BIG IDEAS, BIG CONVERSATIONS, BIG NAMES
This November, Reykjavík once again becomes the meeting point for music minds from around the world. From inspiring keynotes and sharp-witted panels to deep-dive chats and wild late-night brainstorms (aka dancing with a beer in hand), the Airwaves Conference is where industry heads, artists, and dreamers come to connect, reflect, and shape what’s next.
Together with our friends at Iceland Music we are excited to share the first Thursday panels and a bunch more industry stars. Let’s get into it!
On Thursday we are kicking off the conference with The Big Skip: Does Anyone Listen to Music Anymore? Streaming, swiping, skipping… In a world of short attention spans and skip culture, music must grab listeners fast; something sync agents consider when placing tracks. But once placed in film, TV, or games, music can breathe and resonate more deeply. This session explores that contrast: the pressure to catch attention quickly versus the opportunity to create lasting impact through sync. Inga Magnes Weisshappel will be representing Wise Music Iceland.
Next up is Global, But Make It Weird: How Specificity Became the New Strategy. This panel dives into how today’s industry curators are listening with intent, whether it’s hyper-local sounds or untranslatable lyrics, we’re all looking for tracks with a why. We’ll dig into how artists and their teams can embrace the quirks that set them apart, and why going global starts with sounding unique. Joining this panel is Árni Þór Árnason, who will be speaking on behalf of OPIA Community/Ólafur Arnalds.
The third Thursday panel we are announcing today is Sköpunargleðin: The Storm-Soaked Joy of Making Things. Iceland’s creative spirit is shaped by extremes; harsh winters, endless summer light, urban grit, and rural quiet. This panel gathers artists to explore how these contrasts fuel a uniquely collaborative and intuitive culture of making.
On to Friday! Joining our panel AI’m Not Your Enemy: Rethinking Strategy in the Age of Automation is Jeremy Silver who is Director of Mediaclarity Consultancy, honorary Professor, NED, Entrepreneur and author of “Towards A Digital Renaissance” which examines the interplay between technology, entrepreneurship and investment. He will be joined by Virginie Berger of MUSICx, where she focuses on shaping AI policy and building creator-focused, actionable framework.
We are welcoming to more panelists on Are the Kids Alright? What Young Audiences Want from Showcase Festivals. Meet assistant-booker Isla Mcrobbie who will be joining us on behalf of The Great Escape Festival, and Nicholas Douglas, Creative Director and Co-Director of music and culture magazine Notion.
For IQ Presents: The State of Live: Fickle fans, brutal budgets, and moving markets we are inviting César Andión, Talent Export & PR at Live Nation Spain and Head of The Spanish Wave. Last but not least is our very own festival director Ísleifur Thorhallsson, who has spent over 25 years shaping the landscape of Iceland’s live events through Sena Live and Iceland Airwaves.
The conference schedule is now live on our website! As per usual we start our conference days with a lovely breakfast to get you going, lunch to keep you sharp, and a daily happy hour where you can unwind, connect, and debrief on all the big ideas (or bond over strong coffee and stronger opinions).
A big shout out to our brilliant partners Iceland Music, Business Iceland, and Reykjavík Music City.
Oh and for those who haven’t gotten around to scoring tickets for IA25 yet, have you checked out our special PRO PASS?
