Polyvinyl, Spotify. ATC Live & More To Present At 2023 Indie-Con

The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) have today announced the full itinerary for this year’s edition of Indie-Con, Australia’s premiere independent music conference.

Supported by the South Australian Government’s Music Development Office, the acclaimed event will return to Adelaide (Kaurna) over the midweek period of August 2-4, this year being held at the Mercury Cinema.

Spread across the program and speaker lineup are a total of 16 standalone events – comprising a mix of panels and workshops – which will host more than 70 music industry professionals including label representatives, independent artists and journalists from all around the world. 

Among the highlights of the program are presentations on how to navigate the ever-evolving world of DSPs (featuring representatives of iconic US label Polyvinyl, The Orchard, Virgin Music and Xelon), how to make the most of catalogue releasing (with figures from The Numero Group, ABC Music, Spotify and more) and how to use showcase events to your advantage as an artist (with legendary figures from the Folk Alliance, ATC Live, Sounds Australia, I OH YOU and Sundowner Artists).

One particularly enticing panel will feature In Hearts Wake frontman Jake Taylor linking up with reps from his label UNFD, ABC Music and Beer n’ BBQ to discuss the importance of using music as a vehicle for environmental activism. Another panel will address the music industry’s mounting concerns around AI and copyright, with members of WIN, ARIA, APRA, PPCA and Media Arts Lawyers convening to unpack the situation.

There will also be a panel on how artists can maximise their engagement with fans – hosted by Luke Million in tandem with members of YouTube Music, Made In Katana and the Soda Music Group – as well as specialised marketing and publicity panels featuring members of the teams behind campaigns for Genesis Owusu, Lime Cordiale, The Wiggles, Flume, Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers, Confidence Man and Telenova.

Head here to see the full schedule for Indie-Con 2023, and here to get your hands on tickets. As usual, AIR members will be able to take advantage of a discount – if you’re keen to join the club (and you certainly should be), check this out.

This year’s AIR Awards will be held on Thursday August 3 at Adelaide’s Freemasons Hall. Nominees include heavy-hitters like King Stingray, Ball Park Music, Julia Jacklin and Casey Barnes, and this year’s ceremony will feature two new industry award categories: Independent Marketing Team Of The Year and Independent Publicity Team Of The Year. You can see more info on the 2023 AIR Awards here.

Following the AIR Awards, MusicSA will host their Scouted showcase on Friday August 4. Presenting “emerging and unsigned talent” from across the state, the event will host 12 live acts across three stages in Adelaide’s West End.