Featured Speaking Events

Record labels have traditionally been the gatekeepers between musicians and everyone else. With the rise of the digital industry, those gates are opening and going DIY has never been easier. We now have digital tools to record, produce and distribute music. We have digital tools to replace advances with crowdfunding. We have digital tools to communicate directly with fans. Is the era of the record label over? Can musicians be successful on their own terms? Is going DIY the right choice? We've assembled a team of music industry pros, who grew up in the digital era, to answer just that. We represent the voice of: tech, DIY musicians, managers, record labels and the future of the industry.

Starting a music career in today's landscape can often be daunting and confusing for someone who has little to no experience or connections. How do you build a fanbase and how do you effectively monetize it? How do you sustain a profitable music career? How do you handle the rigors of running your own business while enjoying the ride? Today's artists need to know a lot more than just how to make great music. A panel comprised of an artist manager, an entertainment attorney and a DIY artist, moderated by a former marketing director at Columbia Records, will discuss, debate and reveal how to launch a successful music career in today's industry.

"Startup Competition Winners Showcase" WINNERS: AudioDrops http://www.drops.nyc Disco http://disco.ac Magic Instruments https://magicinstruments.com NPREX http://www.nprex.com Mind Music Labs http://www.mindmusiclabs.com Pacemaker http://pacemaker.net Qrates https://qrates.com The One Music Group http://www.smartpiano.com Sunhouse (presenting at 2:30pm in the Sakura Room) http://sunhou.se dotBlockchain (presenting at 9:50 am in the Sakura Room) http://dotblockchainmusic.com

Some record labels and management firms have spent up to $1 million to build their major star talents’ websites, complimentary apps, and mobile sites. But what are they really building? Are these sites just artist blogs? Do they allow fans to have a community and interact with each other? Or are they simply for trying to sell merchandise and concert tickets? In this panel with the three major record labels, we will share the strategies to build a cohesive, accessible, mobile-friendly artist digital experience that draws music lovers to come back again and again, interact and engage with fellow fans, and actually buy merchandise and digital products.