ARIA Innovator is ARIA’s new initiative to inspire and cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship within the Australian music industry. With rapid technological advances and shifting global music consumption, ARIA Innovator provides industry professionals with access to cutting-edge insights, tools, and strategies that drive growth and success in the changing world.
Through its programs, ARIA Innovator will empower artists, managers, and labels to develop innovative business models and marketing strategies that enhance discoverability and deepen audience engagement in both domestic and international markets.
We are excited to announce that our first initiative, made possible through support from Sound NSW funding via Create NSW will be the inaugural ARIA Innovator conference and Accelerate Strategy Workshop held on Gadigal Country in NSW.
ARIA Innovator Conference
The ARIA Innovator Conference will bring global knowledge to Australian shores, and uncover what’s next for music, entertainment and media at large. It is designed to give our industry a competitive edge in centralising leading research, insights and opinion from various industries across one day of exceptional programming.
Learning Outcomes
Global Audience Expansion
Cultural Influence & Engagement
Data-Driven Marketing
Entrepreneurial Innovation
AI-Powered Innovation
“The conference will be a game-changer for artists and professionals seeking inspiration and practical skills to turn bold ideas into market-leading breakthrough”. Annabelle Herd
Day One: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
When : 9am to 1pm followed by a one hour networking mixer Where: State Library of New South Whales Auditorium | 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney Price: Free of charge
Featured sessions include:
Panos Panay, President, The Recording Academy - Keynote: Music people are natural entrepreneurs Gabi Lopes, Senior VP Global Insights, Universal Music Group – New ways of marketing Dr Nici Sweaney – Data Scientist, AI Expert & Founder of AIHerWay - AI The Right Way
More speakers to be announced.
CLICK HERE to register your interest in attending. This is a free event. Please note this conference has been pitched at mid-level industry and above. Places will be limited to appropriate audiences for the content. Space is strictly limited.
This half-day strategy workshop is limited to 30 NSW based mid-senior level industry professionals to put into practice their learnings from the Innovator Conference. Participants will be selected on the potential of their ‘big idea’ and provided with guidance and strategic tools to develop a plan to turn their big idea into a successful reality. Run by business strategy expert Megan Brownlow and working collaboratively with industry peers, participants will leave the workshop with an individual Strategic Action Plan and a date for a one-on-one check-in session following the workshop. Places limited to 30*
*Got a big idea you wanna make happen? Workshop it with ARIA Accelerate. Applications are now open for ARIA Innovator’s Accelerate Workshop. Apply Now
Day Two: Wed, 26 March 2025
When: 10am-2pm Where: State Library of New South Whales Macquarie Room | 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney