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Day 1 | Day 2
DAY 1: THURSDAY 22nd JANUARY 2026
8:30am
Registration opens
9:15am
Welcome and introduction: Paul Brindley, CEO & Co-Founder, Music Ally
9:25am
Keynote Interview: Jonathan Dworkin, EVP, Digital Business Development & Strategy, UMG Interviewed by Paul Brindley, CEO & Co-Founder, Music Ally
Track 1: AI Music – Just How Good Can It Get?
9.55am
Presentation: “AI Music – Just How Good Can It Get?” Stuart Dredge, Head of Insights, Music Ally
10:05am
Panel discussion: AI Music – Just How Good Can It Get?”
- How fast is AI-generated music improving, and what is its ceiling
- What will be the next evolutions for GenAI music-creation tools?
- Who is using these tools now, and what are their creative ambitions?
- What does all of this mean for DSPs and the wider music industry?
Chair: Virginie Berger, Chief Industry and Rights Officer, Neutune
Speakers:
- Mateusz Modrzejewski, Assistant Professor, Politechnika Warszawska
- Nadine Kroher, Co-Founder, Passion Labs
- Simon Wheeler, Director, Global Commercial Strategy, Beggars Group
10.45am
Partner Presentation:When Music Becomes Infinite– Nathalie Birocheau, CEO, Ircam Amplify
10.55am BREAK
Track 2: International Track – Focus on Africa & Asia
Supported By
11:25am
Presentation: Jaime Marconette, VP of Music Insights & Industry Relations, Luminate
11:40am
Keynote fireside chat : African Awakening – Godwin Tom, Managing Director, Sony Music Publishing Nigeria in conversation with Taponeswa Mavunga, Director, Africa, Sony Music UK
12:05pm
Partner Presentation: Fixed identity, flexible execution: developing Adekunle Gold globally: Joe Edwards , Head of Marketing and Bridie Asare, A&R Manager, Believe UK
12:15pm
Panel discussion: Focus on Asia
- What are the most exciting opportunities in Asia for international music companies and artists?
- How do the major streaming services in Asia differ from those in the West?
- What are the key trends in artist development across Asia?
- How are artists monetising their careers in Asia, and what lessons can be learned?
Chair: Laurence Oxenbury, Director of International, PPL
Speakers:
- Priya Dewan, CEO, Gig Life Pro
- Shabz Naqvi, Co-Founder, DESI TRILL
- Jay Kogami, Editor, Music Ally Japan
1:00pm LUNCH
Track 3: Music & Gaming
Supported By
2:00pm
Keynote interview: Lisa Opie, Formerly MD, Ubisoft Studios in conversation with Vickie Nauman, Founder & CEO, CrossBorderWorks
2:20pm
Panel discussion: Music and Gaming
- How does gaming’s cultural and commercial power compare to music, film, and TV in 2026?
- How are music–games partnerships evolving, and what’s new?
- Why is gaming an increasingly important channel for music discovery?
- What can music learn from gaming on superfans, GenAI, and more?
Chair: Vickie Nauman, Founder & CEO, CrossBorderWorks
Speakers:
- Dr Jo Twist, CEO, BPI
- Ben Sumner, MD, Feel For Music
- Graham Best, Senior Manager, New Digital Markets, PRS For Music
- Jade Leamcharaskul, Composer / Orchestrator-Arranger / Game Audio Producer, Freelance
3:00pm BREAK
Track 4: Inspiring Innovation
3:30pm
Partner Presentation: D2C before DSP : The New Release Strategy– Mag Rodriguez, CEO, EVEN
3:40pm
Panel discussion: Inspiring Innovation
- How do we move from talking about innovation to actually delivering it?
- What’s the balance between internal innovation and bringing it in from outside?
- Which new technologies offer real opportunity vs hype?
- What talent do we need to foster innovation and partnerships?
Chair: Elle Todd, Partner Digital and Data, Co-Chair Media and Entertainment Group, Reed Smith
Speakers:
- Emily Ingram, MD, Sollos
- Emma Cooper, Knowledge Transfer Manager – Creative Industries, Innovate UK Business Connect
- Lee Martin, Netmaker, Lee Martin
- Christine Osazuwa, Founder, Measure of Music
4:20pm
Music Ally SI:X Startup Presentations & Audience Vote: Presentations from the latest Music Ally SI:X cohort. The audience votes to crown the winner.
- Guillaume de Lavenere, Co-Founder, Claimy
- Alina Holovatiuk, CEO, InTempo
- Jad Al Masri, Founder & CEO, Muse AI
- Kristian Fryer-Kelsey, Founder & CEO, Plates
- Ben Bowler, Founder, Poison Pill
- Duke Moran, Co-Founder, Tuttii
5:00pm
Drinks Reception
Supported By
DAY 2: FRIDAY 23rd JANUARY 2026
8:45am
Registration opens
9:20am
Welcome and introduction: Joe Sparrow, Editor, Music Ally
9:30am
Keynote interview: The Future of Artist Management: Niamh Byrne, Co-Founder Eleven Management is interviewed by broadcaster Steve Lamacq
Track 5: The Future of Streaming – Supremium Tiers
9.55am
Presentation: The Future of Streaming: Change or Be Changed – Mark Mulligan, MD & Analyst, MIDiA Research
10:10am
Panel Discussion: What Does Supremium Really Mean?
- Why are DSPs launching premium+ tiers in 2026?
- How will they be priced, and what features will they offer?
- What do superfans really want from these subscriptions?
- What are the risks and rewards of launching these tiers?
Chair: Helena Kosinski, Consultant, MTUK
Speakers:
- James Healy, SVP, Digital Business and Strategy, Universal Music Group
- Darren Hemmings, MD, Motive Unknown
- Kameil Sattar, Digital & Projects, Cargo
10.50am
Partner Presentation: SoundCloud: Global Sounds, Local Start – Wyatt Marshall, Senior Director, Music Intelligence, SoundCloud
11.00am: BREAK
11:25am
Mini Panel – More Than Words: How lyrics amplify the streaming experience: Supported by Musixmatch
- What are the most recent innovations in how lyrics are presented on streaming services?
- What’s next? How else could lyrics be presented and used by DSPs in creative ways?
- What is the business value of lyrics for DSPs, and how is that evolving?
- What are the main challenges around lyrics and DSPs in 2026 – and how can they be tackled?
Chair: Rio Caraeff, Co-President, Musixmatch
Speakers:
- John Oberbeck, Senior Product Manager, YouTube Music
- Maegan Cottone, Songwriter & Vocal Producer, Phrased Differently
11.50am
Keynote Interview: Laurent Hubert, CEO, Kobalt Music, interviewed by, Marlen Huellbrock, Director of Marketing & Strategy,Music Ally
12:10pm
Mini Panel : The Music Ally Connect Artist Managers Panel
- How are new technologies and Big Data changing the way managers pilot their artists’ careers?
- How are they tackling the challenge of scaling their artists’ careers internationally?
- Which emerging markets and regions are they prioritising, and why?
- How are the deals between artists and managers evolving?
Chair: Nick Maiale, Founder & CEO, Jump Global
Speakers:
- Martha Earls, Owner/Manager, Neon Coast (Kane Brown)
- Will Bloomfield, Co-President & Head of Global Artist Management, Tap Music
12:40pm
Keynote Fireside Chat: Music Acquisitions: Scaling Up vs Selling Out: Iain Catling, CEO, Audiosalad in conversation with Gee Davy, CEO, AIM
1:00pm LUNCH
2:00pm
Partner Presentation: Beyond Fragmentation: Building a Connected Future for the Music Industry: Paul Langworthy, Chief Revenue Officer, SongTradr
2:10pm
Keynote Interview: Michael Huppe, CEO, SoundExchange, interviewed by Julia Montero, Founder & Director, Creative Counsel Law
Track 6: Publishing’s Global Opportunities
Supported By
2:30pm
Panel Discussion: Publishing’s Global Opportunities
- What can Western publishers learn from fast-growing music regions?
- How is the growth of Afrobeats, Latin and K-pop impacting publishing?
- What are the infrastructure challenges for traditional publishers?
- Will regional powerhouses emerge, or will global players consolidate?
Chair: Mandy Salem-Aubry, MD, MSA Music Services
Speakers:
- Emilio Morales, MD, Rimas Publishing
- Caroline Champarnaud, Director, International, SACEM
- Miller Williams, Head of Publishing, emPawa Africa Music Publishing Ltd
3:15pm BREAK
3:45pm
Keynote Interview: The Future of Merlin and the Independent Sector: Charlie Lexton, CEO, Merlin, is interviewed by Cherie Hu, Researcher and Founder, Water & Music
Track 7: AI and Marketing Music
4:10pm
Presentation: “AI and Marketing Music” – Marlen Huellbrock, Director of Marketing & Strategy, Music Ally
4:20pm
Panel Discussion: AI and Marketing Music
- How is AI currently used in music marketing – and what’s next?
- What are the creative opportunities and potential backlash?
- What’s the future of music marketers in the age of AI?
Chair: Patrick Ross, COO, Music Ally
Speakers:
- Mariska Ariya, Co-founder, Riffidum
- Tomas Luyke, Director, Marketing EU, Nettwerk Music Group
- Chuka Chase, Co-Founder, Symphony OS
- James Quinn, Founder/Principal, Beautiful Digital
5:00pm
Event Ends
