Name:
Nick O’Byrne.
Job title and industry specialty:
General Manager of AIR (Australian Independent Record Label Association) and Associate Programmer of BIGSOUND.
What part of the music industry do you still know nothing about?
Sound engineering and mixing.
What will you be participating in at Face The Music?
I’ll be hosting a discussion about release strategies with some rad artist managers, publicists and Clare Bowdich. I’ll also be involved in a panel about streaming services.
Why are events like Face The Music important?
Because it aims to take the mystery and pretence out of the music industry. It allows you to get a better idea about what role the various music industry peeps actually play in an artist’s career, and Face The Music is the most affordable and accessible industry conference I’ve ever been to.
Which other speakers/participants/panels do you recommend checking out?
Karl Richter from Level Two because he specialises synchronisation of music to ads and film which is mysterious, lucrative and potentially career-changing for an artist. Maggie Collins (Manager of DZ Deathrays and John Steel Singers as well as triple j weekend presenter) because she’s a great manager of indie bands. Cael Fenby from Destroy All Lines because he churns out about 20 successful events across the country every week and he’s a legend
If you could ask one of the other participants an industry-related question, who and what would it be?
I’d ask Aldmudena Heredero for free tickets to Primavera Spain. Or I’d ask Tom Supple all about the process of curating Melbourne Festival’s incredible contemporary music lineup every single year. Every year Supple blows everyone else out of the water with interesting, important, challenging and legendary artists.
FACE THE MUSIC takes place at the Arts Centre on Friday November 16 and Saturday November 17. Info and tickets at facethemusic.org.au.
