In 2027, ILMC sets off on its most challenging edition yet: to race around the live music world in just 80 hours. From 23-26 February, over 1,700 of the industry’s leading pioneers and trailblazers will gather in London for the start of an unforgettable race as the touring party crosses borders and seeks out new markets, routes and opportunities.
Competitors from 80 countries will make their way to ILMC’s own Reform Club – The Royal Lancaster Hotel – from where the most spectacular journey will begin. So polish your compass and pack your trunk, because ILMC 39 is going to be the most global edition yet. But with tickets for the journey strictly limited, for Fogg’s sake, don’t leave it too late to sign up!
4 DAYS
80+ MARKETS
180+ SPEAKERS
1700+ ATTENDEES
The Conference Itinerary
Now in its 39th year, ILMC is the international live music industry’s largest and most respected conference. And with the world of live entertainment under one roof, every conversation leads somewhere…
A World of Connections
With over 1,700 professionals attending from 80 markets, you’ll depart with your passport stamped and full of new contacts. From speed meetings and socials, to dedicated networking and private meeting space, ILMC is all about connections.
Onboard Leisure Activities
In between conference sessions and five-star lunches, you can relax with a back massage, take a brisk morning jog around Hyde Park, or get noticed by fellow travellers at the karaoke.
ILMC Central
In 2027, panel sessions move to the lower ground Westbourne Suite and a brand-new central meeting point – ILMC Central – opens up on the ground floor. It’s a new focal point for the whole event with more meeting space than ever.
Latam & Asian Stopovers
ILMC 39 will stop off at various live music destinations around the world with two dedicated tracks for 2027: Latam Live and Asia Live. Each programme features two dedicated panels, a hosted lunch, speed meetings, and curated networking with professionals from the region.
Private Cabins for Hire
New for 2027, voyagers can book their own private meeting spaces and cabins during ILMC, allowing for privacy and quiet away from the hubbub of the main areas. Bookable by the hour, or by the half day, get in touch for details.
New Friday Programme & Departure Lounge
In recognising how many of our members want to fly home for the weekend, Friday at ILMC has a new look with a full morning of specialist sessions before a relaxed and informal ‘Departure Lounge’ farewell brunch that completes our journey.
The Arthur Awards 2027
The Arthur Awards is relocating to a brand-new luxurious destination in 2027, the Hilton Park Lane, where we expect to welcome over 600 of live entertainment’s biggest names to a glamorous evening of five-star food and wines, and a major industry celebration.
Ashish Hemrajani
Keith Dawkins
President
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Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios
An award-winning, strategist and creative, Keith Dawkins is a chief executive officer with 25+ years of experience in the media/entertainment landscape, professional sports arena, and philanthropic industries. He serves as president, Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios, charged with the overall day-to-day operations of both entities. In his role, he spearheads the brands ongoing evolution from a live event business, spanning 124 countries across six continents, to a global branded entertainment force.
In this role, Dawkins has spearheaded the organisations growth and expansion across media/entertainment, consumer products, commercial partnerships, corporate social responsibility, digital/social media, and through a variety of strategic partnerships that are re-energising its global footprint. He orchestrated a content deal with Hearst Media Production Group, which returned the Globetrotters to television for the first time in 40 years, with the three-time Emmy®Award-nominated hit NBC weekly series Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward.
He continues to increase the content development slate with best-in-class partners including Hidden Pictures, Atmosphere TV, Reach TV, Hearst Media Production Group, Grey Television, Composition Media, Sesame, and many others.
Under his leadership, he has steered the global organisation to three consecutive years of revenue and EBITDA growth, leading to audience expansion across its owned and operated, and partner, platforms – as well as its successful return to Asia and its countries of Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
He spearheaded the first of-its-kind Sports Residency at American Dream in Secaucus, NJ in August of 2024, which also resulted in a deal with Scripps TV to provide the play-by-play of a Globetrotters at the residency. This marked the first time in over 40 years that a Globetrotters game was broadcast live.
Dawkins has also solidified deals with IMG as the exclusive licensing / merchandising partner as well as with Excel Sports as the Globetrotters official commercial partner.
In addition, Dawkins also launched the Harlem Globetrotters first-ever corporate and social responsibility programme. The Goodwill Ambassador Initiative focuses on the strategic pillars of health & wellness, education, and community empowerment. The initiative has created partnerships with the U.S. State Department, Microsoft, Comic Relief/Red Nose Day, the United Nations, and Campus Multimedia to name a few.
Dawkins is also the sole proprietor of Rock Hill Media Ventures (RHMV), the media company he founded in 2018. RHMV clients and strategic partners have included the National Basketball Players Association, award-winning production companies such as Believe Entertainment Group and 9Story Media Group, global distributors, Sutikki and Toonz Media Group, Battat Entertainment Group – a division of Battat toy company, former NFL player, Rashad Jennings, and many others.
Previously, Dawkins served as EVP, World Golf Foundation and chief executive officer of The First Tee, a non-profit organisation that uses the game of golf positively and that impacts the lives of over 5m young people annually.
Prior to The First Tee, Dawkins spent 17 years at Paramount (formerly Viacom) serving as Nickelodeon’s first ever GM for the Nicktoons Network. Over the years he rose within the organisation to EVP, where his purview included overseeing TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick Jr. and NickMusic channels, and launching a Nick Sport initiative.
In addition to his professional work, he has been involved in various boards including the Board of Governors of Ramapo College of New Jersey; where he also serves as an Adjunct Professor; a former member of the Board of Advisors for Calyx Peak Companies, the NY chapter of “Reach Out and Read;” and the inaugural President of the Ridgewood High School Alumni Association. A graduate of the CTAM Executive Management Program at Harvard Business School and the NAMIC Executive Leadership Program at UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management, Dawkins holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Ramapo College.
He currently resides in Ridgewood, NJ, with his wife and two sons.
ILMC 39 Partners
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