Multi-instrumentalist Tash Sultana headlines expanded speaker program alongside international industry heavyweights.
BIGSOUND 2025 has unveiled its latest wave of conference speakers including Tash Sultana.
The Brisbane music conference and festival has announced an impressive lineup of artists and industry professionals set to deliver keynote conversations from 2 September to 5 September. BIGSOUND 2025 continues to position itself as the Southern Hemisphere’s largest platform for music discovery and engagement, bringing together local talent with international music industry leaders.
This year’s conference program expands around the theme of connections that count, featuring a powerful fusion of artists and industry gamechangers in contemporary conversations. The speaker announcement showcases Australian music excellence alongside global industry expertise, creating opportunities for thought-provoking commentary on navigating the modern music landscape.
BIGSOUND 2025
- Where: Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland
- When: 2 September to 5 September
- Tickets: All-access delegate pass from $399 (students) to $659 (general)
- Festival passes: Three-night early bird tickets $75, single night tickets from $24.50
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
Conference lineup
View this post on Instagram
Australian music excellence takes centre stage with Briggs, the Yorta Yorta rapper, songwriter, author and actor who founded Bad Apples Music, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025. He will appear in conversation with Gomeroi musician, rapper and actor Kobie Dee, traversing two journeys in music and cultural elevation.
Tash Sultana returns to BIGSOUND following the release of Return to the Roots EP, having sold out Red Rocks for a third time and accumulated over one billion Spotify streams. The multi-instrumentalist’s appearance promises insights into creative fulfilment in both studio and live environments.
Mallrat joins the lineup following her number one ARIA album Light Hit My Face Like a Straight Right, showcasing her continued evolution as an artist. The conference also welcomes musician and inclusion advocate Elly-May Barnes, following her 2024 debut album No Good and widespread attention via the ABC documentary series Headliners.
International speakers bring global perspective to the conference program. Dave Rowntree, best known as drummer for Blur, will discuss his diverse career spanning music, film, television, animation, politics and law. His appearance coincides with the release of his photography book No One You Know on 9 September, featuring hundreds of photos providing an intimate look at Blur at the precipice of fame.
Speakers from around the world
The conference programming team has assembled representatives from globally recognised festivals, labels and organisations. A special focus on Mexico as an export and festival destination for Australian artists features insights from Cynthia Flores from Asecendente and MUSICMEX, and Malfi Dorantes from MalfiCo and MUSICMEX.
Featured speakers include Cindy James from Virgin Music Group North America, recognised in Billboard’s Women In Music class for 2025. Meredith Goucher, Director of International Relations and Development at the Country Music Association, will provide insights into country music’s global expansion.
Artist manager Nikki Boon from Neon Coast, who manages multi-award winning Kane Brown, joins the lineup alongside Ollie Hodge, former A&R Director at Polydor and Columbia who recently launched his own label Some Action. Drew Bennett brings experience from Q Prime management, working with artists including the Black Keys and Eric Church.
International festival representation includes Dev Sherlock from SXSW Music Festival and Robin Werner from Reeperbahn Festival, alongside previously announced Adam Ryan from The Great Escape. These industry leaders bring extensive experience in international music export and showcase markets.
The conference programming explores innovation at the intersection of music and technology, creative processes behind A&R, and discussions examining forward-thinking music entrepreneurial platforms including Bondi Lines. These sessions complement the artist-led conversations that form the backbone of BIGSOUND’S educational programming.
120 artists across 18 venues
View this post on Instagram
BIGSOUND 2025 features over 120 artists across 18 venues during the three-night music festival component. The event combines conference programming with showcase performances, networking events and industry parties, creating comprehensive opportunities for music discovery and professional development.
All-access delegate passes provide access to the full conference, three nights of showcase events, networking opportunities and workshops. General delegate passes cost $659, with QMusic member rates at $559 and student passes available for $399.
Three-night music festival tickets offer access to all performances and venues with early bird pricing at $75 plus booking fees until 31 July. Under-25 tickets are available for $65 plus booking fees, while single night tickets start from $44.50 plus booking fees.
Mobility access tickets are available for $24.50 plus booking fees, with venue accessibility varying across the 18 locations. The Bigsound team provides support for attendees with mobility requirements through a dedicated ticketing process.
For more information, head here.
