Jessica Ducrou

Jessica Ducrou, a trailblazer in the Australian music industry, has been instrumental in shaping the country's live music and festival scene. Born in Adelaide and drawn to Sydney’s vibrant music culture, she began her career at Red Eye Records before working at Rolling Stone magazine. By 22, she was booking shows at the Lansdowne Hotel and later became Powderfinger's booking agent, forging a decades-long industry partnership. In 1992, she co-founded IMC with Joe Segreto, launching Homebake, an all-Australian music festival. A decade later, she and Paul Piticco co-founded Splendour in the Grass, growing it into Australia’s most iconic three-day festival, hosting artists like Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, The Strokes, Kanye West, The Cure and Florence + The Machine.In 2012, they acquired Falls Festival, expanding to Byron Bay and Fremantle, and in 2016 merged ventures under Secret Sounds Group, later partnering with Live Nation and producing Download and Sydney City Limits. To secure a permanent festival venue, they invested in North Byron Parklands, securing approval in 2019 for a 50,000-capacity event site.Secret Sounds further expanded, acquiring Spilt Milk growing its portfolio to include Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Secret Sounds Touring, Village Sounds booking agency, Secret Sounds Connect, Secret Service PR, North Byron Parklands, The Triffid in Brisbane, Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, and Hindley Street Music Hall in Adelaide. Jessica has continually innovated, launching Splendour XR, a groundbreaking virtual festival, and producing Harvest Rock in Adelaide. She co-founded the Australian Festival Association (AFA) to advocate for the sector, joined the LPA board in 2023, and was appointed Chair of Sound NSW in 2024, helping shape a 10-year strategy for contemporary music in NSW. A powerhouse in a male-dominated industry, Jessica has broken barriers, ranking as the highest-placed woman on The Power 50 music industry list. In July 2024, she stepped away from Secret Sounds and Live Nation, embracing a well-earned break before embarking on her next chapter.

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