🌅 Horizon Future Leaders - Juliet Kennedy

As part of our Horizon Future Leaders series of interviews, we are connecting with the music industry’s next generation of leaders to gather candid advice and insights into their career journeys. 

Juliet Kennedy is the founder and curator of Brick Lane Jazz Festival, which she built from the ground up. 

What makes her path particularly instructive is that she’s seen the industry from every angle, as a touring musician sharing Holiday Inn rooms with five people and not getting paid for certain shows, as a grassroots venue manager watching how impossibly hard it is to make money at that level, and now as a festival founder making creative and commercial decisions informed by all of that experience.

She didn’t start with a festival blueprint. She was a musician playing in bands, working events as much as possible (festivals, parties, the lot), and eventually curating venues. That’s where she saw the opportunity and realised how much she enjoyed promoting. 

The hands-on experience across all those roles gave her something formal education can’t: a real understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and why the commercial side matters as much as the creative side.

Her advice for anyone trying to break in is refreshingly straightforward. Be genuine, follow up, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Most people are happy to share what they know because we all learn on the job anyway; it’s really just about getting your foot in the door. 

And don’t undervalue yourself. It’s okay not to know everything at the start, but remember what you do bring to the table.

Read the full Q&A with Juliet below 👇

What’s your current role in the music industry? 

I’m the founder and curator of Brick Lane Jazz Festival.

What does your general day to day look like?

Day-to-day varies, but largely festival curation, artist liaison, partnerships and marketing/PR. Lots of inbox management, meetings and keeping everything moving across the team. 

On the week of the festival itself, the focus shifts more towards production and it’s always an exciting time, seeing everything come together across the site!

What steps did you take early in your career to gain experience and build skills to get you where you are now?

I was always a musician, playing in different bands and working on my own material too, so I was always out seeing a lot of music, or performing. 

I also worked at events as much as possible early on - festivals and parties mostly - before I started curating venues. From there, I saw the opportunity and how fun promoting could be.

What opportunities did you explore early on that were particularly valuable?

It was incredibly valuable seeing the industry from all sides. I’ve managed music venues and I know how incredibly hard it is to make money in the grassroots venue scene. I’ve also been a musician on tour with five of us sharing a room at Holiday Inns and not being paid at all for certain shows. 

I’ve experienced both sides - and all the joy/challenges that come with them - first hand, and this informs a lot of my decision making, particularly when it comes to commercial splits. 

Marketing is something I’ve very much learnt on the job and it’s constantly evolving, so I’d always recommend getting experience in marketing and promotion as early on as possible.

Has the opportunity landscape changed since then?

Definitely - there are more entry points now (social media, content creation, digital marketing), but it’s still about grit, being reliable and showing you care, in my opinion.

Are there any specific internships, projects, or initiatives that you would recommend to newcomers looking to pursue a similar role?

I’d recommend looking at artist management internships, festival production roles, and anything that gets you in the room with both artists and industry. Also don’t overlook smaller/DIY events - they often offer the most varied experience.

What advice do you have for building and leveraging a professional network in the music industry?

Be genuine, follow up and don’t be afraid to ask for advice (not jobs!) - most people are happy to share what they know. We all learn most of what we know on the job in the end, it’s the only way - so really it’s just about getting your foot in the door.

How has the evolving digital landscape impacted your role, and where do you focus to stay ahead?

Digital has made everything more accessible but also noisier - I focus on building real relationships, keeping up with platform changes and staying flexible with formats/approaches.

What trends or changes do you see on the horizon for the music industry, and how can early career professionals prepare for them?

Continued rise of niche festivals, more artist-led initiatives, and a growing focus on inclusivity/diversity. Early career pros should stay curious, build diverse skills, and be open to non-traditional roles.

What’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?

Don’t undervalue yourself - and remember it’s OK not to know everything at the start!