400 industry leaders. 35 speakers. One day.
Our 2027 edition returns bigger and better than ever - with 400 industry leaders from across the music industry, starting the year together with a day of knowledge sharing and networking.
In association with
Join the room · 10 February 2027
Be part of the next decade.
Historic attendees
A decade of the industry, in one room.
Companies who have joined FFWD over the last ten years.
Who's on stage
Hosts &
Speakers.
A curated line-up of the operators actually running the industry right now — labels, publishers, DSPs, promoters, venues, agencies and artists.
The programme
Conference
Schedule.
Click any session for the full brief and speaker bios.
- 08:00→ 08:55Introduction
Registration
- 08:55Introduction1 speaker
Welcome & Housekeeping
Chris CareySession details → - 09:00→ 09:15Fast 151 speaker
Key Global Music Trends
Music economist - and FFWD founder - Chris Carey takes us through the key trends of 2027.
Chris CareySession details → - 09:15→ 09:30Fast 15
Nurturing Music Cities: Lessons From Manchester
Session speakers & description to be announced soon.
- 09:30→ 10:15Panel
Why Albums Matter: Storytelling And Legacy In The Attention Age
Session speakers & description to be announced soon.
- 10:15→ 10:35Break
Coffee Break
A moment to say hello to other delegates. Refreshments provided.
- 10:35→ 10:50Fast 15
Diversifying The Hall: Welcoming Global Music To An Iconic Venue
Session speakers & description to be announced soon.
- 10:50→ 11:35Panel
The Impact Of AI On Music Careers: How We Can Survive And Thrive
Session speakers & description to be announced soon.
- 11:35→ 12:05Keynote
Keynote #1: TBA
Session speakers & description to be announced soon.
- 12:05→ 13:00Break
Lunch
Hot lunch & refreshments are provided for all delegates.
- 13:00→ 13:45Panel
Filling The Development Gap: How Live Music Is Growing Talent From The Grassroots Up
Session speakers & description to be announced soon.
- 13:45→ 14:00Fast 15
Multi-Disciplinary Artistry: Your Lawyer Is Also Your Rapper
Session speakers & description to be announced soon.
- 14:00→ 14:30Keynote
Keynote #2: TBA
Session speakers & description to be announced soon.
- 14:30→ 14:50Break
Coffee Break
A moment to say hello to other delegates. Refreshments provided.
- 14:50→ 15:05Fast 15
Art Not Evidence: In Defence Of Drill Culture
Session speakers & description to be announced soon.
- 15:05→ 15:50Panel
Independence And Innovation: Capturing And Shaping Culture
Session speakers & description to be announced soon.
- 15:50→ 16:30Keynote
Keynote #3: TBA
Session speakers & description to be announced soon.
- 16:30→ 20:00Networking
Networking & Drinks
A chance to make long-lasting connections with peers, including our speakers. Refreshments are provided, including beers from Signature Brew.
£112 + VAT · Early Bird
Includes lunch, sessions & drinks.
Secure your pass now
See you
at Hackney Church.
Every pass includes full-day access to all sessions, lunch, and the post-conference drinks reception.
Super Early Bird
£99
+ VAT · Full day access, lunch & drinks
Regular
£125
+ VAT · Full day access, lunch & drinks
Last Minute
£145
+ VAT · Full day access, lunch & drinks
* All prices are in GBP (£).
Community access passes available on request — get in touch.
Location
Hackney Church.
An 1800-capacity music venue equipped with a state-of-the-art d&b audio system. In recent years the room has hosted Ed Sheeran, Sampha, Biffy Clyro and Joy Crookes.
As an affiliate of the Music Venue Trust and Independent Venue Week, the church supports local talent while attracting world-renowned creators to the Grade II listed building. All profits from venue hire contribute to programmes for the people of East London.
Address
St John at Hackney, Lower Clapton Road, London, E5 0PD, Lower Clapton Road, London, E5 0PD
Getting there
Hackney Central (Overground) · 5 min walkHackney Downs (Overground) · 7 min walkBuses 38, 55, 106, 254, 425 · 2 min walkLiverpool Street · 15 min by train
In the room with us
Partners &
Supporters.
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster gives millions of fans – worldwide – fair and easy access to the biggest and best in live entertainment. Driven by innovation, unparalleled scalability, and unmatched support, we are the definitive leader in professional ticketing solutions. Over 12,000 artists, teams, and venues around the world trust us to power their amazing performances daily — with more than 500 million tickets sold each year. We are a diverse team of 6,500+ global employees and a proud division of Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV), the world’s leading live entertainment company and an organization certified as a Great Place to Work®. Everything we do starts with our passion to dream, design, and deliver the unforgettable experience of live. Because we’re fans too — and live only happens once.
www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ ↗
WYTS
Founded by James Fleury, WYTS is a strategy and creative agency based in London & Amsterdam, creating commercial playbooks, go-to-market strategies and campaigns and activations to bring artists, promoters and brands closer to music fans. Their work touches all services including: Commercial & Brand Strategy, Product Marketing and Brand Development, Content Strategy, Event Production & Strategic Partnerships. They have designed on-sale campaigns & fan activations for the likes of Sziget, Apenkooi, Kendal Calling, Junction 2, ID&T, Love Saves the Day, Brockwell Live, the MMF, Classical Pride, FFWD, Always Live, LWE, Tixel & Lost Village, as well as artists such as The Cat Empire.
www.wyts.agency/ ↗
Morena Comms
Morena Comms is a boutique PR company based in London, UK. Founded by Rosanna Connolly (Universal Music; Mercury Records, Virgin EMI, Apple; Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Platoon), Morena seeks to go beyond traditional PR practices to deliver the most exciting and impactful campaigns.
www.morenacomms.co.uk/ ↗
Blue Turaco Coffee
We make deliciously strong coffee with a kick! Blue Turaco is the first coffee brand in the UK that is owned by an African farmer; we’re proud of that. And even prouder of our Robusta coffee; it’s strong, smooth and naturally contains double the caffeine of Arabica – quite the kick-start to your day. Blue Turaco founder, Wycliffe, is a coffee farmer. He picked coffee beans as a boy to pay for his school fees so he knows how growing quality coffee improves livelihoods in farming communities. We bring you 100% specialty Robusta, sourced directly from Ugandan smallholder farmers including our own. And 20p from every pack provides two school lunches, helping fight hunger in Ugandan village schools. Our vision is to create a model where coffee truly pays in farming communities.
www.blueturacocoffee.com/ ↗
Signature Brew
At Signature Brew we make award-winning beer in our London HQ, a state-of-the-art brewery by day, legendary live music venue by night. We formed back in 2011 during the craft beer revolution and since then we’ve collaborated with more musicians than any other brewery on the planet. In an age where time comes at a premium, every moment counts, but none more than those spent enjoying great music in good company. We exist to ensure these times are never compromised; from the moment the first beer hits to the moment the beat drops.
www.signaturebrew.co.uk/ ↗About the event
Access, inclusion and ethics
Tickets and attendance
Networking and community
Practical information