Going Global

Elevating New Zealand Music to the World Stage

Auckland NZ - August 28 - 29 2025

Kia ora, Going Global!

NZ's boutique music conference is divided into a Conference and a Showcase Festival. Over two days, Going Global presents an enviable display of content in keynotes and panels that address relevant topics for the music community, brought to you by NZ Music Commission and Independent Music NZ. In the evenings, we present the freshest new live music from Aotearoa/New Zealand.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) and the NZ Music Commission are thrilled to reveal the final details for Going Global Music Summit 2025; including the Going Global Festival day splits, the last wave of powerhouse speakers, and a first hint at the thought-provoking panels that will fuel two days of industry connection and inspiration.

The annual two-day summit and festival returns to Tāmaki Makaurau Thursday, 28 and Friday, 29 August, uniting Aotearoa’s brightest artists with international speakers, festival bookers, and tastemakers from across the globe. It’s a concentrated hit of futureshaping conversations by day, and unmissable performances by night, the perfect place to discover your next favourite band before the rest of the world does.

This year’s Going Global Festival is a crash course in the best new music from across Aotearoa from a plethora of talent looking to make their mark overseas. Over two nights, 24 acts from every corner of the country hit central Tāmaki Makaurau, pairing homegrown heavyweights like Wiri Donna, There’s A Tuesday, and Anthonie Tonnon with rising names you’ll be bragging about discovering first: Bub, Beth Torrance and The Garden Party, Ferby, IVY, NOÉ, and more.

It’s a rare chance to see the most exciting sounds in the country all in one place, with the world’s music industry watching.

Alongside the festival, the next cohort of Going Global speakers brings together a diverse group of festival programmers, label leaders, and artist advocates from around the world. IMNZ is pleased to welcome Pixie Weyand, Music Festival Programmer at SXSW (USA), stepping in for Dev Sherlock. While Great Escape’s Adam Ryan is no longer able to participate this year, a festoon of this year’s summit promises valuable insights and connections to support Aotearoa’s music industry on the global stage.

Going Global 2025 Full Delegate List:

9LIVES - Artist Keynote (NZ)
Alyse Newman - PR, Artist Management - Aanthologies (AUST)
Alan Holt - International Manager, NZ Music Commission (NZ)
Ant Healey - Head of NZ Division, APRA AMCOS (NZ)
Ara Adams-Tamatea - L.A.B. Artist Keynote
Ash Harris - Artist Manager, Higher Ground (NZ)
Ash Hills – General Manager, UNIFIED Artist Management AU/NZ (AUST)
Boyan Pinter - Founder, Spike Bulgarian Festival & Showcase / A&R/Label Manager, Believe (BULGARIA)
Brad Kora – L.A.B Artist Keynote
Brian Zabinski - Senior Case Manager, Tamizdat (USA)
Brendan Gaffney, Global Marketing Secretariat, IMCJ (JAPAN)
Cathy Oates - Co-Programmer, BIGSOUND / Founder, Original Matters (AUST)
Cath Andersen CNZM - CEO, NZ Music Commission (NZ)
Cindy Castillo - Curator/Founder, MadCool Festival (SPAIN)
Dan Mackta – Managing Director, Qobuz (USA)
Dan Woolston - Artist Manager, Higher Ground (NZ)
Gareth Shute – Lil' Chief Artist Keynote
Hayley Percy – Head Of Music, Rising Festival (AUST)
Jess Page – Co-founder, Rareform (USA)
Jo Oliver - CEO, Recorded Music NZ (NZ)
Kimberley Galceran - Festival Booker, DARKMOFO (AUST)
Lau Frias - A&R Director, Secretly Group (USA)
Lorrae McKenna - Owner/Director, Our Golden Friend (AUST)
Lucy Pitkethly - Promoter/Booker, EatYourOwnEars (UK)
Mario Stresow – Promoter, FKP Scorpio (GERMANY)
Maria Amato – CEO & CFO, AIR (AUST)
Mikee Tucker – Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa (NZ) – L.A.B. Artist Keynote
Moranie Kim – General Manager, CJ Cultural Foundation (SOUTH KOREA)
Ollie Wards - Director of Music, TikTok AU/NZ (AUST)
Pippa Ryan-Kidd - IMNZ Chairperson (NZ)
Pixie Weyand – Music Festival Programmer, SXSW Music Festival (USA)
Princess Chelsea - Lil' Chief Artist Keynote
Reggie Ba-Pe – CEO / Founder, ALIAS (AUST)
Satria Ramadhan, Owner, SRM Bookings & Services / Co-Founder, AXEAN Festival (INDONESIA)
Taro Kumabe – Vice Chairman, IMCJ (JAPAN)
Will Evans – Music Merchandiser, Qobuz AU/NZ (AUST)

This year’s summit is focused on artist development and will dive deep into the big questions and bold ideas shaping music today, from how TikTok works, to your favourite AI tools, to building your music career, and so much more. 

Dylan Pellett, General Manager  of Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ), says:

“The interest shown from the wider world in Aotearoa New Zealand artists has never been higher. We are really looking forward to all the connections and discussions to be had over these coming days and beyond.” 

Tickets for both the summit and the festival are now on sale. Don’t wait until the rest of the industry is talking about what you missed.

 On Thursday 28 and Friday 29 August, Whammy! and Double Whammy! on Karangahape Road will host 24 artists performing concise, 20-minute sets — delivering the strongest songs from their repertoire. This format offers a focused, high-impact live experience that highlights the diversity and quality of Aotearoa’s emerging music scene.

The annual festival is a key part of Going Global™, a boutique summit where international booking agents, festival programmers, A&Rs, and sync reps connect directly with the next wave of New Zealand talent.  But it's not just an industry affair – with doors open to the public, the festival offers a curated program of the artists shaping the future of Aotearoa's music. Tickets available now via Undertheradar.co.nz.

"We are so proud to be presenting this amazing selection of Aotearoa’s artists to our International Delegates. As with previous years showcasing, so many international opportunities can arise from this." - Pippa Ryan-Kidd, IMNZ Chairperson

Covering everything from experimental electronica and punk to soulful pop and hip hop, this lineup represents the wide spectrum of Aotearoa’s contemporary music.

alayna – Soulful R&B (Rotorua)
Coast Arcade – High-energy indie rock (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Crystal Chen – Jazz-inspired soul (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Emerson – Catchy, heartfelt pop (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Anthonie Tonnon – Synth-laced art-pop (Ōtepoti)
Bub – Doo-wop meets post-punk, led by Priya Sami (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Beth Torrance & The Garden Party – Honest, melodic folk (Tāmaki Makaurau)
CCTV – Raw, theatrical post-punk (Tāmaki Makaurau)
花溪 Flowerstream – Māori-Chinese noise duo (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Jazmine Mary – Dreamy, experimental folk (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Mim Jensen – Indie rock (Ōtautahi)
IVY – Theatrical art-rock (Ōtepoti)
Sam V – Smooth R&B with Pacific roots (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Louisa Nicklin – Dark, poetic rock (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Sam Cullen & His Band – Anthemic pop-rock (Tāmaki Makaurau)
There’s A Tuesday – Queer-led indie pop (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Wiri Donna – Gritty guitar pop (Te Whanganui-a-Tara)
Lucian Rice – Clean-cut indie pop (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Jim Nothing – Lo-fi alt-pop (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Ferby – Glitchy, internet-raised rap (Lyttelton)
JessB & Rubi Du – Big, bold hip-hop and dancehall (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Serebii – Smooth, jazz-leaning soul (Tāmaki Makaurau)
NOÉ – Genre-hopping producer and vocalist (Te Whanganui-a-Tara)
HINA – Lush, indie-folk (Tāmaki Makaurau)

Tickets are on sale now — don’t miss your chance to catch the next wave of Aotearoa music before the rest of the world.

Two nights. 24 acts. A clear view of NZ music’s future.

$40 for both nights or $30 for a single night — the perfect price to find your new favourite artist.

Tickets available now via Undertheradar.co.nz - keyword search ‘Going Global’

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - Aotearoa’s premier music industry event returns for 2025 with a new round of influential international speakers and an open invitation for New Zealand artists to connect, collaborate, and take their music to the world.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming people from the global music community,” says IMNZ General Manager, Dylan Pellett, “giving them a chance to engage with our local music people, and experience some top-flight musical mavericks from Aotearoa.”

The first confirmed guests for this year’s summit include some of the most respected names in global music programming and artist development:

Kimberley Galceran – Festival Booker, DARK MOFO (AU) The force behind Dark Mofo’s genre-bending music program and curates live experiences for DarkLab’s Hobart venues. A former DJ, radio host and touring director (Bluesfest), she champions bold, boundary-pushing artists with a focus on diversity, intensity, and unforgettable live moments.

Lau Frías - A&R Director, Secretly Group (US) 
Based in NYC, Laura “Lau” Frías is A&R Director at Secretly Group (Dead Oceans, Jajaguwar, Secretly Canadian, Saddest Factory), where she works with artists like Chanel Beads and Wednesday. Originally from Lima, Perú, she’s championed underrepresented voices across the indie and Latinx music scenes (Omar Apollo, Cuco + more).

Rebecca Young – Booking Agent, Collective Artists (AU)
Director of Collective Artists, a booking agency representing Aldous Harding, Julia Jacklin, and Jen Cloher. With 15+ years in booking, programming, and artist advocacy, she champions independent voices across Australasia.

Lucy Pitkethly – Promoter/Booker, Eat Your Own Ears (UK)
The senior promoter at Eat Your Own Ears (UK), curating 150+ shows a year with artists like Four Tet, Self Esteem, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. She also co-founded EYOE Recordings and manages South African producer John Wizards, championing new music on stage and on record.

Brian Zabinski – Senior Case Manager / USA visa & immigration, Tamizdat (USA)
A longtime advocate for international artist mobility and a volunteer with NY-based nonprofit Tamizdat, helping artists navigate U.S. visa processes since 2012. He regularly speaks on the topic at events like BIGSOUND, Wide Days, and Nova Scotia Music Week.

Lorrae McKenna – Owner/Director, Our Golden Friend (AU)
Lorrae McKenna is the founder of Melbourne’s Our Golden Friend, a label and management company representing acts like Good Morning, Elizabeth, and RVG. A former A&R and marketing lead at Remote Control, she’s worked with artists from Courtney Barnett to Radiohead and is a recipient of the APRA AMCOS Lighthouse Award.

Boyan Pinter – A&R/Label Manager, Believe / Founder, Spike Bulgarian Festival & Showcase (BULGARIA)
A promoter, manager, and founder of SPIKE Showcase, with a background at Live Nation CEE and Glastonbury Festival. Now country manager for Believe, he’s worked across logistics, bookings, and artist development in both major and independent spaces.

Alyse Newman – PR, Artist Management, Aanthologies (AU) 
Founder of AANTHOLOGIES, a Melbourne-based PR, management, and consultancy agency. A two-time AAM Breakthrough Manager nominee, she manages Asha Jefferies and leads Australian PR for artists including Cate Le Bon, Jessica Pratt, Caribou, and more.

Satria Ramadhan – Owner, SRM Bookings & Services / Co-Founder, AXEAN Festival (INDONESIA)
Satria Ramadhan is the founder of SRM Bookings & Services and co-founder of AXEAN Festival, a key platform for Southeast Asian music. Based in Indonesia, he’s a booking agent, tour planner, record store owner, and regional connector, with delegate and speaker appearances at festivals across Asia and Europe. Satria travels courtesy of Asia New Zealand Foundation.

These speakers represent festivals and organisations that have shaped the trajectory of artists across the globe – from breaking new acts at SXSW and The Great Escape to staging some of the world’s most adventurous live music experiences.

Going Global remains a launchpad for Aotearoa artists, providing pathways into international markets. In recent years, solid connections formed at the summit have led to overseas bookings, festival slots, and career-making opportunities. 2024 saw several NZ acts go on to be offered showcases at key events, secure international representation, and expand their global reach thanks to relationships sparked at Going Global.

One standout from 2024 is Phoebe Rings, a Going Global showcasing artist who connected with Max Thomas (Reason Why Management / Secretly Group, AUS). Thomas attended the summit as a delegate, witnessed their performance, and subsequently signed them to his management roster, directly overseeing their international career.

“Everyone at Going Global is there because they want to discover the best new artists before the rest of the industry does,” says Thomas. “It’s an incredible chance to get a leg-up on the global stage. If you’re a local artist and haven’t played Going Global yet — 1000% apply!”

This year Going Global moves to Q Theatre –  a new home for the conference component, offering increased capacity to reflect the scale and momentum of Aotearoa’s music community. After consistently selling out, the move allows more space for artists, industry, and creatives to connect, learn, and lay the groundwork for launching onto the world stage.

Tickets to Going Global 2025 are on sale now, with early bird pricing available until August 4 via Q Theatre.  Don’t miss this opportunity to join the conversation, grow your network, and access the world stage – right here in Aotearoa.

Stay tuned as IMNZ and the NZ Music Commission unveil an illustrious full lineup of international representatives and experts in the fields of music A&R, booking, licensing, management, marketing, promotion, and publishing in the weeks to come. The ever-popular announcement of Aotearoa Artists selected to showcase to our international guests, and fans, will be announced very soon!

GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT 2025  

Thursday August 28th & Friday August 29th 2025
Q Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand  
Earlybird Tickets are on sale now at Q Theatre 
Full Going Global 2025 tickets include both the conference days and the showcase nights.
GET YOUR CONFERENCE TICKETS HERE
 

GOING GLOBAL PRESENTS 2025 SHOWCASE FESTIVAL

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC  
24 Showcasing sets across three stages
Thursday, August 28th & Friday, August 29th 2025
Whammy! & Double Whammy! - St Kevins Arcade, Karangahape Rd, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland
SHOWCASE FESTIVAL ONLY TICKETS ON SALE NOW VIA UTR!

https://www.qtheatre.co.nz/show/goingglobalmusicsummit2025#

2025 Conference Tickets

The two-day GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT conference held in Auckland NZ is a gateway for any local artist, manager, publicist, A&R, producer, music writer, record label and venue manager to connect with, question and hear ideas from some of the international music industry's most relevant and forward-thinking superstars. IMNZ is bringing to New Zealand international booking agents, synch licensors, international media, PR experts, artist managers with international experience and those working for the fast-moving live and digital music platforms.

In tandem with the conference is the Going Global Presents Showcase Festival (2025 NIGHT ONE / BOTH NIGHTS TIX LINK COMING SOON) and (2025 NIGHT TWO TIX LINK coming soon) where a selected line-up of local artists perform short 20min sets in inner city connected venues. All of the international industry guests and the public are invited to come and check out some of Aotearoa’s most talented artists that are ready to take on the world . Previous showcases have been instrumental in the discovery of some of New Zealand's biggest success stories over the past ten years. Previous artists include; Borderline, Elliot & Vincent, Dick Move, Jujulipps, Phoebe Rings, Erny Belle, Half Hexagon, Aldous Harding, Mel Parsons, Tami Neilson, Tiny Ruins, Troy Kingi, Alien Weaponry, D.C Maxwell, Vera Ellen, Fazerdaze, DARTZ, Nadia Reid and many more.

ABOUT GOING GLOBAL: Going Global Music Summit culminates in an annual showcase festival of burgeoning Aotearoa/New Zealand talent, occurring alongside the industry seminars. GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT is proudly brought to you by Independent Music New Zealand in partnership with the NZ Music Commission and is supported by Merlin, Recorded Music NZ, APRA, NZ On Air and Asia New Zealand Foundation. We are a proud supporter of Keychange.