Leading Edge Music is an independent publication covering the Australian music scene from the inside out. We write about indie artists, festivals, streaming economics, music technology, and the business decisions shaping our industry.

The site is run by Tom Westbrook, a music journalist and former touring musician based in Melbourne. Tom spent a decade playing bass in mid-tier indie bands across Australia and Southeast Asia before shifting into music journalism in 2016. He's written for The Music, Tone Deaf, and Rolling Stone Australia, and has covered BIGSOUND, Splendour in the Grass, and Dark Mofo more times than he can count.

Tom's perspective comes from both sides of the stage. He's dealt with dodgy promoters, navigated the shift from CD sales to streaming royalties, and watched friends build careers on TikTok algorithms. That experience shapes how we cover the industry here -- with honesty, practical insight, and a deep respect for the people actually making the music.

We don't do puff pieces or press release rewrites. If a festival is pricing out independent acts, we'll say so. If a new AI tool genuinely helps producers work faster, we'll explain how. The goal is to be useful to artists, managers, venue operators, and anyone who cares about Australian music staying vibrant and diverse.

Got a tip or want to pitch a story? Reach out through our contact page.