Asia Music Event Adds Amsterdam Dance Event, Live Nation Leaders

Asia Music Event has announced its second wave of speakers for its inaugural Hong Kong conference on November 26–27 at Soho House Hong Kong. The latest additions include Meindert Kennis, former CMO of Spinnin' Records and former CEO of Amsterdam Dance Event, alongside Gary Smith, Programmer at Amsterdam Dance Event, and Jim Wong, Managing Director of Live Nation Electronic Asia.

Also joining the lineup are Ouissam Mokretar, Music Director of Wonderfruit; Justin Zhou, Co-Founder of Great Wall Festival; Pete Sofo, Director of Festivals and Major Events at Untitled Group; and Allan Zeman, Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group. Additional speakers represent Merivale, BEPC Tangent, Resin Agency, Bigger Picture Talent, Nightlife Tokyo, OIL Club, Modular Music, Ravolution Asia, Moiselle Holdings, and YuYuan, covering festival development, artist representation, international touring, music programming, venue operations, and nightlife culture.

Building Bridges Across Asian Markets

The second wave builds on the previously announced speaker roster that included representatives from Beatport, Warner Music Group, Ismaya Group, Djakarta Warehouse Project, Lisbon Dance Summit, and The Magic of Tomorrowland. The expansion reflects AME's focus on connecting local festivals, clubs, promoters, artists, and music communities developing across Asia with international industry professionals.

Kennis commented on the opportunity: "Over the past three decades, I've seen how important it is to create spaces where people can meet, exchange ideas and build relationships that continue long after an event itself. Asia has a lot of incredibly diverse music scenes which come with challenges, but foremost with a lot of exciting opportunities. Bringing all those perspectives and cultures together in Hong Kong creates a valuable opportunity for people across the worldwide industry to learn from one another."

AME Programme Director Marco Zhu added: "AME is built on the belief that some of the most valuable industry exchanges happen beyond the stage. At a time when Asia's role in electronic music continues to expand, AME represents an ambitious step towards building a lasting platform for international exchange and collaboration."

Conference Programming and Closing Party

The two-day event will feature panels, workshops, networking sessions, and artist showcases. AME will conclude with the Official Closing Party on November 27, which ties into the event's partnership with Tomorrowland Academy for its global DJ contest. One emerging DJ will perform at the closing party while also attending the conference and meeting industry professionals.

Tickets for Asia Music Event are available now through PLVR, with additional information on the official Asia Music Event website.