Here’s How WAMCon Can Take Your Music Career To The Next Level

If you’re looking to kickstart your career in the music biz, look no further than the industry crash course WAMCon’s 2017 speakers will deliver next month.

With more than 40 speakers from around the globe set to take over the State Theatre Centre of WA from 3 – 4 November, we had WAM Industry Development Officer Claire Hodgson give us her picks from this year’s epic program.

Keith Harris

There are just so darn many WAMCon highlights this year, it’s seriously hard to choose, but a good place to start would be our keynote speaker Keith Harris (UK) whose career highlights include being the GM of Motown (working with Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Rick James and more), driving promo, A&R etc. for EMI and Transatlantic Records, managing high profile artists (incl. still as the long-time manager of Stevie Wonder), and yet after 40+ years working in the music industry and all these achievements is still as down to earth and happy to help others as ever! Just being in his presence is inspiring so we cannot wait to check out his keynote this year at WAMCon.

Steven McDonald & Helen Marcou

Very excitingly we also have THREE keynotes this year at WAMCon for the first time ever! In addition to the literal legend that is Mr Keith Harris, we have LA-based producer and underground music lord Steven McDonald (Redd Kross/Melvins/OFF! + more), plus we’ll be taking a look at true leadership and distilling it down to some solid gold advice in our last keynote with recent Victorian Honour Roll for Women Recipient and Melbourne music luminary Helen Marcou (Bakehouse Studios/SLAM).

QuayNote Boat Party

Of course, we can’t go past the now infamous WAMCon QuayNote Boat Party, which serves up the best music networking around while sailing on the beautiful Swan River. This year will see a special performance from Boat Show and DJ Caitlin Nienaber (RTRFM), plus complimentary food and bev to aid the rollickingly good times!

Timothy & Mike Nelson

In addition to all of this, there will be a stack of panels, highlights including Timothy Nelson and his Dad, Mike (ex-music lecturer, WAAPA, ANU, UWA), chatting about the next generation of musos, alongside panels that will deliver practical and DIY advice on topics from social media, to radio, festivals and touring, blockchain, distributing your music and more. There will also be a bunch of masterclasses, info sessions and speed dating meetings.

Others To Note

Other speakers we’re excited to be hosting are Sean Bohrman from Burger Records (US), who are one of the most prolific music labels around releasing massive bands like The Black Lips, Brian Jonestown Massacre, King Khan, Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall.

You can also catch triple j Music Director and wonderful human being Nick Findlay, BIGSOUND Executive Programmer and all-round boss lady Maggie Collins (NSW), Eight akaQi Liu, who’s the founder of China’s foremost black metal label and indie band touring lord, plus a ton of other amazing local, national and international industry including bookers, publishers, music supervisors, managers and way more all converging at WAMCon to help you and your music career get to the next level!

Head to the WAMCon website for tickets and more info.