Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) reveals its second wave of ADE Pro speakers. Highlights include the president of EMPIRE Tina Davis, Global Head of Music at Believe Romain Vivien, Grimes’ manager Daouda Leonard, top-level strategic experts at Spotify and SoundCloud, alongside artists Miss Monique, Chris Stussy, and Sama’ Abdulhadi. They join the recently announced conference roster of Timbaland & Martin Garrix, Laurent Garnier, fabric London, Grace Ladoja, heavyweights at Armada Music, WME, UTA, and more.
Tina Davis, president of independent record label EMPIRE, headlines with a Keynote Q&A on her transformative role in EMPIRE’s global influence as an independent label, including its expansion into Afrobeats and Latin music. Daouda Leonard, manager of Grimes and co-founder of CreateSafe, will explore the intersection of music, AI, and technology, strategic insights into the future of artist management, and offering artists control over their career and business. Phiona Okumu, Spotify's Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, will share her expertise on elevating African artists and Spotify’s initiatives like RADAR and EQUAL to support emerging and female artists, ensuring that diverse voices are heard worldwide.
Essential Insider Knowledge
Following last year’s huge success of the Insider Knowledge series, its first 2024 entries have rolled in: Romain Vivien, Global Head of Music at Believe, and Andreea Gleeson, CEO at TuneCore, bring their combined expertise to empower independent artists with the cutting-edge digital solutions and distribution models of Believe and TuneCore. Their ‘Insider Knowledge’ keynote dives into driving success for artists and navigating the evolving music landscape. SoundCloud has entered into a global partnership with ADE and presents an in-depth session on the most lucrative opportunities and valuable strategies for independent artists, with one of the visionary minds from SoundCloud’s top strategic team.
Pioneers in electronic music
Miss Monique reaches numbers well into the millions on YouTube, and in this masterclass, she will be demonstrating how she makes her videos and shapes her YouTube success. Chris Stussy, one of the top four most-touring Dutch artists internationally, will share his experiences of balancing underground and mainstream success, maintaining a healthy lifestyle during hectic tours, and supporting emerging talent. Sama' Abdulhadi, a rising star in the global techno scene, will discuss her journey and the unique sound that has taken her to major festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury. Sama' continues to inspire, bringing her distinctive style to dance floors around the world.
Staying independent while reaching global success? Let the experts tell you how to do it
Transforming the Music Industry with EMPIRE
Tina Davis, president of independent record label EMPIRE, visits ADE Pro for a Keynote Q&A on ADE Saturday. She will elaborate on her transformative role in EMPIRE's global influence as an independent label. That includes the expansion into Afrobeats and Latin music – two genres that spread more and more. Under her leadership, EMPIRE has revolutionized the collaboration between labels, artists, and distribution, playing a crucial role in launching the careers of Kendrick Lamar, Migos, XXXTentacion, Larry June, 310Babii, and Babyface Ray. That's not all: Davis is a driving force behind EMPIRE's expansion into Nigeria, working with major artists like Olamide, Asake, and Fireboy DML. Her insights will be invaluable for understanding the evolving dynamics of the music industry.
Innovating at the Intersection of Music and Technology with Daouda Leonard
Daouda Leonard is the manager of Grimes and co-founder of CreateSafe, so who better to explore the intersection of music, AI, and technology than him? Dive into the future of artist management with Leonard, and discover how independent artists can gain control over their career and business. His own extensive career includes shaping the careers of high-profile artists like Grimes and BloodPop, while he always aims to democratize the music industry by providing transparency. At ADE Pro, he will share his insights on how technology can revolutionize the music industry, touching on his experiences and the potential of AI and gaming in this space.
Amplifying African Voices on a Global Level
Spotify's Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, joins ADE Pro to share her expertise on elevating African artists to the global stage. Phiona has played a crucial role in expanding Spotify’s presence across the African continent, spearheading initiatives like RADAR and EQUAL to support emerging and female artists ensuring that diverse voices are heard worldwide. In recent years, her efforts have significantly contributed to the growing influence of African music genres such as Afrobeats and Amapiano. Join her for a deep dive into musical voices we'll hear louder in the future.
Essential Insider Knowledge
Our Essential Insider Knowledge series offers unparalleled insights into the ever-evolving digital musical landscape for artists and professionals, with the inclusion of top-level minds at global industry giants. The first confirmations for the series are in.
Romain Vivien and Andreea Gleeson
Following last year’s huge success of the Insider Knowledge series, its first 2024 entries have rolled in: Romain Vivien, Global Head of Music and President of Europe at Believe, and Andreea Gleeson, CEO at TuneCore, bring their combined expertise to ADE Pro. Believe, and its subsidiary TuneCore, empower independent artists and labels at all stages of their careers with best-in-class music experts, cutting-edge technology, and strong relationships with key digital services. Their ‘Insider Knowledge’ keynote explores how Believe drives success for independent artists. In addition, ADE Pro members can connect directly with Believe and TuneCore at the ADE Business Hub during their full-day takeover.
The experts at SoundCloud present..
SoundCloud has entered into a global partnership with ADE and presents an in-depth session at ADE Pro on the most lucrative opportunities and valuable strategies for independent artists with one of the visionary minds from SoundCloud’s top strategic team. Stay tuned for more information and confirmations.
Centre stage
Every year at ADE Pro, the top artists in the game all flock to Amsterdam to visit and share their knowledge at the Conference. Next to our high-level position professionals, these artists open up in their exclusive ADE Pro Panels.
An up-close, offline chat about online wins with Miss Monique
Call her Miss Unique because Miss Monique has that special something that makes millions worldwide watch her every move. She reaches numbers well into the millions on YouTube with the (live) streams she posts on the channels 'Mind Games' and 'MiMo Weekly' and releases on big-time labels such as Black Hole Recordings and Bonzai Progressive. In this masterclass, she will demonstrate how she makes her videos and shapes her YouTube success, which brings her everywhere around the globe.
Chris Stussy: Leading the charge from underground to global stages
Chris Stussy is one of the top four most-touring Dutch artists internationally. He's well-known for masterfully bridging the gap between the underground and mainstream electronic music scenes and going viral while doing so. He exemplifies versatility and dedication by sharing back-to-backs with authentic icons like Paramida and Fantastic Man and performing at major festivals like Coachella with Pawsa. Beyond his music, he maintains a focused and balanced lifestyle. Joining the ADE Pro stage, Chris offers his insightful experiences on the temptations and pitfalls of touring life and his commitment to giving back using his platform through a new scholarship program to nurture emerging talent.
Rising techno titan Sama' Abdulhadi
Sama' Abdulhadi, a rising star in the global techno scene whose life story exemplifies resilience, has lived a unique life that inspires and informs her sound. In a brand-new, one-on-one format covering ethical, political and emotional topics, she will discuss her journey, her many challenges, and their impact on the unique sound that has taken her to major festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury, solidifying her reputation as one of techno's most exciting talents. Sama' continues to innovate and inspire, bringing her distinctive style to dance floors around the world.
Attend ADE Pro 2024
The ADE Pro Pass grants access to the full conference program, alongside networking events, the ADE Festival program and more. The last tickets are available at the current Early Bird rate through ADE’s website.
The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to nurturing electronic music, its culture and its industry worldwide. The organisation devotes itself to stimulating development, innovation and talent, gathering the global industry and laying a foundation for future generations.
ADE Pro Conference
ADE Pro is the ultimate annual business gathering for the global electronic music industry. The four-day conference for music industry professionals runs from Wednesday through Saturday and features dedicated programming covering subjects from marketing, publishing and bookings to sustainability, social change and mental health. The additional networking opportunities with fellow ADE delegates and industry leaders provide an ideal and global basis for deal making and career advancement.
About ADE
The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), an initiative of Buma, has grown into the world’s largest and most influential club-based festival and conference for electronic music. The event continues to grow and develop each year, with last year’s edition featuring over 3,000 artists and 600 speakers in almost 200 venues. The five-day event attracts visitors from over 150 countries and features every conceivable aspect of electronic music culture, with dedicated conference programming, an extensive arts & culture program, live music and DJ/artist performances, all spread across the city of Amsterdam. More information about ADE can be found here.
ADE – Electronic Music Gathers Here
The Amsterdam Dance Event is organised by The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation.
Founding partner: Buma