Music Commission News

GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT 2026
Dates: Thursday 27 & Friday 28 August 2026
Venue: Q Theatre, Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand
Tickets here via Q Theatre

Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ), in partnership with the New Zealand Music Commission, announces 16 additional speakers for Going Global Music Summit 2026 – bringing music industry leaders from global markets to Auckland and connecting Aotearoa’s music industry directly to decision-makers across North America, the UK, Malaysia, Australia and India.

The latest programme additions open up conversations around where music careers can go next — from international festival stages and the rapidly developing Indian music market to global distribution, live promotion and the growing world of game audio. Among them, PikPok’s Jayde Marter and Broghan Blackshaw will explore the crossover between music and games, while Rafael Pereira, Executive Trustee of India Music Exchange, brings a new connection between Aotearoa’s music industry and India’s international music ecosystem.

Between them, this cohort has worked with Chappell Roan, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Kaiser Chiefs, The 1975, Tiësto and Armin van Buuren. Past summit editions have already sent Aotearoa artists to stages at The Great Escape and beyond.

2026 SPEAKERS – THIRD ANNOUNCEMENT

This third round of confirmed speakers spans booking and artist management, distribution and label strategy, A&R and artist development, music trade and law — reaching into new markets, and for the first time, an entirely new industry:

Adam Lewis
Founder/Owner, Planetary Group (USA)

Adam Lewis is founder and head of Los Angeles-based Planetary Group, an artist development firm helping emerging artists reach audiences across North America through radio, PR and social media. His recent clients include Chappell Roan, Arlo Parks, Yard Act, Soccer Mommy, The Last Dinner Party, Cate Le Bon, The Chats and Nick Cave. Previously, Lewis worked at TVT Records and has managed artists, tour managed international tours and booked hundreds of live shows.

Ashley Gay
Xelon Digital (AUST)

Ashley Gay is a veteran record executive who has played a key role in the growth of Australia’s electronic music scene. Beginning his career in the 1990s as a radio DJ and music director, he later held A&R roles at Pro-DJ and Central Station Records. In 2007, he founded Xelon Digital, combining his music industry and technology expertise. Today, Xelon is a 100% Australian-owned independent distributor representing hundreds of labels and artists across multiple genres and international markets.

Broghan Blackshaw
Lead Composer / Songwriter, PikPok (NZ)

Broghan Blackshaw is a sound designer, composer and songwriter with more than a decade of experience across music, documentary and video games. Lead Composer and Songwriter at PikPok, she specialises in songwriting, vocal composition, arranging and creating bespoke music and sound for games. She holds a postgraduate degree in music performance from Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music and is best known for writing theme music and contributing sound and music to PikPok’s Into the Dead franchise.

Christina Austin
Booking Agent, Cobra Agency (UK/Austria)

Christina Austin is a Booking Agent at Cobra Agency, having joined Cobra earlier this year after eight years at UTA, rising from Assistant in 2017 to Agent in May 2022. Represents a diverse roster including Sleep Theory, Alina Pash, Ocean Sleeper, Iniko and Normandie. Began her career across London music venues, including Brooklyn Bowl London, promoting artists such as The Bronx and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes.

Dan Nascimento
General Manager, Community Music / UNIFIED (AUST)

Dan Nascimento is part of UNIFIED Music Group, a global independent music company. He manages the careers of Ocean Alley and Jack Botts, as well as being General Manager of Community Music, which is a distribution and artist services alternative that exists to enhance independence. Dan also sits on the AIR Board to represent the best interests of independent artists & labels.

Jamie Raeburn
Sweat It Out Music / Central Station Records (AUST)

Raeburn is Owner/Director of Central Station Records, Sweat It Out Music & Xelon Distribution. Since joining Central Station’s A&R department in 1998 and rising to MD by 2002, he has developed and signed artists including RÜFÜS DU SOL, Dom Dolla, What So Not, Tiësto and Armin van Buuren, alongside building the label’s Wild FM & SkitzMix series and local talent like Odd Mob and Starley.

Jannah Beth
Founder/Director, Offbeat Collective (AUST)

Jannah Beth is an artist, creative director and the co-founder of Offbeat Collective, an artist-led music company building practical pathways for emerging artists through artist development, releases, mentorship and creative community. She is also the co-founder of ONE OFF TRAKS, a flagship annual songwriting and production program supporting women, trans, non-binary and gender-diverse music makers across Australia and Aotearoa. Jannah has helped grow the program into an international platform, including a curated showcase at SXSW London and its first Aotearoa camp.

Jayde Marter
Audio Director, PikPok (NZ)

Jayde Marter is the Audio Director at PikPok, a composer, sound designer, and music producer. He has worked in the music industry for 25 years and in game audio for 14 years, helping shape PikPok’s audio signature across more than 30 game releases. His work spans composition, songwriting, production, sound design, and implementation. Outside of games, Jayde is the CEO and Co-Founder of Burn My Records, where he works alongside artists to develop music, creative partnerships, and pathways through the industry.

Lucas Canzona
Founder, Fairwin Ent (Canada/USA)

Lucas is a Canadian artist manager based in LA, and his company Fairwin specializes in cross-border development from the USA to other countries. Most recently, they hit the #1 song target in China with client JORDANN. Other clients have been featured on Ellen, Good Morning America, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and by Ryan Reynolds, Paris Hilton, Madonna, Elton John, and have been listened to over a billion streams.

Maria Amato
CEO, AIR (AUST)

Maria Amato is the CEO of AIR and WIN Executive Board member and Treasurer. Amato has worked in the arts and not-for-profit sector for over 30 years, specialising in finance management and leadership. Elected as the first female and first person from the Southern hemisphere to chair the board of WIN as part of its annual rotation in Feb 2022, Amato was then elected as treasurer in Feb 2023 and continues to serve as a member of WIN’s executive committee. Maria has held former non-executive director positions for the Adelaide UNESCO City Of Music, the Australian Institute of Music and Music Victoria.

Mick Tarbuk
Country Manager, Believe (AUST)

Mick Tarbuk is the Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand at Believe, one of the world’s leading digital music and artist services companies. Since launching Believe’s ANZ operations in late 2015, Mick has spearheaded the company’s regional growth, empowering independent artists and labels to maximize their digital reach while retaining creative ownership.

Paul Harris
Co-founder, No Numbers (AUST)

No Numbers and an A&R consultant to Warner Music across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. He began his career at B-Unique Records in London, where he signed Kaiser Chiefs, before A&R roles at Sony Music and Warner Music Australia working with Gang Of Youths, Tash Sultana and Amy Shark, as well as New Zealand artists Balu Brigada, Harper Finn and SACHI.

Qisthina Razin
Head of Projects, RK Live Asia / Account Director, Tong Tong (Malaysia)

With over a decade of experience in Southeast Asia’s music and live entertainment industry, Qisthina works across artist bookings, music programming, festival production, and marketing. She currently wears two hats: as Account Director at TongTong Asia, leading brand partnerships, concert promotion, PR, and marketing for international artists and music campaigns; and as Head of Projects at RK Live Asia, overseeing bookings and strategy for non-electronic touring artists across the region. Passionate about connecting artists with new audiences, she is committed to growing Southeast Asia’s live music ecosystem through meaningful collaborations and cultural exchange.
Qisthina travels courtesy of Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Rafael Pereira
Managing Partner, Tinnuts (INDIA) / Executive Trustee, India Music Exchange (India)

Rafael Pereira is Executive Trustee of the India Music Exchange, India’s only multilateral music trade and investment office, where he organises the India International Music Week, facilitating dialogue, trade, and collaboration between Indian and international music industries. Rafael is also Managing Partner of TINNUTS, a full-service law firm, where he advises and represents leading creators, artists, producers, publishers, labels, studios, agencies, funds, and entrepreneurs across the global creative economy. His expertise includes international trade, public policy, intellectual property, development financing, and sustainable impact investing.
Rafeael travels courtesy of Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Romy Harber
Global Head of Editorial, Marketing and Partnerships at B-Electronic / BELIEVE (UK)

Leads global growth strategy for labels, artists and campaigns across b:electronic, building long-term value and commercial impact at every stage of an artist’s career. Has built and led high-performing teams across multiple markets, and developed Believe’s Rock & Metal and Classical & Jazz specialist teams globally, growing a world-class roster of artists and labels.

Tom Brain
Promoter, JOY Concerts (UK)

Tom Brain is a music promoter based in Brighton, England. He joined JOY. in April 2025 where he works on headline shows across the UK as well as booking artists for Preston Park, On The Beach Festival and the Hove Park series.

They join previously announced speakers Tom Windish (THE·TEAM), Andy Jones (FOCUS Wales), Kyle Kernohan (TBA Agency), David Melik Telfer (DMT Law Firm), Dev Sherlock (SXSW Music), Jordan Acker (GYRO.Group), Lucy Atkinson (ROAM Artists) and Niriko McLure (BIGSOUND) – with more still to come.

Summit tickets are on sale now via Q Theatre, and the full programme arrives next week.

Check out all things Going Global below:
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Going Global Music Summit is Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier international music industry event, presented annually by Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) in partnership with the New Zealand Music Commission. The summit connects leading international figures in A&R, booking, licensing, management, marketing, promotion, and publishing with New Zealand artists and industry.

Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) serves as the primary representative organisation for the independent music sector in Aotearoa, representing the interests of independent artists, labels, publishers, and music businesses. IMNZ advocates for a healthy, sustainable independent music ecosystem and delivers events, education, and initiatives that support the growth and global reach of New Zealand music.