SUPPORTING THECREA T I EV YTINUMMOC

So where did March disappear to? It feels like it was just a matter of days ago that we were toasting the arrival of 2023 and exchanging wishes for a prosperous new year, yet here we are, with Spring well and truly sprung and almost a third of the year behind us.

This sense of time sped up in the industry is largely due to the fact that it’s been the closest Q1 to normality in three years. In recent weeks we’ve seen a busy awards season, with the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, BRITs, Grammys, and Oscars fly by at breakneck speed, while the return of ISE to its usual early-year time slot after a May outing in 2022 delivered the busiest show in its history. Plus, the annual AVA and AIM Connected conferences have enjoyed packed out editions.

It is perhaps no coincidence then that this edition of Headliner USA reflects the full gamut of themes and topics that have been defining features of 2023 so far.

As you’ll see from our cover, we had the great privilege of chatting with composer Jung Jaeil about his incredible original score for Netflix’s most-watched show of all time, Squid Game. In an extensive conversation, he delves into the art of what it takes to create a great score for film and TV and his own personal creative process.

Elsewhere, we speak with goth rock icon and former HIM frontman Ville Valo about his maiden voyage as a solo artist, which saw him write, record, engineer and produce his debut album Neon Noir

We also cast an eye over the landscape for emerging artists and producers, as Chris Walton and Karin Ann open up on the biggest challenges and opportunities facing those looking to crack the industry.

Meanwhile, as the immersive boom continues to gather pace, we explore the very latest projects placing spatial sound at the core of their offerings, from the latest Dolby Atmosequipped studios to the colleges and universities training the next generation of audio professionals.

With so much going on, no wonder it’s been hard to keep up.

Daniel Gumble Head of Content, Headliner

droW s by Alice Gustafson