Adam is Music Promoter and Festival Programmer at The Great Escape, a festival known for showcasing 500 emerging artists across 30+ venues in Brighton and a pop-up festival site in Brighton Beach. It's one of the leading places to discover new talent in an intimate setting before they go on to headline major festival stages. TGE is also attended by music industry professionals who are on the hunt for the next big thing. featuring a conference with panels, debates, keynote speeches, and networking opportunities.  

Country: UK

Aino-Maria Paasivirta is the Head Promoter at Fullsteam Agency, known for her strong commitment to diversity in the music industry. Her work has been widely recognized in Finland and internationally, with multiple nominations and awards such as Promoter of the Year (2019, 2024), Future Visionary of the Year (2018), and listings in IQ Magazine’s The New Bosses (2018) and NOMEX’s Nordic Music Biz 20 Under 30 (2019). In addition to her role at Fullsteam, she is responsible for the international bookings for Provinssi, one of Finland’s leading festivals.

Helsinki-based Fullsteam Agency is Finland’s leading concert promoter and booking agency for both alternative music and global superstars. The agency represents around 100 domestic artists and has brought over 2,000 international acts to Finland. Fullsteam also organizes major festivals such as Provinssi, Sideways, À la Park, and Knotfest Finland.

Country: Finnland

Ariane Tamalet entered the music industry after completing her law degree at Sorbonne (Paris 1) in 2018. She gained early experience through an internship at the French Music Export Office in Berlin, where she met her two partners and founded Filature. Filature was conceived as an artist and producer development toolbox with a focus on European development. The company encompasses management, label, publishing, and digital marketing activities. While the headquarters are in Paris, Ariane frequently travels to London and Berlin.

Country: France

Chris Douridas is among the premier musical tastemakers in the world. He began his career as music director and host of Morning Becomes Eclectic, at the Los Angeles NPR station, KCRW-FM, one of the most progressive radio stations in the US. His career spans A&R roles at Geffen and DreamWorks Records, hosting PBS's Sessions at West 54th, creating Sessions at AOL, and serving as a Creative Programming Consultant for Steve Jobs at Apple. His Grammy Nominated film supervision work includes American Beauty and the Shrek series. Chris continues to champion the best new artists from around the world on his ongoing KCRW radio show, and at School Night, his new artist live showcase series in Hollywood, Nashville, Toronto, London and Sydney. 

Country: USA

Daniel Burgess is an A&R at the worldwide independent publisher Domino Publishing, where he spent the past eight years scouting, signing and nurturing the writing careers of musicians. With a background in film, Daniel first entered the music industry working in Synchronisation before transitioning into A&R where his true passion lies. Working across different genres and scenes, he focuses on discovering and supporting unique, eclectic voices within the industry such as the world-building maximalist IDM producer Iglooghost, masked, tongue-in-cheek pop songwriter Lynks and rising American-Polish electronic duo Bassvictim.

Country: UK

Eppo Janssen is one of the main bookers of the Pukkelpop festival in Belgium, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025. Every year, over 200,000 people come to Kiewit to celebrate music in the town of Hasselt.
The lineup features today’s popular artists, tomorrow’s global stars, and a strong selection of local talent. Nirvana, Amy Winehouse, Charlotte De Witte,Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa: all of them could be discovered in their early days on the grounds in Kiewit.
With its eight stages, Pukkelpop offers plenty of space for emerging acts as well. Supporting up-and-coming talent is deeply rooted in the team’s DNA.
Next to that Eppo is the music programmer of the acclaimed DUYSTER. radio show on national Radio 1. For over 25 years, DUYSTER. has been a beacon for adventurous, brooding music — from post-rock to indie folk and electronic sounds. Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens and Low all performed live sessions on the show early in their careers. Finally, Eppo is also the host of his own program, Fuzzbox, on national radio station Willy, the channel’s new music show.

Country: Belgium

Having a certified ‘PHD in Parties’ after running one of Australia’s most loved music festivals for the last 15 years - Jesse is the founder and Artistic Director of Party In The Paddock. Starting the festival at 21 years old via his rogue birthday party, with local musos and a hay bale stage, for over a decade Jesse has helped shape Australia’s thriving music and arts scene, putting Tasmanian youth culture on the map. Known as a tastemaker for booking some of the world's most sought after acts, often on their rise - favourites include: Lily Allen, Empire Of The Sun, Rudimental, AURORA, Milky Chance, Foals, The Kooks, The Avalanches, Pnau, The Darkness, Amyl & The Sniffers, SBTRKT, Oliver Tree, YUNGBLUD, Mahalia, Tash Sultana, Grouplove, Role Model, Still Woozy, K Flay, Sticky Fingers, Ocean Alley, Gang Of Youths, DMA’S, Royel Otis, Confidence Man, Peking Duk, G Flip, Lime Cordiale, Vengaboys, The Veronicas, Benee, The Presets, Hayden James, Genesis Owusu, Kah-Lo, Peach PRC, Ruel, Still Woozy, KiNG MALA, Odd Mob, Sam Alfred, Medium Build and many more.

Co-founding Vibestown Productions in 2015, the event management and production company behind ‘PITP’, and at the helm of other events such as Party In The Apocalypse, HAYDAYS, The Basin Concert, Til the Wheels Fall Off, and more. 

A touring musician himself, having just finished another tour of the UK with his band HOLiDAY MYSTICS, playing several festivals including Isle Of Wight and BST Hyde Park supporting Neil Young. The band operates independently under Jesse’s leadership via the dynamic Secret Creek Records - founded by Jesse, ‘SCR’ functions as one of Tasmania’s only record labels, booking agents, A&R and management groups, working with emerging local talent. Jesse has always been passionate for up & coming artists, bubbling cultural scenes and building opportunities and bridges - touring artists to and from his beautiful, but isolated home, where Tassie devils roam - ‘Down Under, Down Under’ Tasmania.

Country: Australia

Kelley Lin is the Label Manager at New York-based independent label True Panther. She manages all of the label’s general operations, physical productions, and has led album campaigns for Oklou, Model/Actriz, Frost Children, bbymutha, Jawnino, Christopher Owens, Grace Ives, Babymorocco, Popstar Benny, and more. Last year, she piloted a large-scale reissuing project of the beloved SF band Girls' catalog on vinyl. She has also worked in management for AJRadico and Ernest Rareberrg, as well as freelance writing/PR for Tzusing, FINAL Taipei, The Pheels, mmph, and more.

Country: USA

Still proudly independent, Mark Lippmann has built Manchester based Scruff of the Neck from its humble DIY beginnings, into the wide-reaching organisation it is today. With emphasis on the development of new artists, Mark has enabled Scruff of the Neck to go from strength to strength, evolving from local concert promoters into an award winning independent label (‘Best Small Label’ AIM Awards 2019), publishing, creative, management and live company with a dynamic in-house set-up to self serve their artists whilst remaining collaborative with third parties.

Mark Lippmann is a member of the board for the Association of Independent Music in the UK and was also a judge on the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025.

Scruff of the Neck is now partnered with Believe for distribution, Twitch for ‘Scruff of the Neck TV’, Sentric Publishing and Double Six (Domino) for Neighbouring Rights. Scruff of the Neck has a reputation for developing both domestic talent and international artists in the UK in particular as a concert & tour promoter.

Country: UK

Oskar Strajn is one of the bookers of ESNS – Eurosonic Noorderslag, Europe's largest live music industry event based in Groningen, the Netherlands. He works closely with the Music Moves Europe Awards, the yearly music awards given during the festival every year, as well as the ESNS Radar & Analytics project manager. In the past, Oskar has worked as radio dj, journalist and event promoter. 

Country: Netherlands

Pixie is a music programmer at SXSW, the largest and longest running music showcasing festival of its kind in the world, curating diverse global talent helping shape the future sound of the industry. Pixie is also the lead Talent Buyer & Venue Booker for Murmrr Presents, an independent, New York-based producer curating world-class performances across music, comedy, literature, film, and the arts, presenting iconic talent such as Bjork, MGMT, The Voids, Andre 3000, Tegan and Sara, Nick Cave, Mustafa.

With over a decade of experience across the music ecosystem, Pixie began her journey as the owner and booker of The Zoo, one of Australia’s longest-running independent venues, hosting artists such as Khruangbin, Lorde, and Nick Cave. Alternating as an artist booking agent moving into A&R cultivating a roster of talent, signing and developing breakthrough talent including Tones & I — who became the first female artist in history to surpass 3 billion streams. Her career spans publishing and sync, distribution and label services. Now based in U.S., Pixie continues to champion emerging artists and build cultural bridges through her work at SXSW and beyond.

Country: USA

Entrepreneur, Agent, and Cultural Producer with a degree in Image and Sound from UFSCar and an MBA in Business Administration from USP. Co-founder of Let’s GIG - Booking & Music Services, where he manages institutional relations, partnerships, and the careers of artists such as Luedji Luna, Tuyo, FBC, Marcelo Jeneci and Fat Family. Let’s GIG is very interested in adding international acts on the roster. Ricardo participated in key music markets and festivals like SXSW, Primavera PRO, WOMEX, Reeperbahn, Glastonbury, WOMAD, Sónar, NY SummerStage, and Rock al Parque. Was Director of Rádio UFSCar (2007–2014) and VP of ARPUB - National Public Radio Association (2013–2014). Led the CONTATO Festival (2007–2021) and co-owned the venue GIG in São Carlos (2013–2018). Also active in audiovisual and event production, and teaches about the live music industry and collaborative cultural projects.

Country: Brasil

With background in management, radio and as a DJ, Sindri has been a part of the Icelandic music industry since he was 14. In 2012 Sindri turned to management and ran Mid Atlantic Management until 2018. He managed Icelandic rock stars KALEO until they moved to the USA after signing their first major deal. Sindri has since been involved with a number of major label deals and worked with some of Iceland’s biggest names in music. In 2018 Sindri turned away from management after becoming Head of booking an programming at Iceland Airwaves. At SENA, he is responsible for rhe Corporate Events Team and has lead the work of moving into Esports.

Country: Iceland

Steven Matrick is the owner of the artist management company Kepler Events, Co-Founder of the New Colossus Festival and the NYC/Berlin based record label Dedstrange. 

Steven is one of the founders of the New Colossus Festival, a 5 day showcase festival the week before SXSW featuring 200 bands at 10 independent music venues on the Lower East Side of NYC. Its 7th edition is coming up March 3-8, 2026. Kepler Events has managed Brooklyn Noise Rock Legends A Place to Bury Strangers for the past 17 years as well as Brooklyn Psych Rock band GIFT who released their 2nd album, ‘Illuminator’, in August 2024 on Captured Tracks. In 2021 Steven has founded Dedstrange, a record label in partnership with Oliver Ackermann of A Place To Bury Strangers whose roster also includes Berlin Punk Rock bands Jealous, Plattenbau, The Pleasure Majenta & Data Animal, in total 14 artists. Steven has also been a Talent Buyer for the past 18 years at Pianos, Berlin, and other venues having previously worked with Woodstock Promoter Michael Lang on Woodstock ’99, Amsterjam and many other festivals & events.

Country: USA

Tanya Koreņika is an Estonia-based music industry professional and works across tour booking, event production and artist management with a focus on rock, alternative and metal music. Tanya holds a Master’s in Culture Management and is currently pursuing a PhD on gender equality in the Baltic cultural sector. She is a regional partner in the Cindy & Kate project and supports the Baltic Artists In Development program. Tanya is as well a recognized Keychange innovator, and part of the 2025 Music Leaders Network cohort — a global network of women and gender minority leaders shaping the future of music. She frequently speaks at international conferences on Eastern European touring, gender equity, and the independent scene. In addition to her behind-the-scenes work, Tanya performs as a session drummer in alternative, pop, and hip-hop projects.

Country: Estonia