Micheal Crimp opened the talk by elaborating on this year’s IBC highlights and improvements which have been newly implemented. Stating that this year’s goal was to “design an engagement rather than a presence,” Crimp emphasised that there is “big buzz at the time of change because the industry has always been good at identifying a need for change and adapting. We won’t get anywhere unless we listen, therefore content being integrated into workflows and the creative experience merging with the corporate experience is essential moving forward.”

He then explained that, with this in mind, the Future Trends Theatre came to be; running a four day program including 60 twenty minute presentations exploring up and coming technology and business trends. Rodger Thornton elaborated on its value, stating that “once we accept that we will never reach the ‘end’, we can keep adapting and moving forward,” concluding that “The Future Trends Theatre promises to be a fountain of knowledge for visitors, enabling them to do just that.”

Contrastingly, Lapsiwaia spoke about this year’s focus on providing a “fresh” perspective and approach than in past years; such as showcasing and highlighting advancements, new platforms and interactive tracks designed to address latest innovations (ex. blockchain, AI, VR, etc…). In particular, she spoke about this year’s theme of diversity and inclusivity — which called for the inclusivity of both adjacent industries and encouraged gender equality, as well as advertising the business advantages of diversity. Lapsiwaia stated that, with this theme, “leaders can be brought together to drive innovation and make sure the industry moves forward.”

Jackson, closed the Press Conference with her informative and innovative talk on blockchain. Focusing on the unique ability to execute peer to peer exchanges through blockchain, Jackson emphasised the potential benefits when applied to different business models, claiming that ‘Tokenised Ecosystems’ are the future, as they would eliminate the need to ask permission from ‘gatekeepers and intermediaries’ when creating content, and enable content creators to track their IP and revenue themselves.

“I see a future where content creators have more freedom and control over content,” she declared, mentioning that, “it’s a particularly exciting time for artists because they will be able to create in ways they’ve never been able to before.”

A main point, emphasised throughout her talk was that “education is everything for blockchain. Cryptocurrency is only one application, but it can do so much more. Understanding how to apply it is the way forward. It’s all about education now. Blockchain won’t change human behaviour because it’s immutable and trust-less because the open ledger will show what’s happening and, therefore, alleviate concerns. However, technology is not a cure all for problems and humanity, it’s just a matter of understanding how it can help.”

When questioned how she thought her proposed applications of blockchain would provide content creators with more freedom, she responded by stating that, “the freedom will manifest predominantly in the forms of media and genres that can be created. Rather than having to fall into strictly outlined categories — such as Drama, Romance, Comedy, Thriller, etc… — content creators will be able to navigate and explore overlaps of various categories without being pressured into boxes by their producers or labels, because they’ll be able to self-publish and manage both their IP and revenue without them.”