Chair: Aja Garrod-Prance [General Manager - SMIA]
Speakers: Jubemi Iyiku [Artist - BEMZ], Ailsa Harper [Freelance Music Consultant] + Nadine Walker [Tenement TV/ Indie Club]
Scotland has long been home to a vibrant and diverse music scene, blending traditional sounds with contemporary innovations. However, the sector is currently at a crossroads, with significant financial challenges and external factors dictating emerging trends. Sustained investment and development in industry infrastructure, education, technology and accessibility remain key priorities to support sector sustainability and growth.
The future of our industry is unclear, but with this comes an opportunity to co-design solutions and think outside the box; working together to create and deliver a unified sector vision. Scottish music is the soundtrack and stories of our lives, and building a sustainable future where culture is safeguarded and accessible to all is vital.
Join the SMIA and speakers from across the sector as we explore emerging trends in – and development priorities for – the Scottish music industry. We’ll exchange ideas and debate a vision of what future we want to build. By working together, we can co-design solutions that strengthen and increase the value of Scotland’s music industry both at home and on the world stage; economically, socially and culturally.
Speaker Information:
Aja Garrod-Prance [General Manager - SMIA]
Aja joined the SMIA in 2024 as General Manager. Their role involves the day-to-day management of the SMIA’s business operations, including overseeing the successful delivery of our annual programme of services, projects and events; supporting the work of the wider executive team. They also work with our partners across SMIA projects and programmes, building effective relationships to support the SMIA’s strategic objectives.
Originally from the South of England, Aja has worked in a number of roles across the creative industries including operations, event programming and production, and funding. For the last four years, their career has focussed on talent development, funding support for grassroots music organisations and emerging music creators through roles at the PRS Foundation and Youth Music. They relocated from London to Glasgow in 2023.
Jubemi Iyiku [BEMZ]
Born in Nigeria, Bemz moved to South London when he was just four years old. Ten years later, he moved north to Stranrear in Scotland. It was in this small, sleepy Scottish town that Bemz unexpectedly found his voice. From freestyle rapping with his brother at the age of 15, to studying sound production in Ayrshire college, and eventually moving to Glasgow – where he made his SAY (Scottish Album of the Year) Award nominated 2020 debut ‘Saint of Lost Causes’ – Bemz’ lyrical journey is tangible proof that rap’s cultural reach stretches far beyond London and the English borders.
Ailsa Harper [Freelance Music Consultant]
With 10 years of experience in the music industry, Ailsa Harper has a breadth of experience across management, marketing and mentoring. Most recently she worked at AMW management as a day to day manager across a roster of artists, and as a campaigns manager overseeing digital campaigns at Aimless Play - she is currently working as a business advisor for Help Musicians she mentors emerging artists in social media strategy, audience building, and career development alongside other freelance projects.
Nadine Walker [Tenement TV/Indie Club']
Nadine Walker has over a decade of experience working in the music industry developing TTV - Scotland's music platform, Tenement Trail Festival and part of teams behind the scenes of Scotland's biggest events in history including T in the Park Festival and the launch of TRNSMT Festival. As a Content Director of music events and festivals, Nadine is at the heart of driving excitement and connecting musicians and brands with fans. Nadine is also the creator of a music events series called INDIE CLUB in Glasgow.
SCOTTISH MUSIC INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (SMIA)
The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) is a not-for-profit trade body and membership organisation which exists to strengthen, empower and unite Scotland’s music industry.
As a Creative Scotland Regularly Funded Organisation (RFO), we work to create and nurture an inclusive membership community which reflects the full spectrum of Scotland’s music industry. We give voice to our membership when speaking to Government, Parliament and development organisations, and we both produce and support projects and programmes that stimulate sustainability, domestic and international growth, development and innovation in Scotland’s music sector. Our services, projects and events are designed to strengthen and increase the value of Scotland’s music industry on the world stage: economically, socially and culturally.
For further information on the SMIA and its services, projects and events please visit www.smia.org.uk.