Last night, Universal Music Australia (UMA), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, hosted IGNITE, spotlighting three UMG global priority developing artists, Olivia Dean, Sebastian Schub and Sienna Spiro captivating audiences at the exclusive event in Sydney.

The IGNITE international artist showcase series is a UMG initiative where priority breaking artists are introduced to new markets across the globe. Now celebrating its third year of bringing together influential local industry, international artists, and global label executives, the intimate one off live performance held at Events By Alpha in Sydney was widely revered by those in attendance and hosted by media personality Bridget Hustwaite.

This year's event follows the wildly successful 2024 showcase, which welcomed Good Neighbours, Role Model and Towa Bird, as they performed for their first Australian audience.

As a global organisation, UMA is proud to continue our commitment to discovering, developing, and promoting exceptional talent worldwide.

President and CEO, Universal Music Australia & New Zealand, Sean Warner said, “This year we are thrilled to welcome the next wave of international artists to the Australian market at the IGNITE showcase for the third consecutive year right here in Sydney. In close collaboration with our global labels, we work with a diverse range of artists, and with these international partnerships, we are able to introduce our homegrown talent to markets like the US and beyond. With offices across more than 60 territories, we work as one unified team to invest in our artists and help them reach new audiences. As always, our mission is to provide our artists with platforms to connect with fans, drive discovery, and introduce international acts to Australia while helping our homegrown talent break into global markets. It’s incredibly exciting to bring these international artists to the Australian market and support their journey toward becoming global stars.”

UMG Senior Vice President, Global Artist Development, JJ Corsini said, “Australia continues to lead the charge for UMG around the company's efforts to truly globalize artist development. While we’re building exciting and meaningful Ignite programs and showcases in markets like Toronto, Mexico City, Berlin etc, Sydney is already on its 3rd annual Ignite Showcase. The results of us proactively bringing great developing artists to Australia earlier than they’d get there on their own are clear. Having hosted acts like D4VD, Stephen Sanchez, Role Model, and Good Neighbours, the support the artists get from the company and from partners alike is significant and long-lasting. This year will be no different. Olivia Dean is a personal favorite, someone we believe will break around the world in the next year, while Sienna and Sebastian are two of the most exciting and promising newcomers to the UMG roster, all of whom are committed to doing the work it takes to break in Australia.”

ABOUT OLIVIA DEAN

Olivia Dean is a multi-BRIT and Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter who has quickly become one of the most exciting musical talents in the UK to date. Renowned for her distinctive fusion of neo-soul, R&B, and jazz, she has carved out a unique sound that blends timeless genres with a modern flair, earning her widespread acclaim from the industry and fans alike. With over 5.6M+ Spotify monthly listeners worldwide, she has earned a reputation for her soulful powerhouse vocals, emotive songwriting, and signature style. Dean’s music has captivated audiences globally, and her contribution to Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy marks her first collaboration with the beloved film franchise.

ABOUT SEBASTIAN SCHUB

Sbestian Schub is a German-born, London-raised solo artist. Having moved to London at age 14 on his own to study music, he has has since immersed himself in the creative hubs of London, surrounded in a Bohemian, creative world. Based out of a small live venue ‘Spiritual Bar’ which is a hub of aspiring musicians, actors and creatives, he is described as a traditional romantic and artist in the modern world, aligning with David Bowie and Nick Drake in his artistry.

ABOUT SIENNA SPIRO

Sienna Spiro is a 19-year-old, London-based singer/songwriter. Growing up, she's been inspired by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Etta James, Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse. Inspired by that soulful sound, she integrates elements of jazz into her songwriting but leans into more of that commercial space with an edge for cool contemporary production. Current inspirations are artists such as, Tyler Creator, Raye, Frank Ocean etc. She’s working towards her debut EP ‘SINK NOW, SWIM LATER’. Sienna and her unmistakably powerful vocals have garnered over 727k TikTok followers, over 151k Instagram followers, over 1.9M monthly Spotify listeners and co-signs from SZA, Snoh Aalegra, Finneas, Mark Ronson and more.