Dr Diljeet Bhachu

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Musicians’ Union

Dr Diljeet Bhachu is the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Musicians’ Union. She is based in Glasgow, and is active as a live and recording session musician, as well as her own musical projects. Before joining the MU, Diljeet worked in various contexts including lecturing in Higher Education, academic and freelance research in the arts, and community music.

Pronouns: she/her

Elliot Jaillet

Senior Manager, Programming & Editorial, Vevo

Elliot's passion for discovering new artists led him to work in music curation for the past decade. He started his career in music supervision for film & TV in Los Angeles, where he helped curate the soundtrack of high-profile shows for HBO, FOX and ABC. He then spent 4 years as a Senior Music Programmer for Google Play and YouTube Music before becoming the Head of Music Curation at Keakie, a London-based streaming platform for DJ mixes and radio shows.

Fleur East

Singer-songwriter & Presenter

Fleur East came to fame as a teenager when she was a part of the group Addictiv Ladies on X Factor in 2005; it was after this that she launched a solo career a few years later, predominantly working as a vocalist in the drum and bass sphere. She would eventually return to compete on X Factor as a solo artist in 2014, getting to number one on the UK iTunes charts with her Bruno Mars ‘Uptown Funk’ cover, before finishing the show in second place and signing to a major label. Since then she has put out two acclaimed albums, her single ‘Sax’ went platinum, she made memorable appearances on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Strictly Come Dancing (Fleur was a runner-up on the latter), she presents the breakfast show over on Hits Radio, and has even qualified as a personal trainer.

Gareth Mellor

VP, Global Marketing & Communications, Downtown Music Holdings

Gareth Mellor oversees the marketing of some of the industry's most renowned independent music companies, including FUGA, Songtrust, CD Baby and Downtown's Music Services, Publishing and Neighbouring Rights divisions.

With 15 years experience, Mellor has held senior marketing roles at FUGA, Kobalt / AWAL and Tunecore, and he sits on the Board of Trustees for Music Minds Matter, the UK industry's mental health charity.

Ian Sims

Senior Label Relations Manager, Amazon Music

Ian leads the relationship between Amazon Music and Universal Music labels in the UK. Ian started his Amazon Music journey in 2017 within the Physical Music team, and has been in the Digital Music team since 2020 where he negotiates mutually benefitting artist partnerships and owns priority projects across emerging artists (Breakthrough) and catalogue music. Some recent achievements include: Consumer Innovation Award Finalist 2023 (Music Week), Best Marketing Campaign List 2022 (Music Ally), seven figure views on numerous Twitch livestreams, and Top 5 OCC chart finish with Amazon Original Christmas track.

James Giddings

Co-Founder, DeLaMouche

James is the Co-Founder of DeLaMouche, which is made-up of 3Sixty Music and Media. As a company, they harness their significant network to work with major IP owners, brands, Governments, investors and artists across the globe to harness the power of music and media. DeLaMouche's recent work includes programming the music and performances at the FIFA World Cup as well as ongoing projects with brands such as MOBO, BBC, Marshall and many more. DeLaMouche also represent a roster of already successful and up-and-coming artists.

Jamie Spinks

Head of A&R, Columbia Records

Jamie Spinks has achieved remarkable success signing some of the biggest and most ground-breaking artists and singles in the industry. While at Polydor, he worked with high-profile artists such as RAYE, Jax Jones, Mura Masa, Ellie Goulding, and Celeste. In 2022, he moved to Columbia Records, where he founded the 'Room Two' joint venture and was promoted to Head of A&R.

In his time at Columbia, Jamie signed multi-platinum band Rudimental and emerging artist Venbee. As Head of A&R, he is responsible for overseeing the direction of the A&R strategy for Columbia Records, signing and developing the next generation of talent for its iconic roster.

Joe Goddard

Band member, Hot Chip

Member of Hot Chip and the 2 Bears, songwriter, producer, DJ, Grammy-nominated remixer and co-founder of the Greco-Roman label. All of the above are elements of the biography of Joe Goddard, an artist now firmly established as part of the lineage of British producers whose raison d'être lies in the synthesis of the perfect vocal, the right beat and the energy levels felt in the centre of the dancefloor. The optimism and sense of community Goddard's music provides, however, is his alone.

Jordss

DJ

Jordss is a London based DJ and producer, who plays recognisable favourites infused with electronic twists. Never afraid to throw a curveball or three, Jordss draws influences from her Caribbean roots and blends them with gritty London garage, soul and dance.

Jordss is also the founder of ‘Girls Can’t DJ’, a community and database made to eradicate gender imbalance in the DJing community by encouraging womxn to learn how to DJ and promoting existing female and non-binary talent.

With 6 boiler rooms, 21 international shows and her recent HÖR Berlin set, Jordss is a music lover and tastemaker making waves in the music industry.

Joy Crookes

Artist

Joy Crookes has fast become one of the UK’s most exciting new artists. Her unique approach to storytelling within her songs has seen her become a treasured and trusted new voice. 

Joy's debut album 'Skin' achieved a top 5 spot in the Official UK Chart and number 1 in the Official Record Store Chart, two BRIT nominations and was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.

Kojey Radical

Artist

“I’ve always seen myself as a servant of creativity,” says Kojey Radical, “I’m only here to contribute. Outside of that it’s not about me.” The 28-year-old multi-genre musician has emerged as one of Britain’s most thrilling and unique creative voices. Blending everything from Rap to Jazz, spoken-word to funk, Kojey manages to wrap narrations on the conditions of country, the celebrations of community and the relationship with self into soulful, rhythmic sounds that carry at stage shows and festivals. By doing so, he has become a voice for the unheard.

Kwabs

Artist

Bermondsey-born Kwabena Adjepong appeared on the BBC Sound of 2015 list and went on to release three EPs. His single 'Walk' went straight to Number 1 in Germany and dominated radio airplay, across Europe.

Kwabs has previously supported Sam Smith on their European tour and collaborated with Disclosure on the track 'Willing & Able'. He has performed at both Coachella and Glastonbury.

Lauren Layfield

TV & Radio Presenter

Lauren has been waking up the nation’s early risers on Capital’s Early Breakfast Show since 2019.  She has been a regular reporter for The One Show since 2021. Last year, she joined the Eurovision family to become the commentator for Junior Eurovision, broadcasting live on BBC One.

Lauren is an ambassador for mental health charity Young Minds and period poverty organisation Bloody Good Period. Her debut teen novel ‘Indi Raye is Totally Faking It’ will be published in August 2023 by Hachette UK.

Lewis Slade

Studio Manager, Metropolis Studios

Lewis Slade has been running the studios since June 2021 and started his career there as an apprentice, working his way to the top within a few years of joining.

In his time as manager, Lewis has seen Metropolis nominated for the MPG 2023 Studio Of The Year Award - the first for Metropolis in a number of years - facilitated the UK's first industrial-scale festival writing camp alongside Warner Chappell, and ran rehearsals for the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Show with the Foo Fighters and guest performers such as Paul McCartney, Queen, & Brian Johnson.

Alongside these special projects, he works with a wide range of artists from Kendrick Lamar, The Rolling Stones, Burna Boy, AJ Tracey, Travis Scott, Guns N Roses, Becky Hill, WizKid, and many more.

Lewis has been playing drums and writing music since 11 years of age, which is where his passion for music started; playing in bands across the UK and in Europe, and still producing music in collectives to this day.

LF System

Production Duo

Scottish duo LF System's single 'Afraid to Feel' went double Platinum, spending eight weeks atop the UK charts, the longest running electronic track to sit at #1. They have sold out debut tours of USA, Australia & New Zealand and have major festival appearances in summer 2023 at Glastonbury, Creamfields, Reading, Leeds, Exit, Parklife, TRNSMT and more.

Lucian Wheeler

Exams Officer, RSL Awards

Lucian is a multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer. After studying Creative Music Technology at the University of Salford, he has worked at RSL Awards in the exams team.

RSL awards are an international awarding body and music publisher. Their brands Rockschool, VQ (Vocational Qualifications), PAA (Performing Arts Awards), and CQ (Creative Qualifications) connect with over 100,000 young people each year. Alumni include Ed Sheeran, Jess Glynne, and Wolf Alice.

Lucian also writes, records and gigs all across London as part of Fearweek and The Famous Daxx.

Mark Savage

BBC Music Correspondant

Mark Savage started his career as a sound engineer, mixing live radio programmes in 52 languages for the BBC World Service, before moving into reporting. Since then, he has covered everything from the Cannes Film Festival to the Grammys, and interviewed some of music’s biggest names, including Paul McCartney, Madonna, Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga.

Martha Kinn

Founder, Kinndred Management

Martha has managed Years & Years since 2013, taking them from an unknown act to global success.

Martha’s former clients include MNEK (2020-22), Bree Runway (2017-20), and Rizzle Kicks, whom she discovered at age 22 and steered to platinum success with their debut album in 2011.

Martha won the ‘Rising Star’ award at Music Week’s Women in Music Awards in 2016, won the Ultimate Achievement Award via the Ultimate Seminar and has been nominated for Music Week’s ‘Manager of the Year’ 3 years in row.

In 2019, Martha launched a ground-breaking Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiative. The service comprises of artist assessment sessions, a well-being drop in facility and a therapeutic support group for staff.

Megan Townsend

Deputy Editor, Mixmag

Megan Townsend is a music journalist and the current Deputy Editor of Mixmag. Working in newsrooms for the past eight years, alongside writing about electronic music, has given Meganan in-depth knowledge of the dance music scene and modern media. Megan hails from Merseyside and is now based in London, and puts expanding the focal point of dance music journalism to include underrepresented groups and scenes — in both the UK and internationally — at the forefront of her work. While at Mixmag she has launched the Cost Of Living Series, written an in-depth investigation into the vinyl industry and post-COVID recovery — alongside consistent coverage of cultural trends and emerging artists. 

Pronouns: she/her

Michael Cragg

Music Journalist & Author

Michael Cragg has been writing about pop music for over a decade and has interviewed everyone from Lady Gaga to Lorde, via Little Mix, Shawn Mendes, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue and Lil Nas X. He has written for outlets including Vogue, The Guardian, GQ, BBC, The Observer, Popjustice, Dazed, i-D, The Face and Billboard. He also edits the independent biannual music magazine BEAT. He released his debut book, Reach For The Stars, an oral history of UK pop between 1996 and 2006, earlier this year.