Sponsor content created with FFWD Music Conference
Following a decade of progressive ideas and new voices, the FastForward (FFWD) Music Conference returns to London at Hackney Church on February 10.
Speakers for this year’s event include Ivor Novello, BRIT & Grammy award-winning songwriter Kamille; Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd; James Lightfoot, A&R manager, SoundOn, EMEA at TikTok; Spotify’s songwriter partnerships lead Lara Baker; artist managers Sophie Kennard (Chase & Status) and Pol Mitchell (Annie Mac); Partisan Record's artist development manager Connie Rose, Dirty Hit’s head of streaming & digital partnerships Perdi Higgs; publicist & culture strategist Linda Coogan Byrne; Deviate Digital's founder/CEO Sammy Andrews; Royal Albert Hall CEO James Ainscough OBE; artist manager Thando Zulu – and many more.
The keynote conversation will see Karen Emanuel OBE, founder, Key Production, in conversation with Julie Weir, director, Music for Nations, Sony Music. They will be discussing entrepreneurship, music's glass ceilings and the future of the music industry.
Launched by music industry economist Chris Carey in 2015, the event was a response to the sameness of traditional industry conferences. Driven by expertise and a sense of social justice, Carey’s goal was to build a space where new voices were heard, honest dialogue was welcomed and progress felt possible.
“It feels like 10 years has flown by!” Carey told Music Week. “Looking back, I’m very proud of the people and ideas we have platformed and the long lasting connections we have facilitated. While locations, durations and the team have evolved over time I'm pleased three fundamental pillars remain at its heart: an unrelenting focus on content, community, and creators.”
FFWD has a track record of bringing together all corners of the music industry, across live, recorded, publishing and D2C – hearing from artists, writers and producers, as well as industry leaders.
I’m very proud of the people and ideas we have platformed and the long lasting connections we have facilitated
Chris Carey
FFWD hosted one of Europe’s first gender-balanced music industry conferences, and has since welcomed over 300 speakers across events in London, Leeds, Amsterdam and Sydney. From major names like Nile Rodgers, Merck Mercuriadis, MNEK and Charlotte de Burgh-Holder, to emerging artists, executives and change-makers, FFWD has consistently championed representation across ethnicity, gender, neurodiversity and social background.
2026 LINE-UP OF INDUSTRY LEADERS
The 2026 edition will be the largest meet-up to date, bringing together more than 300 leaders from across recorded music, songwriting and live for a unique knowledge sharing and networking experience.
The 10th anniversary line-up will include alumni of the event joining as co-hosts to lead panels and keynote conversations alongside founder Chris Carey.
Every FFWD event is designed to be inclusive, accessible, insightful and welcoming. Each space is intentionally curated to help people feel safe to connect, share and build meaningful relationships, regardless of career stage or experience.
With a mix of panel discussions, off-stage conversations, rapid-fire knowledge sessions and catered breaks, FFWD is known for fostering real relationships and leaving attendees with renewed knowledge, energy and direction.
“We've seen artists find managers, labels find staff, start-ups find co-founders, companies find investors, friendships formed and artists even playing the Rugby World Cup on the back of connections made at FastForward,” said Carey.
The upcoming event will focus on the big conversations that will transform the next three years of the music industry: fixing discovery, funding (and safeguarding) artist development, the value of a local live scene, and more.
FFWD GROUP EXPANSION
In 2025, FFWD expanded through FFWDx – a new series of localised events co-created with purpose-driven partners. These include FFWDxLeeds, focused on empowering regional music communities, and FFWDxGrassroots, a creator-first day for artists, writers and producers. This growth reflects FFWD’s commitment to staying close to the communities it serves and increasing its real-world impact.
Now under the umbrella of FFWD Group, the vision remains the same: to connect the people shaping a more inclusive, forward-thinking music industry and to keep pushing the conversation forward, locally and globally.
Founder Chris Carey has held senior roles at Universal, EMI, PRS For Music and TicketSwap, and consulted for Spotify, Sony Music, Hipgnosis and The O2 Arena. As chief economist for the UK live music trade body LIVE, his modelling helped secure millions in government support during the pandemic.
FastForward’s inaugural edition took place in Amsterdam in 2016 and has since travelled the world, with 17 events across Sydney, London, Amsterdam and Leeds, attracting delegates from over 25 countries, including Australia, Uganda, the Netherlands, South Africa, Nigeria, Brazil, Japan, Ghana, Poland, Lithuania and many more.
'CHAMPIONING ALL VOICES' IN PROGRAMMING
The conference has developed an international reputation for its approach to programming. Carey highlighted some of the event’s achievements over the last decade.
“We put a real focus on actionable insights and strategies that our delegates can take away and implement in their work,” he said. “It's easy to decry complex problems at length. What is the crux of the issue? What can we do about them? And what can we do immediately?
“When programming, there is a duty to pull in voices from a wide range of lived experiences and cultures. I’m incredibly proud of our achievements when it comes to championing all voices – from over 400 speakers across 10 years 55% have been non-male thought-leaders, and one in 6 speakers from a global majority background. We've also had the difficult conversations around misogyny in music, making industry more accessible for parents, event and studio accessibility, and much more.”
The event offers a platform for industry to learn from artists, and for artists to voice their challenges, concerns, hopes and demands for better conditions.
“We’ve been lucky to hear from Nile Rodgers [Chic], MNEK, Gus Unger-Hamilton of Alt-J, Gabriella Cilmi , Everything Everything bassist Jeremy Pritchard, and Newton Faulkner to name a few,” said Carey. “Our special anniversary edition will once again put an exciting roster of artists front and centre, all in the stunning surroundings of an iconic London music venue. It’s going to be incredibly special.”
Thando Zulu, founder of Zulu Music and experiences director at Hackney Church, added: "FastForward is always a highlight for me. The knowledge in the room is first class, but more than that the network of good people that Chris has brought together leaves me feeling inspired every year! To be hosting fast forward at Hackney Church is special for me and no doubt will be a great time for everyone who comes this February!"
Synchtank and GigRealm are supporters of FFWD London 2026.
Ticket prices for FFWD London 2026 are from £150 – find out more details here.
https://www.ffwd.group/ffwdldn26
