Global Platform Leaders at OMR26: ChatGPT, YouTube, OnlyFans

The OMR Festival returns to Hamburg on May 5 and 6, 2026. To help you stay on top of all the announcements from the past and coming weeks—regarding speakers, exhibitors, Masterclasses & Guided Tours (applications are open until April 18), Side Events, and more—we’ve come up with something new this year. Our "Journeys" are designed to provide guidance, bundling the dozens of topics and interests represented at the festival into nine overarching categories—ensuring you find exactly what helps you move forward.

At OMR25, Nick Turley already took to the Conference Stage to explain his current work on ChatGPT, what the next major developments in AI will look like, and what this all means for businesses. Having emigrated to the U.S. after graduating high school in Itzehoe, Schleswig-Holstein, he is now one of the most influential figures in the global AI game. As Head of Product for ChatGPT, he plays a decisive role in the success and technical evolution of OpenAI's chatbot. In an already fast-paced world, the clock in the AI sector ticks even faster. At OMR26, Nick Turley will return to the Conference Stage to discuss what has changed at ChatGPT and across the industry since his appearance at OMR25.

A look at Lyor Cohen’s career quickly reveals that few people in the music industry possess such a deep understanding of pop-cultural shifts combined with the power of platforms. He started as a concert promoter and road manager for legendary hip-hop groups like Run DMC and the Beastie Boys, later becoming the head of the iconic label Def Jam Recordings. For nearly ten years, he has served as Global Head of Music at YouTube—a platform that has long been an indispensable pillar of the music industry as a source of global trends. At OMR26, Lyor Cohen will take the Conference Stage to reveal what matters today, how the industry has evolved over the years, and how he recognizes whether a newcomer has what it takes to be a superstar.

Subscription features have become a core component of almost every major social media platform. The promise: giving creators the opportunity to monetize their content directly, rather than relying solely on brand deals and reach. For a long time, this was only possible through third-party platforms—most notably OnlyFans. While it was primarily used for "adult content" in its early years following its 2016 launch, its user base has long included creators from the sports, music, and film industries. Keily Blair has been the CEO of OnlyFans for about three years, responsible for the company’s strategic direction—as well as its billion-dollar revenues and user growth. On the Conference Stage, Keily Blair will explain what truly matters when it comes to communities and fan engagement.