Music Exchange 2021 (#MEX21) has announced that current Music Australia chairperson Michael Smellie will be one of the keynote speakers at the upcoming 11th edition of the entertainment economy-focused conference.
As part of this year’s conference, audience members are invited to participate and ask this global music thought leader questions regarding the industry.
Smellie’s career in the music business spans more than 25 years. He has worked across five continents as former global chief operations officer of Sony BMG, Asia Pacific head for BMG and managing director of Polygram and rooArt in Australia.
As COO for BMG worldwide, he directed the company through some turbulent years and was an integral part of negotiating and implementing the merger with Sony Music. He was appointed COO of Sony BMG in 2004 before leaving in 2005 to return to Australia.
Until the end of 2008, he was president of media development, the Asia Pacific for German media giant Bertelsmann.
Smellie was also a director at Global Citizen from February 2017 to October 2020. He is an investor, advisor and board member to many startup creative businesses in Australia and the United States.
He is currently the board chair of the Music Council of Australia.
