Country Music’s UK Boom Takes Centre Stage at SXSW London: “Country Music in the UK: Growth and Influence” panel, 4 June
Country
Music’s UK Boom Takes Centre Stage at SXSW London
“Country
Music in the UK: Growth and Influence” panel, Wednesday 4 June at Shoreditch
Town Hall
With
BRELAND, Bob Harris OBE, Alex Hannaby and Madeleine Derungs
Country
music’s explosive growth in the UK takes the spotlight at SXSW London this
June, with a dedicated panel unpacking the genre’s rapid rise and cultural
impact. Titled “Country Music in the UK: Growth and Influence”, the
session will take place at Shoreditch Town Hall on Wednesday 4 June from
1:10–1:45pm. The conversation—curated by personal and professional development
agency jump.global—will be moderated by Universal Music Group’s Madeleine
Derungs, and will feature insights from multiplatinum artist BRELAND,
legendary broadcaster Bob Harris OBE, and Big Machine’s Head of UK/VP
International, Alex Hannaby.
Once
considered niche, Country is now the UK’s fastest-growing music genre, with
streaming up more than 80% year-on-year. The panel will explore what’s driving
this momentum—from the role of streaming platforms and radio to shifts in live
events, fashion and fan communities. Attendees can expect a dynamic and
future-focused conversation about where the genre is headed next, and what its
success says about the changing face of UK music culture.
“I’m
so excited to be part of this conversation at such a pivotal moment,” said BRELAND.
“What’s happening with Country in the UK isn’t just growth—it’s transformation.
I’m seeing it firsthand on the ground, and it’s powerful.”
“I
am so much looking forward to talking about the music I love with friends and
colleagues from the industry,” said Bob Harris OBE. “Country music is
the fastest-growing genre in the UK, and I am deeply proud to be at the centre
of this wonderful community.”
“It’s
incredible to see the momentum building around Country music in the UK,” said Alex
Hannaby. “From streaming and radio to sold-out tours and fan engagement,
the genre is finding a deeper connection with audiences here than ever before.
This panel is a chance to spotlight that evolution and celebrate the people
driving it forward—both on stage and behind the scenes.”
Madeleine Derungs said: “It's exciting to see the genre we love grow so
much, and to now share what we've believed in for so long with top industry
executives and partners. Although the numbers speak for themselves, at its
core, Country music is about storytelling and we can't wait to tell the story
of Country music in the UK.”
SXSW
London marks the UK debut of the iconic festival. This panel offers a rare
opportunity to hear from some of the most influential voices shaping the
Country music movement in the UK and beyond.
Over
the past five years, Country music has surged in popularity across the UK to
emerge as the fastest-growing genre in the region.
This isn’t a fleeting trend
- so what started this barndance?
Country
Music in the UK: Growth and Influence
WHERE: Shoreditch Town Hall,
London (380 Old St, EC1V 9LT)
Platinum
Pass: £1300 ex VAT (complete access to SXSW London
Conference
Pass:
£1000 (primary access all conference tracks)
Music
Pass:
£650 ex VAT (Primary Access to Music Festival)
3-DAY
Conference Pass: £595 (Three-day Full Festival Access with Primary Access
Full Conference Tracks; Gain full access to Conference, Music & Screen for
three days from Tuesday 3 June - Thursday 5 June.)
1
Day Festival Pass
SECONDARY
ACCESS:
Screen Pass: £650 (Primary Access to Screen Festival)
Strategic
and innovative senior leader with extensive experience in shaping and growing
organisations, focusing on revenue and profit growth, artist development, and
management best practices.
Madeleine
Derungs
Digital
Partnerships at Universal Music Group & Country Radio Presenter at W!ZARD
Radio
Madeleine
has worked across many different sides of the country music industry in the UK,
including as a radio presenter on W!ZARD Radio, contributor at Holler,
in live at music agency Wasserman, as an artist manager, and is currently at
Universal Music Group working in digital partnerships.
This is all rooted in a
deep love of country, its storytelling, and wanting to make it a more welcoming
and safe space for all. While doing her Master’s degree, focusing on gender,
intersectionality and country music, she did a TedxLSE talk on trying to create
positive change in the industry called “Do you love something enough to change
it?”
Born and raised in the UK with triple Canadian, Swiss and British
nationality, she’s passionate about embracing the growing internationality of
country music and translating it to different cultures and markets.
Bob
Harris OBE
Radio
Presenter
BBC
Bob
Harris
is a renowned British radio presenter, known for his work on BBC Radio 2.
Nicknamed "Whispering Bob," he champions country, folk, and Americana
music. His intimate style has made him a beloved figure in UK broadcasting for
decades.
SXSW
LONDON
New
to London! Business, tech, music, screen & culture converge for one
incredible week in Shoreditch, East London, 2-7 June 2025
Welcoming
thousands of people through its doors every year, Shoreditch Town Hall is a
leading cultural, community and live events space housed in one of the grandest
former civic buildings in the capital. Comprising over 48,000 square feet
across 70 individual rooms, the Grade II listed Town Hall is the largest
multi-artform venue in Hackney and more widely used today than at any other
point since being set up as a Charitable Trust in 1998.
The Town Hall
presents a year-round cultural programme of progressive theatre, cabaret,
music, dance and talks, as well as hosting numerous live event hires ranging
from documentary film premieres to tech conferences and weddings. The Town Hall
has been a part of numerous film and TV locations, most recently featuring in
Baby Reindeer, A Quiet Place: Day One, and Gangs of London.
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