of the WAM Festival which went through a rebrand and an upgraded format with a record number of programs “and increased abilities to champion West Australian music,” WAM announced. Changes include the addition of the Block Party, moving the WA Music Awards to Capitol and the WA Music Craft Awards to the State Theatre Courtyard. Sideshows include the heavy/punk/metal Blood Rock Fest at The Rosemount, the Coast 2 Coast hip hop showcase at The Bakery and The Ellington Jazz Showcase.

There is also the Kiss My WAMi compilation, a Regional Roundtable, the next stage of the Singapore WA Music Exchange (SWAM) program and the Saturday Spectacular which will this year include a dedicated All-Ages outdoor arena and the introduction of a new venue not used before.