The Foundation for Independent Music has revealed the full programming lineup for Indie Week 2026, and the 18th annual edition runs June 8-11 at the InterContinental New York Times Square. This is the premier gathering for the independent music community, and this year’s speaker roster reflects how much is at stake for the indie sector right now.
New additions include a featured conversation between Nat Zilkha, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Firebird Music Holdings, and Jason Peterson, CEO of GoDigital Music Group, focused on new business models for indie labels. A2IM CEO Ian Harrison joins Luminate CEO Rob Jonas for a fireside chat, adding to previously announced keynotes featuring Concord Label Group’s Tom Becci, copyright attorney and Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter, Merlin CEO Charlie Lexton, and Steven Victor of Victor Victor Worldwide.
The programming goes well beyond panels. The Spotify for Artists Masterclass, workshops from ONErpm, Chartmetric, Musixmatch, ElevenLabs, SoundExchange, and more, plus IndieVest ’26 connecting the financial investment sector directly with the independent music community, and a Music Innovation Showcase spotlighting groundbreaking companies all fill out the schedule.
Live podcast recordings with Jay Gilbert’s Your Morning Coffee Podcast and Ari Herstand’s The New Music Business round out the content programming, alongside community events, happy hours, after parties, and activations from partners including Bandcamp, TuneCore, SoundCloud, Billboard, Amazon, and Secretly Distribution.
Context worth noting: Billboard identified the independent music label sector as accounting for 44.15% of the US recorded-music industry in the first quarter of 2026. The conversations happening at Indie Week reflect that scale.
Tickets are available now. Full schedule at the Indie Week website.