Registrations open this week for the Wānaka non-profit music summit Youth + Adults in the Music Industry (YAMI).

YAMI has earned a reputation for bringing top musical talent and industry heavyweights to its summits, and it is preparing to celebrate 10 years of delivering the Wānaka event at the 2025 summit, which will take place on May 3-4.

Past summits have featured Troy Kingi, Anika Moa, Ladi6, Barnaby Weir, Tiki Taane, Moana Maniapoto, Jon Toogood, Julia Deans, Anna Coddington, Dave Dobbyn, Kings, and Bella Kalolo, as well as members of The Beths, L.A.B., Fat Freddy's Drop, and Shapeshifter.

Next year's lineup will be announced in February but pre-registrations have already opened and tickets for places to the summit will go on sale this Thursday (November 7).

Participants are taught how to navigate the music industry with workshop and seminar topics covering performance, DJing, songwriting, beatmaking, royalties and distribution, marketing and management.

The biennial summit was the first to welcome rangatahi and adults, with 10 years old being the minimum age to attend.

Most of the crew are volunteers, and YAMI director Lynne Christie acknowledged that support from the music industry was vital. 

“The tutors and speakers are incredibly generous with their time and knowledge,” she said. 

“They are able to tap into focussed hacks that guide talented creatives to the next level.”

Yami ambassador Barnaby Weir (The Black Seeds, Fly My Pretties) said he was proud to have supported the summit since its beginnings in 2014. 

“It's not easy in the creative industries. This summit shows the participants that there is a network, there is support,” he said.

Funding applications are underway, and registrations for YAMI open this week.