FastForward Sydney 2020 announces dates, venue

Open your calendars, pens at the ready. FastForward is returning to Sydney for its third edition.

The boutique music conference is locked in for April 30-May 1, taking place for the first time at the venerated Studios 301.

Established five years ago in Amsterdam, FFWD has since expanded into the U.K. and Australia, with a pair of events in the harbour city.

FFWD Sydney 2020 is supported by APRA AMCOS, Soundcharts, Comes with Fries and new sponsor TicketSwap,

“I’m very excited to be coming back to Australia in April,” comments FastForward founder Chris Carey. “It’s been a very busy year personally, moving jobs (to TicketSwap) and moving countries (to Amsterdam, Netherlands) and I’m really pleased that FastForward gets to continue in the same way.”

Dean Ormston speaking at FastForward Sydney

Also, notes Carey, Comes with Fries CEO Vanessa Picken is on board once again to “ensure the content is of the highest calibre.”

FFWD Sydney will gather about 150 people from across the Australian music industry, and has attracted some of the business’ biggest players in years past.

Over the first two editions, guest speakers have included Roger Field, CEO of Live Nation Australasia; FEAT founder Heidi Lenffer; Dee Speed, director of design at YouTube Music; and Luke Girgis, CEO of The Brag Media, publisher of The Industry Observer.

Roger Field and Lars Brandle at FFWD 2018

“We have big plans for 2020,” Carey adds. “The new venue gives us lots of opportunities to do some new things, as well as the seven panels, four keynotes and 10 rapid fire ‘FastFifteens’.

Expect “lessons from outside music,” teases the British-born and bred music sector analyst and former industry insider with Universal Music Group and EMI. Among those outsiders is Cricket Australia, the first organisation confirmed to the 2020 line-up.

Tickets go on sale from the beginning of February. For speaking and sponsorship opportunities, contact Chris Care at chris@fastforward.xyz.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.