VMDO Unveils New Speakers for 2026 Music Data and Insights Summit

A featured panel, 'The Social Media Ban: Disruption or Reset?', will discuss shifts in music discovery and audience behaviour among young people, bringing together leading voices, including Marlen Hüllbrock (Music Ally), Rose Riddell (Laneway Festival), Mardi Caught (The Annex) and artist Ixaras.

These new speakers join the previously announced keynote from Hüllbrock, who will dive into how the next generation of fans is evolving online. Her session, 'Marketing to Gen Alpha in the Age of Social Media Bans', will explore how under-16 audiences are navigating tighter platform restrictions, and what that means for artists and marketers trying to reach them.

The summit will also mark the release of the second edition of The Bass Line, a flagship research project from Music Australia. The updated report offers a fresh snapshot of the industry’s economic contribution across the 2024-25 financial year, with a dedicated session set to break down its key findings alongside commentary from sector leaders.

New research will also be unveiled from the Australian Research Council-backed project Community Music Radio: Building the Music-Media Ecosystem, led by Shane Homan and Susan Forde. A separate report, Supporting First Nations Led Music Business, spearheaded by Kaleena Smith, will also be presented, focusing on the importance of culturally led programs shaped by First Nations artists, businesses and communities.

Music Australia Director Millie Millgate said “We’re proud to support the Music Data and Insights Summit as a national forum that brings industry, research and policy together to turn data into meaningful action.

"High-quality data and shared insights are critical to building a sustainable and globally competitive Australian music industry. The Bass Line provides an important evidence base to better understand the sector’s economic contribution and inform future decision-making,” she explained.

VMDO General Manager Kirsty Rivers said the newly announced presenters and sessions reflect rapid change in how audiences discover and engage with music. “Audiences are changing how they engage with music and discovery pathways continue to shift. This summit brings industry and research together to turn data into practical insight that can guide better decisions across the sector."

Held at Collingwood Yards, the summit builds on the success of its 2025 debut, continuing to position itself as a national forum for evidence-driven discussion and collaboration.