Three-day event will present 600 performances on 25 stages in the Brickell area of downtown Miami, and a two-day conference for emerging artists

Transcription

1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MIAMI MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES CONFERENCE LINEUP AND SHOWCASE STAGES Three-day event will present 600 performances on 25 stages in the Brickell area of downtown Miami, and a two-day conference for emerging artists (Miami, FL) October 5, 2009 The Miami Music Festival has announced details of its showcase festival and conference for emerging artists taking place this December 10-12, The conference will be held in the North, Central, and South halls of the James L. Knight International Center at the Miami Convention Center. We realize that many artists are coming a long way to perform for the music industry and local audiences at The Miami Music Festival, and we want to reward them not only with great exposure for their showcases, but also with the tools to take their careers to the next level when they return home. said Conference Director, Serona Elton. Conference topics include Making A Ready For Primetime Demo, What s Working Online and Video Production On A Shoestring, with panel discussions organized by Billboard, BMI, The Recording Academy and many others. A full list of sessions and speakers is attached, and can also be found at miamimusicfestival.org. The Festival s live showcase performances will feature Rock, Alternative and singer/songwriter acts, and spotlight Latin, Urban, Caribbean and Jazz. Performances will take place in four large tents on lots in the South Miami Avenue and SW 7 th Street area, as well as nearby clubs in restaurants including: Transit Lounge (three stages) Tobacco Road (three stages) The Hard Rock Café (two stages) Waxy O Connor s (two stages) Japengo at the Hyatt Regency Miami, Red Bar Gordon Biersch Blue Martini Havana Dreams Ecco (upstairs) The Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center Several other venues and keynote speakers will be announced later this month. Independent artists can apply to perform at the MMF by going to miamimusicfestival.org. For more information, contact: Patricia San Pedro San Pedro Productions Patricia@sanpedroproductions.com or visit miamimusicfestival.org

2 Panel Descriptions GET PLAYED, GET PAID: Maximizing Opportunities and Income in the Digital Environment (Presented by SoundExchange) How I Wrote That Song (Presented by BMI) We all know that independent artists and labels can now find their target audiences online. But how do you get noticed by bloggers and the various online music services, promote your music to them and then get paid as a performer on your sound recordings when your music gets played? What s the best online digital marketing method? What can a digital aggregator really do for you? How do you get your music onto itunes, and how do you get promoted there. Are there other itunes-like retailers and is it worth it to post there? Should you use the social sites yourself or work with a social consultant or company? How do you use the online environment to grow your fan base? There are so many web based promotional tools and services for musicians and labels, but which ones are the most effective and why? This panel of experts will detail how to get played and get paid as well as other exciting opportunities in the digital realm! Don t miss out on this Must-See panel that will include some of today s most distinguished and talented artists in the music industry. Go behind the scenes and learn about the songs that they have written and experience live performances that reflect the development of the individual compositions. From TV and Film, to Latin, Pop and Urban music creation, nothing will be left to the imagination as our BMI panelists will share their thoughts with everyone and offer up an opportunity for Q&A on the business of songwriting and how they create the music that you know so well.

3 How to Talk to an A&R Exec The Thin Line Between Talent and Star Making a "Ready-For-Primetime" Demo (Presented by Cakewalk) Making A Life In Jazz Music Licensing Strategies for Independent Artists Sound Adventures: Putting Together the Live Show In these days of sound bites and information overload, you have to be quick and concise with your message. Learn about what an A&R exec wants to hear and know about an artist to get them interested. Superstars have far more than talent - they have that special star quality! Learn about all of the factors that go into transforming a talented artist into a force of nature. Demo recordings have increasingly found their way onto e-retailers shelves, so make sure yours are worthy of not only presenting your music but are viable, professional, finished recordings. Listen and learn from this panel of distinguished artists and industry veterans as they discuss the various revenue generating and career enhancing opportunities for jazz artists today. Think broadly about how your music can generate revenue, and learn about creating and licensing music for use in television, film, and video games. Hear about production techniques, tricks of the trade, and cool new tools available to enhance your live performance. SoundLab (Presented by the Florida Entertainment Summit) Starting Your Own Entertainment Company Recording Artists and Producers will have an opportunity to pitch their music to DJs, Mixshow Directors, Film Producers, A&R's, Marketing Agencies and Advertising Agencies Get in the know on important topics such as defining what product or service your company is going to provide; people issues involving partners, investors, accountants, and lawyers; setting yourself apart from your competitors; staying afloat in this economy; and planning for growth in the future.

4 The 10 Most Important Questions To Ask Your Music Publisher (Presented by SESAC) The Billboard Latin Music Panel The Business of Hip-Hop: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (Presented by the Florida Entertainment Summit) The Future of R&B The Producer's Panel (Presented by The Recording Academy, Florida Chapter) Touring, Indie Style Video Production On A Shoestring Budget When to Call a Lawyer, and Who To Call This group of experienced executives and professionals will walk you through the most important questions that a songwriter should ask their music publisher, including topics that are typically addressed in a songwriter agreement as well as those that are not. Listen in as top Latin music industry executives and artists discuss different factors affecting the Latin music world today. Making it in today s Hip-Hop world requires new skills and an awareness of the new music industry. The panel deals with avoiding pitfalls, suggests new ideas and talks about the meaning of fresh. While these experienced R&B gurus won't be bringing their crystal balls to the panel with them, they will share with you their views on where R&B music is headed. A panel discussion featuring major producers/engineers who will discuss creative and business trends in music. Learn ways that an aspiring up-and-coming artist can put together a tour, including a discussion of do s and don ts, legal considerations, and how to work with agents and concert promoters. Only have $500, $1000, or $5000 to put into making a video? How to make your money stretch to give you the best video for your bucks. Learn about: finding and working with a lawyer; important things to consider about your band name; what to do if someone is infringing on your copyright; submitting your music to contests, and other things you may not have even thought about!

5 When To Say No To A Label, and When To Say Yes Learn to weigh the pros and cons of signing with a record label, and to analyze the different factors that influence an artist s decision to sign or stick with the D.I.Y. model. Speakers To Date: Kedar Massenburg (former President and CEO of Motown Records, and founder of Kedar Entertainment) Keynote Interview Steve Robertson (Vice President of A&R, Atlantic Records) Wayne Williams (Senior Vice President of A&R, Jive Records) Jimmy Douglass (Producer and Engineer - Rolling Stones, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland) Marcella Araica (Producer and Engineer Usher, Missy Elliot, T.I.) Jim Jonsin (Grammy award-winning Hip-Hop Writer and Producer, and Entrepreneur) Leila Cobo (Executive Director, Latin Content & Programming at Billboard) Jorge Mejia (Vice President, Latin America and U.S. Latin, Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Billy Cobham (Music legend) Ed Calle (Latin, Jazz, and Pop Saxophonist) Nicole Henry (Jazz Singer) Marcus Johnson (Jazz Pianist, Producer, and Entrepreneur) Betty Wright (Miami Music Festival Ambassador and Grammy award-winning Soul and R&B singer) Kurt Abdo (Entertainment Attorney, Lommen Abdo Law Firm) Ivan Alvarez (Founder and Principal, CdA Group) David Bercuson (Entertainment Attorney, David Bercuson, P.A.) Ron Bienstock (Entertainment Attorney, Bienstock & Michael, P.C.) Jim Boitnott (President/CEO, NOTION Music, Inc.) Gabrielle Bozza (Artist Manager and Entertainment Attorney, The Hub and Bozza Law, P.A.) Demacio "Demo" Castellon (Producer and Engineer Ludacris, Rihanna) Kenny Cordova (Associate Director, SESAC) Lu Diaz (Executive Vice President, Poe Boy Digital, and recording and mixing engineer) Roy Elkins (Founder and CEO, Broadjam) Fernando Fazzari (President, Fazzari Entertainment; Former tour manager for RBD) Cainon "Lamb" Lamb (Producer and Writer - Jazmine Sullivan, Missy Elliot) Ethan Levinson (Senior Talent Buyer, AEG Live SE) Melanie Masterson (Eleven:11 Entertainment, Inc., Artist Manager, Spam Allstars) Neeta Ragoowansi (Director of Artist-Label Relations, SoundExchange) Larry Rosen (Musician, Producer, Executive Producer, and Entrepreneur) Rey Sanchez (Former Musical Director for Chayanne, and Associate Professor at the University of Miami Frost School of Music) Richard C. Wolfe (Entertainment Attorney, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler) Dan Zank (Composer /arranger of music for film and television) Leslie Zigel (Entertainment Attorney, Ziglaw) Jesse Stoll (Operations Coordinator, AEG Live SE)