In a dynamic shift for Australia’s premier music festival and conference event, BIGSOUND has announced its new Conference Co-Programmers for 2025. Industry veterans Cathy Oates and Niriko McLure are set to take the reins, ushering in a fresh perspective for the beloved Fortitude Valley gathering.
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The duo succeeds Tom Larkin, who departs after an impressive seven-year tenure that helped cement BIGSOUND’s reputation as a cornerstone of the Australian music industry calendar.
Cathy Oates, founder of Original Matters, has been a pivotal figure in Australian music management for nearly two decades. Her keen eye for talent led her to sign Angus & Julia Stone in 2006 and Dean Lewis in 2017, both acts that have gone on to achieve international acclaim. Oates’ longstanding relationship with BIGSOUND as an attendee and participant makes her intimately familiar with the event’s significance.
Oates expressed that BIGSOUND has consistently been a crucial event in her calendar, not just for her artists’ performances but also as a significant networking opportunity and a concentrated period of enjoyment.
Niriko McLure brings a multifaceted background to the table, having held senior positions across various sectors of the music industry. Her experience spans management, labels, publishing, music tech, policy, and event investments.
McLure’s client roster boasts heavyweight names like Matt Corby and 5 Seconds of Summer, while her festival experience includes global juggernauts such as Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, and Splendour In The Grass.
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As the music world continues to evolve rapidly, BIGSOUND’s role as a crucible for new ideas and connections becomes ever more vital. With Oates and McLure at the helm of conference programming, attendees can look forward to a rich tapestry of insights, opportunities, and, as Oates puts it, “a lot of condensed fun.”
The industry now eagerly anticipates how this dynamic duo will shape BIGSOUND 2025, building on the strong foundation laid by their predecessor and steering the conference into new and exciting territories.
Published 11-September-2024
