**Mentor Session: Hunter Scott (LaFamos PR)
Thursday, 3/16/17 | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Austin Convention Center Room 8ab
Mentor Sessions offer one-on-one interaction with professionals from all aspects of the music, film and interactive industries, so if you're interested in Marketing, Publicity, Promotions or Social Media, speaking with Hunter Scott, Head of Marketing and Publicity at LaFamos PR, is highly recommended. An expert in PR, branding and social media, Scott is an official speaker/mentor at this year's SXSW in Austin.
Since all official mentoring sessions through SXSW are full, Music Connection has teamed up with Scott to provide additional slots exclusively to MC readers. To secure a slot, visit LAFAMOS.com/contact and fill out the form with your desired date. There is availability on Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17, and space is extremely limited, so act soon!
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**Mentor Session: Candace Stewart (East West Studios)
Thursday, 3/16/17 | 5 – 6 p.m.
Austin Convention Center Room 8ab
If you're interested in studio production or engineering sign up to speak with Candace Stewart. Mentor Sessions offer one-on-one interaction with professionals from all aspects of the music, film and interactive industries. Music and Platinum registrants will have access to advance sign up for this session. Artist Wristband holders and Interactive and Film registrants will be able to sign up for remaining spaces on site.
Related: Studio Managers Help Make the Most of Your Studio Experience
Candace Stewart is an industry veteran with over 20 years experience in recording studio management and is currently the manager of East West Studios. In the past, she has managed such facilities as Take One Recording, Red Zone, Soundcastle Studios and Firehouse Studios. In addition, Stewart has worked with artists in all genres of music from the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Madonna, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg to film composers Jerry Goldsmith and Paul Williams.
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**Mentor Session: Gabe Kubanda (Epic Proportions Tour LLC)
Friday, 3/17/17 | 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Austin Convention Center Room 8ab
Mentor Sessions offer one-on-one interaction with professionals from all aspects of the music, film and interactive industries. Only Music and Platinum registrants will have access to advance sign up for this session. Artist Wristband holders and Interactive and Film registrants will be able to sign up for remaining spaces on site. If you're interested in touring it is highly recommended to speak with Gabe Kubanda.
Read More: NMC Artist: Gabe Kubanda
Since leaving his former band of sever years, indie artist Gabe Kubanda went on to be a featured cast member on Season 2 of VH1 Classic’s reality TV show Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp and create the Epic Proportions Tour and provide an opportunity for other bands to tour with him on the road. He’s an industry panelist at major music conferences, who has performed over 500 concerts, on 18 tours, played for our nations’ military as well as Vans Warped Tour, Summerfest, SXSW, CMJ, NAMM and more.
In addition to providing insight in mentor sessions, Kubanda will be performing at the festival on Sunday, March 12, at Key Bar from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Saturday, March 18, at Whole Foods.
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**PANEL: Direct Licensing & The True Value of Music
Friday, 3/17/17 | 11 – 12 p.m.
Austin Convention Center Room 10b
To unlock music's true value, one must look at not only what is being licensed but how it is being licensed. More creators and copyright owners control rights and their ability to work directly with music users such as broadcasters and streaming services. The current climate questions collective licensing’s ability to provide fair and equitable returns for rights owners. Direct licensing’s approach is uncovering potential. This panel will explore the pro’s and cons of direct license deals, understanding what they are, what they mean for labels, publishers, creators and music users/services--talking to some of those involved, to better understand and unlock its true value.
Speakers:
George White – Sirius XM Satellite Radio
Jim Selby – Concord Music Group
Neeta Ragoowansi – National Performing Rights Exchange
Joe Conyers III – Downtown Music Publishing and Songtrust
More about Joe Conyers III:
Joe Conyers III is the Vice President of Technology for Downtown Music Publishing and General Manager of Songtrust. Conyers leads product, technology and digital service partnerships for Downtown, focusing on maximizing client royalty collection by advancing digital licensing efforts. Additionally, he is General Manager of Downtown’s innovative technology platform Songtrust, a Billboard top music startup, which enables over 100,000 creators and 15,000 businesses to collect royalties from around the globe. In 2016, Billboard Magazine named Conyers a Digital Power Player.
Conyers is looking forward to offering his insight on licensing and exploring the pros and cons of creators and copyright owners working directly with music users such as broadcasters and streaming services. Direct licensing has become quite the quagmire, but one thing still holds true: the more steps we can remove from a complex chain from user to creator/rights holder the better. Over the years technology and business dynamics have changed, allowing for all sorts of innovative efficient licensing, with challenges and opportunities arising from these changes.
