Iceland Music, Iceland Airwaves, Business Iceland, and Reykjavík Music City proudly present the impressive programme for the 2025 IA Conference. As in previous years, the conference takes place alongside the Iceland Airwaves festival—this time on 6–7 November at Sjálfstæðissalur, also known as Nasa.

The IA Conference has established itself as an important meeting point for both the Icelandic and international music industries, offering a diverse and forward-thinking programme spanning panels, talks, and special events, and bringing together leading experts from across the music world.

Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland, will be the guest of honour at the 2025 IA Conference.

It is our great honour to announce that Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland, will be the guest of honour at this year’s conference. The President will open the programme in conversation with Althea Legaspi, News Editor at the legendary magazine Rolling Stone.

The discussion marks the 50th anniversary of the Icelandic Women’s Day Off, and to commemorate this historic occasion, Halla and Althea will explore how the spirit of the strike continues to resonate through the voices and visibility of women in the arts - and how culture can serve as a driving force for equality for generations to come.

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We’re Not Dead Yet: Nurturing the Grassroots

Today also saw the announcement of a new panel titled We’re Not Dead Yet: Nurturing the Grassroots. The discussion will focus on the state and importance of the grassroots scene — and, in particular, how best to support it without risking to stifle it.

Participants include Albert F. Helming, booker for SPOT Festival and manager of the music and culture venue Aarhus Volume; Ólöf Rún Benediktsdóttir, musician, visual artist, and organiser of Norðanpaunk, one of Iceland’s most vital grassroots festivals; Olivier Tura, director of the creative centre Trempo in Nantes, which collaborates with Reykjavík Music City and Iceland Music on an artist exchange programme; Ása Berglind Hjálmarsdóttir, member of parliament with a background in cultural management; and Adam Williams, Head of Music at Clwb Ifor Bach and Sŵn Festival in Cardiff, and agent for the bands Panic Shack (who are performing at Iceland Airwaves this year) and Slate.

The panel will be moderated by David Fricke, a long-time guest of Iceland Airwaves and a legendary figure in music journalism.
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Other Speakers Announced Today

Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson, Iceland’s undisputed pop king, has confirmed his participation in the panel “Sköðunargleðin: The Storm-Soaked Joy of Making Things”, alongside Jóhannes Bjarki Bjarkason, Culture Editor at The Reykjavík Grapevine and frontman of the mischievous punk band Skoffín.

The discussion will be moderated by Charis McGowan, a British journalist who has written for many of the world’s leading cultural publications and currently serves as Deputy Editor at the music magazine Songlines.

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Sindri Már Sigfússon, better known as Sin Fang, joins the lineup of speakers for the panel “The Big Skip: Does Anyone Listen to Music Anymore”. Sin Fang brings decades of experience as a solo artist and frontman of the band Seabear and has in recent years earned recognition as a film composer.

The discussion will be moderated by Sophie Williams, journalist at Billboard UK.

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Lauren Harman and Cherish Kaya will take part in the panel “Global but Make it Weird: How Specificity Became the New Strategy.”

Lauren is a pioneer in the field of sync consultancy and a long-time friend of the Icelandic music industry. She works closely with many of Iceland’s leading music companies and has, over the years, helped create major opportunities for Icelandic artists.

Cherish Kaya is the founder of Kaya Kaya Records and an A&R at the brilliant label Dirty Hit, as well as the manager of Self Esteem and Jockstrap.

We also welcome Erica Campbell, music editor and freelance journalist, who will moderate the discussion. This marks Erica’s second year at Iceland Airwaves—last year, she covered the festival for PAPER.

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Friday’s programme also welcomes several new names. Sandra Perens, co-director of Tier Music Publishing and board member at Music Estonia, joins the panel organised by STEF titled “Dinosaurs or Digital Pioneers? The Future of Collective Rights Management.”

Rikke Andersen, Managing Director of SPOT Festival and Chair of Danish Live, will moderate the discussion “Are the Kids Alright? What Young Audiences Want from Showcase Festivals.”

Sara Maria Kordek, Artistic Director of Bittersweet Festival, and Tor Breon, Booker at WME in London, have confirmed their participation in “IQ Presents: The State of Live: Fickle Fans, Brutal Budgets, and Moving Markets.”

Finally, Anna Hildur Hildibrandsdóttir joins as moderator of the Friday closing panel, “Boycotts, Backlash & Taking a Stand: Where Does Music Belong?” Anna Hildur is the Programme Director for the BA in Creative Industries at Bifröst University. She has also worked as a journalist, led ÚTÓN and NOMEX, and is an award-winning film director and producer.

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The Conference Programme and Tickets Can Be Found At The IA Conference Website!