Change the Beat, the global non-profit supporting women and gender-expansive artists in electronic music, is bringing its mission to London for the first time with a 12-hour event at fabric on Thursday, October 15. The event will bring together more than 40 artists, industry leaders and organizations for a day and night focused on creating greater access, opportunity and representation across electronic music.
Running from 3PM to 3AM, the program will combine industry panels, networking, an exhibition celebrating influential women in electronic music and a dedicated club event in fabric’s Main Room. The event is designed to connect artists with the labels, agencies, promoters and organizations helping shape the electronic music industry.
Hosted by Sunita Dhaliwal of The Everyday Agency, the daytime program will feature three panels focused on some of the biggest steps artists face while building careers in electronic music.
The first panel, How to Get Booked as a DJ in London, will be moderated by Katie Knight and feature Alex Holland of Broadwick Live, Martha Bolton of Not Bad For A Girl, Pete Jordan of Junction 2 / LWE and Steven Braines of HE.SHE.THEY.
The second session, How to Get Signed to an A-List Dance Label, will be moderated by Sydney Blu, Founder of Change the Beat, with Andy Henderson of Southern Fried / Knee Deep In Sound, Chris Goss of Hospital Records, Miles Shackleton of Toolroom and Daniel Curpen of Anjunadeep.
Rounding out the panels will be How to Get Representation: Managers & Agents, moderated by Finlay Johnson and featuring Frances Shillito of Night Department, Kal Jhugroo of CAA, Shanae Dennis of The Team and Lucy Harrower of Frame Artists.
Together, the sessions will offer artists practical insight into bookings, A&R, record labels, management and agency representation, with speakers offering perspectives from their own positions within the industry.
“Bringing Change the Beat to fabric is a huge moment for us. We’ve built this event around what we believe artists genuinely need – access to the people shaping the industry, honest conversations about how it works, and real opportunities to build relationships,” says Sydney Blu, Founder of Change the Beat. “To have so many respected artists, labels, agencies and organizations coming together under one roof in London is incredibly exciting, and it represents exactly what Change the Beat was created to do: open doors, build community and create more opportunities for the next generation of electronic music artists.”
From 7PM to 10PM, the Change the Beat industry mixer will take place in association with AFEM, Pete Tong DJ Academy, Not Bad For A Girl and Beatport. Along with creating a space for artists and industry professionals to connect, the mixer will provide a live performance opportunity for emerging DJs from Not Bad For A Girl and Pete Tong DJ Academy, who will perform alongside N1NJA.
The event will also feature the Women Who Shaped Electronic Music photo exhibition, celebrating 18 pioneering artists from across electronic music. The exhibition will highlight ANNA, Annie Mac, Crystal Waters, DJ Minx, DJ Paulette, DJ Rap, Eli & Fur, Honey Dijon, Ida Engberg, Lottie, Lisa Lashes, Maya Jane Coles, Nicole Moudaber, Sam Divine, Sister Bliss (Faithless), Smokin Jo, Superjane and Ultra Naté.
The night will then transition into a dedicated club event in fabric’s Main Room from 10PM to 3AM, featuring TSHA, Kitty Amor, Sydney Blu, Emily Nash and N1NJA.
Proceeds from the club night will support Change the Beat’s international artist development program, which provides education, mentorship and opportunities for women and gender-expansive artists. The organization is working toward its pledge to support 300 artists in securing label opportunities by 2028.
The London debut at fabric represents another step in Change the Beat’s international growth, bringing artists and industry professionals together while expanding a global network focused on creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation of electronic music talent.
Change the Beat: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Discord
fabric: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Sydney Blu: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | Beatport