Live Nation Goes Big At BIGSOUND As 2026 Presenting Partner
Key Takeaways
Live Nation APAC is stepping up its commitment to Australia’s music industry as an official Presenting Partner of BIGSOUND 2026, marking its most significant presence at the conference to date and its fifth consecutive year partnering with BIGSOUND.
Live Nation APAC will bring together people and programs from across the business for four days of panels, industry conversations, artist development initiatives and live showcases.
The program includes Hans Schafer joining a panel on Bad Bunny and the global rise of Latin music, a dedicated Next On Artist Hub session and an ONES TO WATCH showcase featuring Holly Hebe, Eli Wan and Jem Cassar-Daley.
Live Nation is stepping up its commitment to Australia’s music industry as an official Presenting Partner of BIGSOUND 2026, marking its most significant presence at the conference to date.
Live Nation has proudly partnered with BIGSOUND for the past five years, reflecting its sustained investment in the next generation of Australian music talent and the industry that supports it.
As a major global touring company partnering with BIGSOUND in 2026, Live Nation will bring together people and programs from across its business for four days of panels, industry conversations, artist development initiatives and live showcases in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.
Jackie Antas, Senior Vice President, Communications, Live Nation Australia and New Zealand, said:
“BIGSOUND is where the next wave of Australian and New Zealand artists, ideas and industry relationships start to take shape.
“Having consistently partnered with BIGSOUND for the past five years, we’ve seen the value of showing up with practical support - not just visibility. As Presenting Partner, we’re bringing more of our people, programs and global perspective to the week, creating opportunities for artists and useful conversations for the wider industry.
“We’re excited to be back in the Valley for our favourite time of the year, and part of what comes next.”
Live Nation’s involvement across the week will span the breadth of the live music industry, from global touring and artist development to marketing, festivals and career pathways, with team members taking part in panels, roundtables and dedicated industry sessions.
The program will also bring two of Live Nation’s key artist development platforms to BIGSOUND, with Next On hosting a dedicated Artist Hub session and ONES TO WATCH Backed By American Apparel® returning with a showcase featuring Holly Hebe, Eli Wan and Jem Cassar-Daley.
Across the week, Live Nation will feature across the following BIGSOUND events and sessions:
LIVE NATION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
BAD BUNNY & THE GLOBAL RISE OF LATIN MUSIC
Tuesday 1 September | 3.00pm to 3.45pm | The Outpost
Live Nation’s Hans Schafer, Senior Vice President of Global Touring, will join a panel exploring the continued global rise of Latin music and what it could mean for Australia, drawing on his experience working with global superstar Bad Bunny.
Wednesday 2 September | 11.30am to 12.30pm | BrewDog Artist Hub
Live Nation’s Next On will host a dedicated session, beginning with a 15 minute informal conversation between Live Nation’s Emily Taylor, Immy Rennie from Ivy Music Group and Callum Grady from Cult Artists. They will discuss their artists’ experiences with Next On, from booking through to settlement, and the program’s impact on their bottom line.
This will be followed by a mixer connecting developing artists and managers with the Next On booking team, providing an opportunity to ask questions and learn when the program might be the right fit for your artist.
Next On supports developing artists with rent free venue access, production and marketing support and covered ticketing fees, while artists retain 100% of ticket and merchandise revenue.
LIVE NATION CONVERSATION CORNER
Thursday 3 September | 10.00am to 10.55am Content House (The Magee Pub & Dining)
Live Nation will host a dedicated Conversation Corner, giving delegates the opportunity to meet representatives from across Live Nation and Ticketmaster, ask questions and learn more about careers and pathways across the live music industry.
BACKSTAGE TO BIO: MUSIC MARKETING EDITION
Thursday 3 September | 2.00pm to 2.45pm | Content House (The Magee Pub & Dining)
Live Nation’s Ellie Glaves, Digital Marketing Director, will join marketing leaders from Laneway Festival, Concord Music and Meta to discuss what’s working when it comes to marketing artists, festivals and live music.
BIGSOUND ROUNDTABLES: AGENTS & FESTIVALS
Thursday 3 September | 4.00pm to 5.00pm | Fortitude Music Hall
Live Nation Promoter Paul Lynch will join the Agents & Festivals Roundtable, sharing insights into touring, festivals and the relationship between agents and promoters.
ONES TO WATCH BACKED BY AMERICAN APPAREL®
Thursday 3 September | 5.00pm to 7.00pm | The Outpost
Live Nation’s ONES TO WATCH Backed By American APPAREL® returns to BIGSOUND with performances from Holly Hebe, Eli Wan and Jem Cassar-Daley, continuing the program’s focus on putting developing artists in front of new audiences and the wider music industry.
Live Nation’s Presenting Partnership with BIGSOUND reflects its continued investment in Australia’s live music community - supporting developing artists, creating industry connections, and bringing local and global expertise to conversations shaping the future of live music.