Change the Beat will make its London debut at fabric on Thursday, October 15, bringing a 12-hour programme of industry panels, networking, photography and club programming to the London venue. Founded by Sydney Blu, the nonprofit supports women and gender-expansive artists with education, mentorship, artist development and access to music industry contacts.
Forty-plus artists, executives and organisations will take part between 3PM and 3AM. The format focuses on three questions that regularly come up for developing artists: how to secure bookings, how to approach established labels and how to find the right manager or booking agent.
Earlier this year, Sydney Blu spoke with our team about Change the Beat and the barriers that continue to affect women and gender-expansive producers and now this London event puts those topics in front of booking staff, label representatives and agents who can explain how decisions are made.
Three Panels Cover Key Career Decisions
The daytime programme opens with How to Get Booked as a DJ in London, moderated by Katie Knight. Alex Holland of Broadwick Live, Martha Bolton of Not Bad For A Girl, Pete Jordan of Junction 2 and LWE, and Steven Braines of HE.SHE.THEY will discuss the booking process and what promoters consider when selecting artists.
Sydney Blu will moderate How to Get Signed to an A-List Dance Label, featuring Andy Henderson of Southern Fried and Knee Deep In Sound, Hospital Records founder Chris Goss, Toolroom’s Miles Shackleton and Anjunadeep’s Daniel Curpen. We recently discussed label development with Toolroom founder Mark Knight, making this panel especially relevant for producers preparing new demos.
A third discussion will focus on management and agency representation. Finlay Johnson will moderate a panel featuring Frances Shillito of Night Department, Kal Jhugroo of CAA, Shanae Dennis of The Team and Lucy Harrower of Frame Artists.
Networking and Electronic Music History At Change The Beat
From 7PM until 10PM, Change the Beat will host an industry mixer in association with AFEM, Pete Tong DJ Academy, Not Bad For A Girl and Beatport. Emerging DJs connected with Not Bad For A Girl and Pete Tong DJ Academy will also be selected to perform alongside N1NJA.
The evening includes the Women Who Shaped Electronic Music photo exhibition, celebrating 18 artists including Annie Mac, Crystal Waters, DJ Minx, DJ Paulette, Honey Dijon, Maya Jane Coles, Nicole Moudaber, Sam Divine and Sister Bliss. The exhibition connects with ideas discussed in Inflyte+’s Women Inspire Women feature, which asked women working in electronic music to identify the artists who influenced their careers.
TSHA Leads the Main Room Lineup
From 10PM until 3AM, the event moves into fabric’s Main Room with TSHA, Kitty Amor, Sydney Blu, Emily Nash and N1NJA. Proceeds will support Change the Beat’s international artist development programme and its goal of helping 300 artists secure label opportunities by 2028.
Change the Beat takes place at fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, London, on Thursday, October 15. Tickets are available from the official event page.
