GRAMMY MusicTech Summit 08

Panel Descriptions

 

Thursday, November 6^th

 

Evolution of Record Labels-11:45-1 PM

Can record labels weather and profit in the digital age? How are they adapting in order to survive? Hear leading voices from independent and major labels discuss how they are planning for the future and how they are refining their business model to thrive in the new digital economy.

 

 

Youth Attitudes on Music Consumption-11:45-1 PM

Join a group of young people ages 16-22 as they discuss their attitudes about music, how they consume it, share it and use it in their daily lives. What are their opinions about music pricing, file sharing, subscription services and advertising? Hear an emerging generation’s opinions about the future of the music business.

 

 

Social Networking-11:45-1 PM 

Social networking is here to stay.  A recent Time magazine article concluded that Facebook is now more popular than porn on the web. What is the future of social networking? How many different sites can people keep up with?  How can artists maximize their exposure on these different sites, and how should they prioritize their efforts? What is social networking going to look like in five years?

 

 

The Fair Use Firestorm-2-3 PM 

Innocent copying for personal use or a crime punishable by fines?  Where you stand on the issue of “fair use” depends upon where you sit.  Hear from both sides of the debate and fasten your seatbelts as the fair use community squares off against music content owners. 

 

Graphic Design Challenges for New Media-2-3 PM 

Album covers were once the ultimate canvas for graphic artists. A 12” x 12” space to convey the look, mood and feel of the music contained within. With the advent of the smaller CD and now postage stamp sized images on MP3 players, how are album graphics changing? How are graphics artists refining their thinking about art for releases and what other avenues is new media providing for artistic exploration?

 

New Media Contracts-2-3 PM 

What are you signing when you check that box? Are you giving away more than you think when you place your music on various digital distribution services and social networking platforms? Find out the best way to protect your music and make sure that you are not signing away the farm without even knowing it.

 

 

Digital Distribution-3:15-4:30 PM 

Apple’s iTunes recently passed Wal-Mart to become the number #1 music retailer in America. The genie is out of the bottle, and digital distribution is here to stay. Hear digital distribution leaders discuss the state of the industry, where they see it going and how musicians and labels can best navigate the changing landscape to promote and sell their work.

 

Friday, November 7^th

 

Gaming-9:45-11 AM 

Music is an integral part of gaming experience in popular titles like Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and SingStar. Games also provide a new outlet for artists to promote and sell their work. Join a group of gaming industry experts as they discuss the future cross pollination of music and gaming, the opportunities it presents for artists and the issues game developers, publishers and labels face when trying to create a new title.

 

Multi-Platform Branding-10-11:30 AM 

Building an effective brand is key to getting noticed in a world of declining music sales and increasing competition. With all the different websites and digital services out there, how can you create a consistent look and feel for your product? How can you build value and tell your story in a creative and compelling way?

 

Touring and Technology-10-11:30 AM 

The increasing economic pressures of rising gas costs and a slowing economy have forced musicians to try new ways to make touring more efficient and to maximize their time and resources. Unfortunately, this also comes at a time when touring has become an even more important part of artist’s livelihood. Hear a group of experts discuss strategies and the new technologies available to help keep artists on the road.

 

Artist Manager’s Forum-2-3 PM 

Are managers the new record labels? As the music industry evolves, managers are increasingly taking on more responsibility. These new responsibilities allow them large degrees of freedom in how they build their artists’ careers. But can they do everything? How much is too much? Hear from a group of leading artist managers discuss their thoughts and strategies for artist development, new business opportunities and the future of the music business.

 

Music and the Mobile Phone-2-3 PM

The cell phone is omnipresent in our culture. With 3G-enabled networks, it can also be used as an entertainment delivery platform. How are mobile companies evolving their music distribution models? How can consumers organize and manipulate music once they purchase it? How can artists get their music into the phone companies closed systems? Hear from a group of mobile experts as they discuss the future of the industry and how artists can best understand their options.

 

The Evolution of Traditional Retail-2-3 PM 

As digital sales take off, how are traditional music retail stores adapting to stay in business? How can they compete against the internet’s infinite inventory, or do they even need to? How are traditional retail outlets creating new experiences for their customers and working with artists and labels to expose new music? Join a group of store owners, physical distributors and label sales people to discuss the evolution of the traditional retail store.

 

Maximizing Music Licensing-3:15-4:30 PM 

Music licensing is often an artist’s most consistent revenue stream. With the expansion of film, television, internet, gaming and advertising, there are more opportunities than ever to license your music. But how do you do it? Who decides on what songs are used and is the increased competition for these slots driving prices down for artists? Join a group of music supervisors and pre-licensed music aggregators discuss the future of music licensing and how you can get your music placed.