Expat writer, critic and presenter Clive James will give the keynote address at this week’s Commercial Radio National Conference on the Gold Coast this Friday. He heads a list of leading international and Australian speakers addressing the conference, which will be opened by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.

Highlights of the day will include:

9.00am: Clive James – Cult of Celebrity

10.00am: Official opening by Premier Beattie

10.45am: Government Advertising and use of Radio – Hon Joe Hockey, Federal Minister for Tourism and Small Business

1.45pm: Bruce Beresford – Managing Talent with an eye on the audience and bottom line

2.30pm: Panel Session: Advertisers speak: Radio’s Hyper Ad Growth – How to make it last

6 pm: New Music to Radio Showcase at Quest Nightclub

Featuring eight new and emerging artists who will perform for the radio industry. They include

· Bella: are Karen O’Shea, Lyn Bowtell and Kate Ballantyne – three talented singer/ songwriters from the NSW Central Coast.

· Eran James: a 15-year-old gifted soul singer, born and raised in Melbourne, who has been singing since the age of eight.

· Jade MacRae: discovered 18 months ago while performing back-up vocals at a Jimmy Barnes gig, Jade MacRae is a talented singer and gifted songwriter.

· Julie Strickland: the Cairns-born singer and songwriter has been writing her own music and performing since the age of nine.

· Kid Courageous: a piano punk band formed in the late summer of 2002 which comprises five young musicians fronted by the enigmatic lead singer and piano player, Mick “Rabbit” Courageous.

· Sarah Blasko: one of the better known of the NM2R performers, Sarah was nominated for Best Female Artist in the 2003 ARIA Awards.

· Vanlustbader: a five-piece rock group from Brisbane, who released a debut EP “Power Makes Sense” earlier this year which received strong reviews.

· Tammin Sursok: best known for her role as Danni Sutherland for the past four years on television’s “Home and Away”, Tammin is 21 years old.