Indie-Con Australia Conference unveils international lineup for Adelaide's annual independent music industry event.
The Australian Independent Record Labels Association has announced the first speakers for its annual conference events taking place in Adelaide. Indie-Con Australia Conference and A2IM’s Indie Week Australian Edition will feature industry leaders from across the United States and Asia-Pacific region.
Adelaide, designated as a UNESCO City of Music, will host the conference bringing together independent music professionals to discuss industry challenges and opportunities. The program aims to connect the Australian independent recorded music community with global expertise and explore international growth possibilities.
Indie-Con Australia Conference
- Where: Adelaide, South Australia
- When: Wednesday 30 July – Friday 1 August
- Events: Indie-Con Australia Conference and A2IM’s Indie Week Australian Edition
- Discount: South Australian artists and labels receive $70 discount with code SA2025
- Hotel partner: Sofitel Adelaide with discounted rooms available
- Program finale: MusicSA’s Scouted showcasing emerging South Australian talent
The first speaker lineup
- Dr Richard James Burgess MBE – President and CEO, A2IM, USA
- Lisa Hresko – General Manager, A2IM, USA
- Ian Harrison – Executive Vice President, Hopeless Records, USA
- Melanie Sheehan – US General Manager, Rough Trade Records, USA
- David Barnes – COO, Rhymesayers, USA
- Salvatore Maicki – Senior A&R, The FADER Label, USA
- Anna Bond – Director of Planning and Initiatives, Secretly Distribution, USA
- Ali Murphy – Senior International Marketing Director, Secretly Group, USA
- Kaoruko Hill – General Manager APAC, Merlin, Japan
- Guji Lorenzana – A&R Business Development, Symphonic Distribution APAC, USA/Philippines
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The international speaker lineup includes A2IM representatives Dr Richard James Burgess MBE, President and CEO, and Lisa Hresko, General Manager. Label representatives from across the United States include Ian Harrison from Hopeless Records, Melanie Sheehan from Rough Trade Records, David Barnes from Rhymesayers, and Salvatore Maicki from The FADER Label.
Asia-Pacific expertise comes from Kaoruko Hill, General Manager APAC at Merlin, and Guji Lorenzana from Symphonic Distribution APAC. Distribution and marketing knowledge will be shared by Anna Bond, Director of Planning and Initiatives at Secretly Distribution, and Ali Murphy, Senior International Marketing Director at Secretly Group.
The conference continues to receive support from the South Australian Government through the Music Development Office. The full program will be announced in late June, with the conference designed to address key issues affecting the independent music sector while exploring global growth opportunities.
Extensive experience across the speaker lineup
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Dr Richard James Burgess MBE brings extensive experience as a producer, recording artist and label owner, having worked on numerous gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums. He previously headed business operations at Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and is known for pioneering work with synthesizers and electronic music.
Lisa Hresko oversees member services at A2IM, which represents over 600 US record label members and nearly 200 other music businesses. Her background includes nearly 10 years at CMJ, where she held various positions including Editor-in-Chief.
Kaoruko Hill manages music rights and licensing across the Asia-Pacific region at Merlin, the digital music licensing partner for independent labels. Her experience includes managing global music rights at ByteDance and playing a key role in Merlin’s Japanese market entry.
The conference will culminate with MusicSA’s Scouted, an event highlighting emerging and unsigned musical talent from South Australia. This provides a platform for local artists to connect with international industry professionals attending the conference.
For more information, head here.
