Free online independent music conference ‘AIM Presents: Future Independents’ returns for 2024 on 10th July
Free online conference from the Association of Independent Music (AIM) reveals first speakers for full day of essential music industry knowledge
Opening keynote from creative consultant and Grime pioneer, Elijah, plus speakers from key regional showcase events and independent music experts
Registration open to all here
‘AIM Presents: Future Independents’ is the annual music industry knowledge and networking conference for independent artists, labels, music entrepreneurs and anyone involved in, or looking to get into, releasing music professionally. Organiser, The Association of Independent Music (AIM), has revealed the first wave of speakers for its 2024 instalment on Wednesday 10th July, 10:00 – 19:00 BST.
This year’s conference kicks off with an opening keynote and Q&A with Grime pioneer and creative consultant, Elijah, renowned for his “Yellow Squares” Instagram project that has a unique approach for explaining and navigating the music industry.
Throughout the day, panel sessions will tackle topics including setting up a viable record label in 2024, building audience, touring and maximising live exposure, and getting the best out of regional showcases across the UK. Confirmed speakers include Simi Agbaje, founder of leading R&B media and events platform The Blues Project, who was recently named Young Music Boss’ Entrepreneur of the Year. Attendees can also hear from PPL who licence music use in broadcast and public spaces and pay out monies to performers and labels, and from IMPALA the European independent music body who operate a Europe-wide ‘100 Artists to Watch’ platform on how to break into the European market featuring artist Zhiva and Glitch Records Managing Partner Pavle Eftimovski.
Other highlights will include a talk from Adam Ryan (Head of Music at The Great Escape), Mobolaji Agoro (Booker for Pitch Scotland) and Sarah Jones (Programme Manager for FOCUS Wales) on how artists in any region of the UK, and beyond, can use showcase events to maximise their exposure at national level.
Future Independents will also feature practical workshops on optimising presence on key platforms and services with Meta, YouTube and Vevo. Attendees will have several opportunities to network from the comfort of their home or workspace, with sessions taking place dedicated to experts across the independent music space, services, publications, and distributors. There is a live chat function open throughout the day for further peer-to-peer networking and speaker Q&A.
Gee Davy, AIM’s Interim CEO said: “Future Independents is a free, high-level knowledge and networking opportunity for anyone looking to engage or expand as a professional in the music industry through access to expert guidance and advice from top dogs and leading experts in the independent music space. Our goal as a organisation is to share skills and experience and make connections to level the playing field in music. This is a free event where everyone is invited; regardless of gender, genre, background, age or location.”
Instructions on how to register are here. Last year’s event, which included a keynote interview with rapper and TuneCore Head of Hip-Hop Papoose, drew hundreds of attendees from 40+ countries. Watch this space for further speakers and topics, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
About AIM
AIM is the not-for-profit organisation representing and supporting the UK’s independent music community, which makes up a third of the UK’s recorded music market. Now in its 25th year, AIM’s members range from the largest, most respected record labels and associated music businesses in the world to DIY or self-releasing artists and the next generation of entrepreneurs in music. These include 4AD, Black Acre, Beggars Group, Chrysalis / Blue Raincoat, CTRL Music, Domino Recording Co, FAMM, Finesse Foreva, Hospital Records, HQ Familia, The Leaf Label, Ninja Tune, NQ Recordings, Numbers, Partisan, Transgressive, Scruff of the Neck, Secretly Canadian, Stones Throw, Supernature, Warp, and XL Recordings.
AIM exists to level the playing field for UK independent music businesses - the beating heart of music. No matter their genre, their background, how much money they have, how they identify or their location, AIM provides access to the knowledge and contacts creative entrepreneurs need to create, build and win. AIM supports its members, not only through the difficult times, but also on a day-to-day level with practical support that makes a real difference to their lives and work, helping them take their businesses to the next level.
For more information visit www.aim.org.uk