Join us next Tuesday for an interview with Dan Bessant. Dan is one of the most successful and experienced music programmers in the Australian media industry and for the past 11 years, he’s been running Foxtel’s music and entertainment channels, including Channel V, Max, Smooth, CMC and Arena. 

Doors open 5pm | Live Stream 6pm

 On campus ticket includes 2 free drinks!

Dan Bessant

Dan Bessant is one of the most successful and experienced music programmers in the Australian media industry. A former media executive with 25 years of business experience, he has recently transitioned into coaching and is the co-founder of Exec Reset (2020). For the past 11 years he’s been running Foxtel’s music and entertainment channels, including Channel V, Max, Smooth, CMC and Arena. Prior to that, he was Music Director at leading Sydney radio station Nova.   

Dan will share his extensive insights into the way that songs find their way onto the national airwaves, and the ways in which powerful players attempt to influence the decision. He will discuss the impact of social media and other platforms on the music programming landscape and in his new role as an executive leadership coach, we’ll talk about management styles in the music industry. 

Our Host – Ed St John

Ed St John is an executive and company director specialising in Music, Events, Media and Digital Innovation.

Ed’s principal current roles include the Australian Institute of Music (Chair), VA Media (Chair) and Music Australia(Non Executive Director). 

Starting out as a music journalist for Rolling Stone magazine in the late 70s, Ed chronicled the evolution of iconic Australian artists such as Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, The Divinyls, The Go-Betweens, Mental as Anythingand INXS.

Ed’s early career path also included stints as a TV presenter, author, TV scriptwriter and producer.

 He enjoyed a 15-year period as a senior record company executive including roles at Sony Music (Director of Marketing), BMG Australia/New Zealand (Managing Director) and Warner Music Australia and New Zealand (President and CEO). 

 In these roles, Ed worked closely with a long list of major Australian and international artists including Jeff Buckley, Neil Diamond, John Farnham, Pink, Michael Buble, The Foo Fighters, The Whitlams, Eskimo Joe, The Veronicas and many more.

 Whilst helming BMG and Warner, Ed was also a board member of ARIA and Chairman of the Australian music industry’s flagship event, the ARIA Awards, for ten consecutive years. 

 Ed has provided consulting services to some of the biggest players in Media and Entertainment, including Twitter, Shine Endemol and Fremantle. 

 As the Executive General Manager of leading Sydney non-profit The Ethics Centre, Ed managed a portfolio of responsibilities that included major events (The Festival of Dangerous Ideas), corporate consulting, marketing and fundraising.