BIGSOUND Announces New Music Programmers
+ Music Showcase Applications Open
Things are changing for BIGSOUND in 2024 as it gears up for its 23rd annual event in Brisbane this September 3-6. Alongside the opening of artist showcase applications today, BIGSOUND welcomes industry figureheads Casey O'Shaughnessy (Select Music) and Katie Rynne (Village Sounds) as the new BIGSOUND Music Programmers.
With a long history of platforming some of the brightest names in music, BIGSOUND offers artists the opportunity to perform in front of industry reps from all over the world, plus thousands of music lovers who gather in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley for the event each year.
Many former showcasing artists have gone on to do huge things since playing the event, with names like Flume, Tones and I, Rufus du Sol, Thelma Plum, Gang of Youths, A.B. Original, Courtney Barnett and The Jungle Giants all on previous year’s bills.
With BIGSOUND 2024 artist applications opening today, QMusic and BIGSOUND CEO Kris Stewart states, “We are calling for diverse acts of all genres, signed and unsigned, emerging and established – BIGSOUND’s role is to create opportunities for artists, so if you’re ready to play in front of industry reps from all over the world, we urge you to apply.
“We are thrilled to welcome Casey O'Shaughnessy and Katie Rynne to the team. The title of BIGSOUND Music Programmer requires a level of knowledge and connection to the Australian and global music industry uniquely found in their three decades of combined experience,” continued Stewart.
“They have helped forge the careers of an incredible number of artists and now step into the formidable task of scouring thousands of showcase applications, to ultimately help shape the landscape of Australian music, both here and abroad.”
Casey O’Shaughnessy is one of the country’s most in-demand senior booking agents, working at Australia’s largest independent agency, Select Music. Her skills are used across a stellar roster of artists from Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Europe, where she’s been instrumental in developing some of the country’s most successful touring acts across various genres, ranging from emerging talents to multi-platinum, festival headliners and award-winning artists.
Speaking of the role, Casey states, “I am incredibly honoured to join the BIGSOUND team as Co-Programmer. BIGSOUND is a highlight for me every year, not only as a networking opportunity but also as a vital platform for acts to grow their teams locally and internationally.
“Together with Katie and the wider team at BIGSOUND, I am eager to create unforgettable experiences and help artists build meaningful connections. With so many traditional routes for artists to break through falling away, it's more important than ever to ensure we create new pathways and reimagine how we can platform artists in the future.”
A fellow alum of Select Music, Katie Rynne now serves as a senior booking agent at Village Sounds, a Sydney-based agency under the Secret Sounds Group umbrella that oversees beloved festivals like Splendour In The Grass and Harvest Rock.
Katie shares, “I am beyond excited to be working with Casey and the QMusic team. As an agent, BIGSOUND has always been an event that I’ve looked forward to as a way to connect with great talent. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver that same platform to the incredible artists we have across Australia.
“As a proud Queenslander I’d be reticent to not mention the role that the Brisbane music scene and Fortitude Valley venues played in my early years as a music lover also, so taking on this role means a great deal to me both personally and professionally, and I can’t wait to get stuck into the submissions alongside my favourite person in the music industry.”
At BIGSOUND 2024, by day the world’s most important music decision-makers will come together in Fortitude Valley to have important discussions around the development of art and commerce, and by night adventurous music lovers discover the future of music.
