NASA
November 6-7 2025
9:30 – 16:00
Iceland Airwaves is a globally recognised brand with an outstanding reputation for shining light on new music talent.
This year’s conference welcomes music industry delegates and press from all over the world with great speakers and opportunities for networking.
The conference is held in collaboration with Iceland Music, Reykjavík Music City and Business Iceland.
Press and photographers should visit the press page here.
Please note, we reserve the right to make changes in rates and schedule. The industry pass does not guarantee access to potential invite only events, other limited-capacity workshops and networking events or concerts after the capacity is filled. Some of the networking sessions may require enrollment.
What comes first, the team or the breakthrough? This panel dives into the chicken-or-egg dilemma of music management. Industry experts discuss whether it’s better to build a strong team to achieve success or to break through first and then attract the right team. We’ll also explore the evolving role of a manager in today’s music landscape and what it takes to build and sustain a successful career.
Moderator
Paul Stokes (Writer/Broadcaster)
Panelists
James Sandom
(Red Light Management)
Ruth Barlow (Beggars Group)
Steinunn Camilla (Iceland Sync Creative)
Will Larnach-Jones (London Records)
Is there space for dissidence in today’s hyper-capitalized music industry? Do artists risk alienation by speaking their minds? What challenges do they face in balancing career goals with their principles? Can everyone afford to speak up, or is this privilege reserved for a few? Gain insights from industry insiders and artists on retaining integrity in a competitive musical
Moderator
Anna Hildur Hildibrandsdottir (Bifröst University)
Panelists
Ai Jing (Haze Sounds)
Ariane Mohr (Reeperbahn Festival)
Diana Burkot (Pussy Riot/Artist)
Ragnar Kjartansson (Artist)
Join key players in the Icelandic music industry for a conversation on the interplay between the country’s rich musical heritage and its unique cultural infrastructure. This is an opportunity to discover Iceland’s potential as a hub of creativity, collaboration, and innovation for the international music industry.
Moderator
Sophie Leigh Walker (Line of Best Fit/Toast Press)
Panelists
Augustin Eude (One Little Independent)
Colm O’herlihy (INNI)
Kevin Cole (KEXP)
María Rut Reynisdóttir (Iceland Music)
On this panel we dive into the art of modern music marketing, where broad strokes strategies are being abandoned and replaced by intensely focussed, story-driven campaigns. This panel will highlight how the precision of storytelling is reshaping music promotion and how the exploitation of the parasocial relationship between artist and superfan has become the key to a successful campaign.
Moderator
Peter McGaughrin (Red Light Management/Chess Club Records)
Panelists
Brian Lowit (Dischord Records & Lowitt Records)
Hildur Maral (OPIA Community)
Júnía Jónsdóttir (Creative Director)
Natasha Cutts (Hoof Management)
Back during lockdown with everyone missing live music, Tim realised we all had the opportunity to take part in one great big listening party and used Twitter as the platform to do so. Since then he’s hosted over a thousand real-time album playbacks with artists and turned the virtual event into a live experience as well as an award winning podcast series. Now, Tim will bring the Party to Iceland where he will be joined by Of Monsters and Men on a journey through their debut album ‘My Head is an Animal’. We’ll hear unique stories and exclusive insights into one of the most successful albums to come out of the country as Tim, once again, recreates the World’s Biggest Listening Party.
Tim Burgess (The Charlatans)
Nanna Hilmarsdóttir (OMAM)
Brynjar Leifsson (OMAM)
A deep dive into the interplay between music festivals and their local communities. We explore the festival’s role in fostering and shaping the music community and vice versa, and discuss effective ways to nurture collaborative relationships.
Moderator
Lena Ingwerson (Music Cities Network)
Panelists
Ása Dýradóttir (Reykjavík Music City)
Bjarni Daníel (Post-Dreifing/RÚV)
Berkli Johnson (SXSW)
Lauren Down (End of the Road Festival)
Pan Thorarensen (Extreme Chill Festival)
Who really decides what music makes it to the top? This panel dives into the blend of algorithms and human expertise shaping music discovery today. Industry insiders will explore the latest trends, challenges, and the evolving role of critics in the digital age. Join us for a deep dive into the future of music curation – where technology meets talent.
Moderator
Josie Anne Gaitens (Journalist)
Panelists
David Fricke (MOJO/SiriusXM Radio)
James Foley (Spotify)
Rebecca Mason (Inside Out)
Rory Connolly (BBC)
Is the secret to a thriving music industry hidden in the classroom? This panel explores how ongoing music education can transform the industry, fostering innovation and sustainability. Join industry leaders and educators as they discuss the impact of lifelong learning on career development, creativity, and industry growth. Discover how education can shape an industry that’s not just survivable, but truly worth working in.
Moderator
Margrét Ósk Gunnarsdóttir (Artist Manager)
Panelists
Elín Hall (Artist)
Emilien Moyon (Berklee Valencia)
Ryan McMahon (Birdhouse Media)
Sadie Bryant (4AD)
The live music scene has taken some hits, but what’s next? This panel tackles whether the global live industry can bounce back or faces an existential crisis. With the biggest stars bigger than ever, is their success masking deeper issues? Hear from top promoters, agents, and music industry psychotherapists as they explore current challenges and the future of live performances. Get the insider scoop on what is next.
Moderator
Andy Gensler (Pollstar & VenuesNow)
Panelists
Caitlin Ballard (ATC Live)
Elliot Lefko (AEG/Goldenvoice)
Pascal Van De Velde (Greenhouse Talent)
Tamsin Embleton (Music Industry Therapist Collective)
Celebrate 25 years of Iceland Airwaves! This panel explores how the festival has showcased Icelandic music and up-and-coming bands worldwide. Despite its small population, Iceland produces world-renowned artists, with Airwaves playing a key role. Discover how this festival in Reykjavik became a globally admired brand, set against the unique backdrop of Reykjavik and Iceland’s stunning nature. Join us to toast the past, present, and future of Iceland Airwaves.
Moderator
Ólafur Páll Gunnarsson (RUV – RÁS2)
Panelists
Andy Duggan (WME)
Anna Rut Bjarnadóttir (Iceland Music)
Einar Thorsteinsson (Mayor of Reykjavík)
Nick Knowles (KxKn Management)
Sindri Ástmarsson (Iceland Airwaves)
Kick off the conference with breakfast, coffee and networking.
Iceland placed itself on the world map due to its creative output, with music in a star role. Built on the legacy of our music giants, new artists benefit from being able to stand on their shoulders. Can other places learn anything from the Iceland way?
Sajje Solbak (Riddu Riððu), Ruth Daniel (In Place of War), Sigtryggur Baldursson (Iceland Music), Cesar Andion (The Spanish Wave Export)
Arnar Eggerts Thorodsson (Morgunblaðið)
Iceland invests heavily in the arts – in films, literature, and now increasingly music. Our question for this panel is why? Public funding in the creative sector is often met with scepticism; is it for the ‘common good’ in some way, or is this a sound investment strategy?
Maria Rut Reynisdóttir (MD for the new Iceland Music Office), Þorbjörg Daphne Hall (Musicologist), Shain Shapiro (Center for Music Ecosystems), Matt Riley (MD, AWAL)
Robert Levine (Billboard)
How come 2023s festival line-ups read like a 90s chart while emerging artists are cancelling tours and appearances in droves. Is this temporary post-covid setback, or is the live industry as we’ve known it breaking?
Scott Fetters (2112), Geoffrey Huntingdon-Williams (Prikið), Keith Miller (Bad Vibration Promoter), Sólveig Matthildur (Kælan Mikla), Ollie Jacob (manager Yard Act & label owner)
Katharin Ahrend (Club Comission Berlin)
Join us for tasty treats and great chats at the networking lunch.
The success of Icelandic indie artists in film music is leading to an emergence of a new category of rockstar: ‘the film composer’. Is this trend exclusive to Iceland or indicative of broader patterns? Is scoring a film simply a sweeter gig than touring?
Inga Magnes Weisshappel (Wise Music Iceland), Sarah McMullen (NETFLIX), Herdís Stefánsdóttir (Artist), Atli Örvarsson (INNI, Founder)
Stephanie Rushton (Music Supervisor)
Artists are expected to not ‘just’ make music anymore, but create a multi-media experience presented by an enticing persona that’s always on. It would be a misunderstanding to think they do this all alone. Let’s dig into what goes into creating this cinematic universe, and meet its players.
Rakel Mjöll Leifsdóttir (Dream Wife), Viðar Logi (Creative Director), Sarina Clark (Inside Out Agency), Devon O’Connor (Lava Records)
Rhian Emanuel (Because Music)
Meet the delegates and speakers and enjoy a tasty beverage at the IA Center.
The now annual tradition of welcome drinks to kick off the festival in style!
The Airwaves Conference welcomes everyone from musicians to music executives, and everything in-between.
Booking Agents, Composers, Culture Funds, DSPs, Export Bureaus, Festival Programmers, Funding Bodies, Media, Music Managers, Music Publishers, Music Supervisors, Musicians, Public Relations companies, Radio stations and programmers, Record Labels, Tour Promoters + more.
ATC Live, ATC Management, AWAL, BBC6 Music News, Big Dipper Management, By:Larm Festival, Brooklyn Vegan, Coda Agency, Disney/Freeform, Domino Music Publishing, Eurosonic Nooderslag, Flow Festival, KEXP, Keychange/PRS, Kobalt Music, Les Inrockuptibles, MIT, Netflix, NME, Paradigm Agency, Pitch and Smith, Reeperbahn Festival, Roskilde Festival, Sony Music, Spotify, Stereogum, The Current, The Line of Best Fit, The Orchard, United Talent Agency, Universal Music, William Morris Endeavour + more.
Iceland placed itself on the world map due to its creative output, with music in a star role. Built on the legacy of our music giants, new artists benefit from being able to stand on their shoulders. Can other places learn anything from the Iceland way?
Sajje Solbak (Riddu Riððu), Ruth Daniel (In Place of War), Sigtryggur Baldursson (Iceland Music), Cesar Andion (The Spanish Wave Export)
Arnar Eggerts Thorodsson (Morgunblaðið)