• Roc Nation President & Co-Founder Jay Brown in conversation with Nick Raphael, MD of Epic Records.
Jay Brown started his career working for legendary record producer Quincy Jones. He moved on to senior executive roles at Elektra Entertainment Group and Def Jam Recordings but is best known for his work with Jay-Z and Roc Nation. Roc Nation has been at forefront of creating innovative new strategic partnerships and business models such as those innovative with Live Nation and Sony Music and has become a creative hub for artists, writers and producers such as including Daniel Merriweather and the Ting Tings. Nick Raphael is one of the UK's most respected major label heads. He is MD of Epic Records and has achieved a long and distinguished career, including signing Jay-Z to Northwestside Records in the 1990s.
• ‘Unblocked Beats’ – featuring Jho Oakley, Nick Halkes and Caroline Protheroe. Moderated by Ben Turner.
Dance music has certainly come in from the wilderness of late, moving from the fields and warehouses of the early 90’s, through the club circuit and now on to the arenas, stadiums and headline stages of festivals the world over. The acts are more daring and innovative than ever before, but a lot of this has been down to those behind the scenes helping to make the music happen. The latest generation of dance music managers have truly set the benchmark with their methods of artist development that they are making names for themselves in their own right. Moderated by Graphite Media boss and Association of Independent Festivals founder Ben Turner who also manages Rob Da Bank and Tom Middleton, taking part in this discussion are some of the most successful dance music managers around. On the stage will be XL Recordings and Positiva Records co-founder Nick Halkes who now manages a number of successful dance artists, Jho Oakley of Jho Management who oversee the careers of arena conquering Pendulum, Chase&Status, Sub Focus, Noisia and Caroline Protheroe the former head of Dance for Virgin Records who now manages David Guetta among others.
• Manchester dance music legend and MD of the newly re-launched Deconstruction Records Mike Pickering in conversation with Paul Morley.
Mike Pickering first came to prominence in the 1980’s as a DJ at The Haçienda's infamous "Nude" and "Hot" nights and later "Shine". He later worked for Factory Records where he signed The Happy Mondays amongst others. He was the founder, writer and producer of Quando Quango and later M People. He now runs the newly re-launched, legendary dance music label Deconstruction Records, which is now part of Sony Music Entertainment. Paul Morley is an acclaimed journalist and broadcaster.
Dozens more panels, celebrity interviews, seminars, masterclasses and keynotes featuring some of the biggest names in the international music industry will be announced in the near future.
