For its fifth series of seminars, the National Entertainment Industry Conference--sponsored again by Apple Computer Australia--takes place at the Sydney Superdome Grand Ballroom over three days, August 2, 3 & 4. The initial 21 speakers of an eventual 50 appearing on 12 panels have just been announced.

Each of the three days will have a separate theme with two keynote speakers and four panels a day addressing the issues facing the music and digital entertainment industry. This highly successful series of conferences has drawn up to 500 attendees in past years and merged with the Music & Entertainment Media Online Conference held last August to deal with issues of the Internet & digital media.

The first day is titled 'Dealmaking Without Digits' and deals wholly with music business issues without delving into the Internet. 'The View From The Top' is a panel of Chairmen, CEOs and MDs of major or top indie record labels and publishers giving their perspective of where the industry is heading. An Artist Panel chaired by a top overseas musician, will deal with the issues facing the music's creators. Also to be featured are panels on Radio/New Media and a group of A&R executives outlining what they'll seek as the new Millennium's hitmakers.

The third day is the heavy end of music technology incorporating digital rights management, Internet concert streaming, online radio, file-swapping and the Napster phenomenon. The middle day covers where music business and music technology merge and will deal with online marketing, a panel of the country's top music managers looking to the future and Bricks or Clicks Retailers' potentials.

Full details of panels and additional speakers will be released in early May with updates on the conference website at http://www.immedia.com.au/entcon.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Six In All Over The Three Days
Michael Smellie--Senior Vice President BMG Entertainment Intl. Asia/Pacific
Gerry Kearby--CEO for Liquid Audio, the US based digital distribution leader

AUSTRALIAN SPEAKERS: On A Series Of Panels To Be Announced In May
Shaun James--Chairman, Warner Music Australia
David Williams--Chairman Shock Music Group
John Sackson-Managing Director Columbia & Epic, Sony Music Australia
Jon Satterley--MD, Roadrunner Records, creator of Metalshop.com hard music site
Paul Dickson--CEO Festival Mushroom Records, former MD Polygram Records
Grant Thomas--Manager behind the careers of Crowded House, Neil Finn, Bardot, Divinyls, Alex Lloyd, Tim Finn, Rockmelons, Chrissie Amphlett & more
John Watson--Manager silverchair, MD of 'Eleven: a music company' record label
Kim Thomas--Manager of The Whitlams, Preshrunk, Nitocris & IOTA
Heath Bradby--Manager of Jebediah and Rhibosome
Millie Millgate--Manager Rumanastone, Bluebottle Kiss, The Camels & Booker of The Hopetoun Hotel
Tessa Morris--Director Online Business Development BMG Music Australia
Jon Simon--Director New Media Warner Music Australia
Frank Arrigo--Microsoft Windows Media Business Development Manager Asia Pacific
Richard Mallett--Director Broadcast & Online Licensing APRA
Simon Vella--Business Manager DownloadMusic digital download company
Andrew Hoppe-MD Soundbuzz Australia, Asia Pacific digital distribution company
Gary Wisniewski--Chief Scientist, Spidereye Studios, web & streaming developers
Mark Muggeridge--Head of Production, Streamworks, streaming producer
Ken Outch--General Manager Sanity.com

Registration forms & updates on conference site http://www.immedia.com.au/entcon
For a brochure or registration form by mail contact IMMEDIA! 20 Hordern St, Newtown 2042 Ph: (02) 9557 7766 or email info@immedia.com.au

For further information, photos, interviews or media accreditation, contact:
Caroline Hodson or Phil Tripp IMMEDIA! Ph: (02) 9557 7766 or pr@immedia.com.au