Sumit Bothra (SB3 Artist Management), Seth Dodson (Pitchfork), Jess Iszatt (BBC), Katie Melua (artist), and Victoria Oakley (IFPI) are the first featured speakers announced for ESNS25. Other confirmed speakers include tastemakers from Dekmantel, EMMA, Wasserman Music, and many more. Delegate Passes are available now at a Medium rate at ESNS.nl
ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag), the key exchange for emerging European music, announces the first keynotes and featured speakers for its annual music conference. Committed to fostering a sustainable, diverse, and inclusive music sector where music is enjoyed by everyone, the ESNS Conference offers a platform for dynamic voices across the music industry.
In 2025, the program focuses on thought-provoking topics such as the impact of AI on the music industry, the future of streaming, achieving sustainability goals for festivals by 2030, the fairness of dynamic pricing, activism among artists and festivals, the effect of private equity on business, and the devastating impact of rising costs and lack of personnel in the live music industry.
Keynote and featured speakers
In her keynote speech at the ESNS Conference, Victoria Oakley (IFPI) will discuss the main challenges the recording industry will face in the upcoming years. In April 2024, IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) appointed Victoria Oakley as its CEO, representing the global recording industry in this role. Before joining IFPI, Oakley was the CEO of Portland, an international strategic communications and advocacy consultancy. Before that, she dedicated nearly two decades to the British Diplomatic Service and held the Global Public Policy Director position at Google.
Talking about the challenges and strategies for balancing parenthood and music industry career demands, singer and songwriter Katie Melua and her manager Sumit Bothra (SB3 Artist Management) will engage in a conversation with moderator and psychologist Anne Löhr (MITC). Sumit Bothra recently launched his own independent artist management company SB3 Artist Management, previously occupying the Managing Director role at ATC Management (Europe). His company manages the careers of 5 globally-recognised recording and touring artists. Sumit currently sits on the board of the UK’s Music Managers Forum and the European Music Managers Alliance.
The session is hosted by Music Industry Therapist Collective, an award-winning global network of specialist psychotherapists and psychologists who have all previously worked in the music business as artists and in areas like touring, artist management, TV and promotion.
Other featured speakers taking the stage at ESNS 2025 include CEO and co-founder Daan Archer (Copyright Delta), who specialises in safeguarding music in new digital, virtual and AI-driven worlds; agent at Wasserman Music Clementine Bunel; Pitchfork’s Executive Director of festivals and events Seth Dodson; Radio 1’s flagship BBC Introducing show host Jess Iszatt; Music Programmer at events company and record label Dekmantel Elisa Luengo; innovator, social change activist, podcast host, and artist Saskhia Menendez; Music Editor at The Independent Roisin O’Connor; Founder and CEO of hybrid virtual conference, bootcamp, and workshop Measures of Music Christine Osazuwa; Executive Director of the European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA) Jess Partridge; President of Music Managers Forum’s US chapter and International Music Managers Forum advisory board member Neeta Ragoowansi (MMF-US & IMMF); Dave Webster, the Head of International at UK’s Musicians’ Union, addressing touring post-Brexit; and Kees van Weijen (Hit4us, IMPALA, STOMP), who will address challenges for the independent music community in creating a level playing field.
Discover the full conference program here. The first artists showcasing at ESNS and more panels and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Open Call and a Focus on Italy
Earlier, ESNS announced a new Open Call for ESNS25 and its Focus on Italy.
ESNS invites music industry professionals to pitch their ideas in an Open Call for the ESNS Conference. ESNS welcomes proposals for sessions in any format, including Panel Discussions, Keynotes, Interviews, Workshops, Q&As, Debates, or Podcasts.
Focus on Italy showcases the latest Italian music acts on the ESNS stage and puts them in front of an audience of industry professionals, media, and music lovers. Every year, ESNS highlights the best-emerging acts from a European country, showcasing the diversity of musical talent across Europe. In collaboration with Italia Music Export, Puglia Sounds and ER Music Commission.
ESNS25 Delegate Passes
Join ESNS as a Delegate in January and meet with tastemakers from the European music industry, including representatives from companies like Spotify, Universal Music, Google/YouTube, Live Nation, UTA, See Tickets, MIDiA Research, Pollstar, IQ, and over a hundred European festivals and live music venues.
Delegate Passes for ESNS25 are now available at a Medium rate at ESNS.nl – Rates will go up soon.
Purchase a Delegate Pass
ESNS Delegate Passes include:
-Fast-lane access to 250+ showcases
-Full access to the ESNS Conference
-Networking lounges and hospitality options
-Access the ESNS Delegates Database
-Access ESNS Analytics for up-to-date artist data
About ESNS
ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) is an independent platform that puts European music talent in the global spotlight. ESNS offers European artists career-defining opportunities to break through and become tomorrow’s headliners.
Every January, Groningen (NL) transforms into the beating heart of the European music industry when ESNS hosts its showcase festival and music conference. Only the freshest European acts are invited to perform for passionate new fans and industry pros, helping them pave the way to the stages of major European music festivals.
ESNS works year-round to promote and support emerging talent. Through initiatives such as the European Talent Exchange, ESNS is committed to fostering a sustainable, diverse, and inclusive music sector where music is enjoyed by everyone.
To celebrate the rich and diverse European pop culture, ESNS presents several prestigious awards, including the Music Moves Europe Awards, the European Festival Awards, and the Popprijs. ESNS is also involved in essential initiatives, including Yourope, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Keychange, Take a Stand, and Green Deal Circular Festivals. Together, they strive for an innovative and impactful music sector.
ESNS has an impressive track record. Many European artists played their first international show in Groningen or were discovered through ESNS by their label, talent agency, or a large summer festival. ESNS alumni include AURORA, Stromae, Christine and the Queens, Buraka Som Sistema, Fontaines D.C., Sigrid, Marina Satti & Fonés, Altin Gün, Priya Ragu, The Haunted Youth, The XX, Robyn, Tramhaus, Sam Smith, Hozier, Alyona Alyona, Viagra Boys, Zaho de Sagazan, freekind., Kaleo, Chalk, Fat Dog and many more.
Founded in 1986, ESNS will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026.
ESNS 2025 will take place from January 15-18, 2025, in Groningen, the Netherlands.
