FOCUS Wales 2024 announces its full conference schedule and speakers

Among the newly announced conferences are Navigating the Future of Music Journalism on Thursday 9 May, where some of the UK’s most prominent music journalists will discuss the evolving landscape of music journalism, exploring its present challenges and potential futures with a music manager. On 10 May, POWER UP will be discussing sustaining a career as a black creative or professional in the music industry, followed by a lunch mixer where delegates and artists can learn more about the POWER UP movement and participant programmes.

The LIVE federation will be hosting two panels featuring prominent agents from the UK and Europe and bookers from events, such as Glastonbury, Galway International Arts Festival, Dot to Dot, Bearded Theory, Mirrors, and Knockengorroch, and Hop Farm festivals. PPL will also be hosting a discussion between leading indie record labels at home, and abroad including Domino Records Germany, Rough Trade, Secretly, and Libertino Records.

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Other panel topics announced include: Balancing Parenthood and Music (presented by PRS for Music), Mental Health and Wellbeing (presented by Musicians’ Union and BECTU), Did TikTok kill the video star? (presented by Beacons), plus panels presented by Music Managers Forum, British Council, and Musicians Union.

Speakers and delegates participating in this year’s festival include Jean-Louis Brossard (Trans Musicales, France), Joy Warmann (Secretly Group), John Kennedy (Radio X), Paul Jones (Rough Trade), Justin Sweeting (Clockenflap Festival, Hong Kong), Michelle Escoffery (PRS for Music), Sarah Wall (PPL), Matt Hanner (Runway Artists), Louise McGivern (Midnight Mango), Fanny Lambotte (Festival Republic), Ben Tibbits (Wonderland Magazine), and Dom Gourlay (Under the Radar).

FOCUS Wales 2024 headliners include Spiritualized, The Royston Club, The Mysterines, Deerhoof, Skinny Pelembe, Snapped Ankles, The Bug Club, Willy Mason, Benefits, Angeline Morrison, Flamingods, Adwaith, Cerys Hafana, and Melin Melyn.