FOCUS Wales, the country’s largest music industry event, returns to Wrexham 8 – 10 May 2025, bringing together over 400 industry professionals and more than 250 showcasing artists from across the globe. This year’s conference is dedicated to building a healthier future for music, exploring evolving best practices, artist well-being, sustainable industry growth, and fostering a more equitable landscape for both performers and industry professionals.
The 2025 conference will present an inspiring programme of panels, workshops and talks led by some of the most influential voices in music. The event will open with a keynote presentation by Neil Ingham, Executive Director of Samaritans, discussing the transformative impact of deep, empathetic listening in suicide prevention. Cardiff University will return to share updates on Prosiect Pūtahitanga, reflecting on music and language connections between Cymru and Aotearoa, alongside a visiting delegation from New Zealand.
Another session, led by PPL, will examine evolving priorities for labels, artists and their teams, weighing the balance between data-driven strategies and more traditional, fan-focused campaigns. Speakers will include Katherine Cantwell (Heavenly Recordings), Brad Kulisic (Lambrini Girls / Pigsx7), and Joe Howden (Dark Arts Digital). Meanwhile, Meg Devereux (Marshall) will be joined by Nova Twins and Henca Maduro (New Skool Rules Festival) to explore ways to better support grassroots musicians in building sustainable, long-term careers.
LIVE, the trade body that represents the UK’s live music industry, will host a panel exploring what it takes for artists to break through to headliner status in 2025 and beyond, featuring insights from Nicklas Damkjær (Roskilde), Dev Sherlock (SXSW), Connor Cupples (Crosstown Promotions), Megan Evans (Deer Shed Festival), and Beckie Sugden (CAA Agency). British Council Wales will lead a discussion on the role of showcasing in fostering peaceful cultural exchange, with contributions from Ísleifur Thorhallsson (Iceland Airwaves), Alona Dmukhovska (Music Export Ukraine), Cecilia Soojeong Yi (DMZ Peace Train Festival), Asifuzzaman Khan (Dhaka International Folk Festival), and Login Kochishki (PIN Conference).
The Music Venue Trust will host a hands-on workshop to help attendees articulate their ethical values and demonstrate social responsibility — key factors in securing funding and building a resilient, future-proof industry. In addition, a series of insightful panels and workshops will be presented by leading industry organisations such as PRS Foundation, PRS for Music, Sound Roots, Beacons Cymru and Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, alongside the festival’s new media partner, IQ magazine. This collaborative effort promises a diverse range of expertise, empowering both artists and industry professionals.
Beyond the conference, FOCUS Wales will once again serve as a global platform for new music, with international partner showcases hosted by M for Montreal, BreakOut West, Nova Scotia Music Week, Catalan Arts, Spanish Wave, CNM France, Westside Music (Sweden), Way Up North (Denmark), Wide Days (Scotland), and more to be announced.
Among the diverse array of guests heading to Wrexham this May are KEXP’s Senior Programming Advisor & Variety Mix DJ/Host Kevin Cole, journalist and podcaster Mark Sutherland, Jose Marihno and Caroline Thiévent from Radio France Internationale (RFI), Jean-Louis Brossard, co-founder of the legendary French festival Transmusicales, Michel Attia, Head of Bookings and Events at Austrian national radio station FM4, Paola Wescher, director of booking at Last Tour PT and founder of Latina in Brazil, and Anne Runge, a curator and promoter who programmes Northern Germany’s acclaimed Fusion and at.tension festivals.
The FOCUS Wales industry conference will take place alongside the festival’s 250+ strong lineup of artists performing across 20 stages in Wrexham city centre over the three-day event.
Delegate passes are on sale now via focuswales.com. Passes grant access to all conference events, private networking sessions, the pre-festival showcase, the online delegate database, and all live performances with priority entry.
FOCUS Wales International Showcase Festival 2025 is proudly supported by Welsh Government, Arts Council of Wales, and PRS Foundation.
Further additions to the conference programme to be revealed over the coming weeks.
www.focuswales.com
