2025 ReFLECTIONS & REportS
The Regional & Remote Music Summit is more than an industry gathering – it is a platform where regional voices have national impact, and where ideas are grounded in place and inspired by purpose to make a real difference.
In July 2025, the Summit brought together over 250 artists, industry leaders, policymakers, and community representatives for three days of conversation, cultural exchange and live music in Byron Bay, on Bundjalung country.
An inspiring program of talks, panels and presentations on strengthening regional music ecosystems provided a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration and the development of new regional and national networks. Summit delegates reported significant value in learning from speakers, exploring new trends, and finding networks and opportunities with the vast majority reporting they would attend again in 2026.
“There really is no other music conference in Australia that truly reflects the Australian music community, culture and industry.”
The key themes and recommendations that arose from the 2025 Summit include:
- Prioritising First Nations leadership and cultural safety in music spaces and frameworks for industry development.
- Supporting the development of sustainable, low-impact touring models that enable grassroots activity and cultural exchange.
- Investing in essential live performance spaces, with an emphasis on climate-ready and accessible infrastructure.
- Recognising the common purpose and shared impact of music and sport as foundations for community participation, pathways and social cohesion in regional Australia.
- Broadening local and national partnerships between community media and the music sector to amplify local voices and music.
- Backing grassroots activities and place-based music ecosystems that nurture local talent and engage diverse communities.
- Providing a forum for connection, collaboration and allyship to enable sharing of knowledge, cultures and community pride.
MusicNSW extends its thanks to Summit founders MusicNT for the opportunity to host this 2025 edition in regional New South Wales. The Summit’s growing legacy as a driver of a more connected and equitable national music ecosystem is one we were honoured to continue this year.
We are deeply grateful to our funding partners—the NSW Government through Sound NSW and the Australian Government through Music Australia—along with our sponsors, Byron Shire Council and Moshtix. We also acknowledge the state governments and contemporary music peak bodies who supported delegates from
across the country to attend the Summit.
Photos by Emily Cherie Read