PANEL: Music Festivals – The State of the Stage: Equity, Funding & the Future of Live Music

Monday, March 02 – 9:30 AM – 10:50 AM – TD Music Hall

Presented by TuneCore / Believe

We’re bringing together festival leaders and industry innovators to examine the state of music festivals today, from representation on stages to the funding, structures, and solutions shaping the future of live events.

The session opens with a 10-minute presentation from TuneCore, sharing key insights from the Ruidosa x USC Annenberg report, one of the most comprehensive studies on gender equity and diversity in the live music ecosystem. Building on these findings, we will discuss the current trends in festival programming, funding realities, the role of data in shifting booking practices, and strategies for building more inclusive and equitable stages.

Speakers: Kerry Clarke (Calgary Folk Festival),  Carlie Webbert (All Things Go), Marta Pallares (Primavera Sound),  Francisca Valenzuela (Artist / Ruidosa Fest) Moderated by Paula Silva Diaz (Venues Manager for the District Institute of the Arts – Idartes, Bogota)