Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA

March 27-29, 2026

All Sessions

  • After his opening remarks welcoming attendees to MusicPro ’26, BandLab’s Kevin Breuner will sit down with the incomparable Steve Vai for a conversation about everything from the imminent start of his upcoming national tour to his relationship with Ibanez, to his days with Frank Zappa, Joe Satriani, and many others.

    While many artists fit easily into a single category, Steve Vai remains unclassifiable. A musical alchemist of the highest order, Vai has awed fans of all genres with his exceptional guitar skills and musicianship for over five decades. With career sales of over 15 million records, three GRAMMY® Award wins, and 15 GRAMMY® Award nominations, Vai has toured the world several times over as a solo artist; with Frank Zappa; with Joe Satriani as a member of G3 and most recently, the supergroup SATCHVAI Band; and the supergroup Generation Axe (with ZakkWylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt & Tosin Abasi), as well as with bands such as Alcatrazz, The David Lee Roth Band, and Whitesnake.

    As an accomplished audio producer, Vai has written, produced, and engineered all of his solo albums, released via Favored Nations, his own independent record label that has released over 70 albums by legendary musicians such as Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Lukather, Eric Johnson, Billy Sheehan, Larry Carlton and many more. For Vai, virtuosity and versatility are not mutually exclusive. He has created music for blockbuster films, bestselling video games, national sports franchises, and corporate brand initiatives. Vai’s career accomplishments have earned him honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music and Musicians Institute.

  • Guitarist/songwriter/producer, and musical director Neil Giraldo’s work has left a lasting imprint on rock and pop music. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Giraldo rose to prominence through his creative partnership with singer Pat Benatar. Beginning in the late 1970s, he co-wrote and produced a run of era-defining hits including “Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” “Love Is a Battlefield,” “Promises in the Dark,” and “We Belong.” His approach fused muscular, blues-based guitar riffs with sharp pop instincts, helping bridge hard rock and mainstream radio. Giraldo’s role extended far beyond guitar work. As producer and arranger, he helped shape Benatar’s dynamic sound, balancing intensity with emotional clarity. The duo married in 1982 and have remained both life partners and long-term collaborators, earning multiple Grammy Awards and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2022. Outside of his work with Benatar, Giraldo has released solo material, produced and written for other artists, and composed music for film and television.

  • With more than five decades of experience in music and entertainment, T Bone Burnett has built an unparalleled reputation as an innovative artist, songwriter, producer, performer, film and concert producer, record company owner, and tireless advocate for artists’ rights. Over the course of his career, he has received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and 13 Grammy Awards, underscoring the breadth and impact of his work across music and film.

    Burnett has collaborated with an extraordinary range of musicians spanning generations and genres, including Bob Dylan, Elton John, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, B.B. King, Tony Bennett, Elvis Costello, Taylor Swift, Steve Earle, and Leon Russell. His distinctive creative voice and curatorial vision have also shaped some of the most celebrated music in modern cinema. His film work includes landmark collaborations with the Coen Brothers on The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and Inside Llewyn Davis, as well as acclaimed projects such asCold Mountain, The Hunger Games, Walk the Line, and Crazy Heart.

    In 2024, Burnett released The Other Side, his first solo album in nearly 20 years. The record was met with widespread critical acclaim and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album, further affirming his enduring relevance and creative vitality. Across a career defined by restless curiosity and artistic integrity, Burnett continues to shape the sound and direction of contemporary music and storytelling. 

  • In the age of algorithms and automation, what does it mean to protect the essence of Black creativity? This session traces how the history of cultural appropriation is now mirrored through digital platforms, machine learning, and AI-generated content. Grammy-winning producer and strategist Shalom “J. Storm” Miller presents a future-facing blueprint for cultural integrity, offering educators, creatives, and technologists a framework for sustaining Black influence in an increasingly synthetic world.

    Shalom "J.Storm" Miller is a Grammy-winning producer and mixing engineer with an impressive portfolio that includes work with Beyoncé, Missy Elliott, Gwen Stefani, and Destiny’s Child. His credits feature Grammy-nominated and RIAA-certified projects such as Dangerously In Love (6x Platinum), Destiny Fulfilled (3x Platinum), and Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (3x Platinum). Known for delivering industry-ready music with crossover appeal, his productions are recognized as competitive with the best in the business.

  • Whether behind the drum kit, or contributing as musical director or producer, Rashid Williams is a go-to talent currently touring and in the studio for today’s top artists. In this session, he’s interviewed live about what it takes to work with contemporary superstars and reach and maintain his place at the highest level of the business.  

    Drummer extraordinaire and musical director Rashid Williams is known for his ability to adapt to various musical styles while maintaining a consistent groove and impeccable timing. He’s worked with Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, and N.E.R.D. currently touring with John Legend. His approach to drumming emphasizes the importance of connecting with the audience and ensuring that the rhythm resonates with listeners. musical director. Beyond his touring and recording work Williams also produces with and plays for  Cirque du Soleil. Focused on education and mentorship, he routinely share knowledge and experience with aspiring musicians. 

  • The Immediate Family documentary chronicles the work of the iconic musicians who’ve played together for decades but never as their own band. Known for their long, illustrious careers backing Hall-of-Fame artists including James Taylor, Keith Richards, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Stevie Nicks and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Danny 'Kootch' Kortchmar (Guitar/Vocal), Leland Sklar (Bass,) Russ Kunkel (Drums), Waddy Wachtel (Guitar/Vocal) and Steve Postell (Guitar/Vocal), tell the stories of the soundtrack of our lives.  

    In this screening with director Denny Tedesco, MusicPro ’26 attendees will hear about the band, its members, the making of this film, his Wrecking Crew movie and a new project yet to come.

  • In this session, film director Tal Skloot and composer Mark Isham talk about, and show clips from, their upcoming documentary about acoustic instrumental label Windham Hill Records. They discuss the rise of "new age” music, about Isham's film and TV scoring career spanning decades and genres and take questions about scoring for film and TV today.

    Grammy and Emmy award winning trumpeter, pianist, and composer Mark Isham works in a variety of genres, including jazz and electronic music, and is an acclaimed composer of over 200 film scores for film and television productions.

    Tal Skloot is an award-winning filmmaker with over 20 feature length documentaries and narrative films that have been broadcast nationally on PBS, NBC, ABC, CBS, appeared in numerous national and international film festivals won multiple Emmys.

  • Speed Dating for Songwriters® is a networking event structured like a speed-dating session where emerging songwriters, artists, and producers have the opportunity to share music, receive feedback, form new cowriting collaborations and much more. The program, which aims to foster community and create new creative partnerships among music creators, was initially developed by BMI in New York and has since spread to Nashville, Los Angeles and London. Veterans of this series include songwriters and artists such as FLETCHER, Loud Luxury, Morgan St. Jean, DAVIE, and CKay, among others. The event will culminate in a “listening party” session open to all attendees, where music written by participants will be discussed. 

    Sunday 3/29

    • Session 1: 9:30 - 10:30 AM

    • Session 2: 11:15 - 12:15 PM

    A global leader in music rights management, BMI serves as an advocate for the value of music, representing over 22.4 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.4 million songwriters, composers and music publishers.

  • MusicPro ’26 attendees who apply and are invited to participate in a Salt Lick Incubator song camp taking place in Musicians Institute recording studios, will collaborate with R&B artist Jordyn Simone during the conference on potential tracks for her forthcoming EP. Details will be supplied to all registered attendees! 

     

    Since her debut on The Voice in 2019, Jordyn Simone has blossomed into one of R&B’s most magnetic new voices. Her Remember When? (Deluxe) EP is now live, lifted by rising hits like “I DO” (940K+ streams), “Grey” (300K+), and “Don’t Wake Up” (300K+) streaming stats that speak for themselves. On Instagram, she’s grown to over 200K followers, while her TikTok presence is strong with ~250K followers and 5M likes. Jordyn’s effect extends far beyond metrics. She’s earned glowing features in Billboard, REVOLT, The Joe Budden Podcast, and Access Hollywood, and she recently delivered a goosebump-inducing rendition of the national anthem for the LA Clippers. Her music has thrived on editorial playlists across Spotify and Apple Music, even landing the cover of Spotify’s Fresh Finds R&B. 

    She's already cementing her stage presence, leading her own set at SXSW, with international shows and a national tour in the pipeline. On top of that, she’sshared the stage with luminaries like SiR, D Smoke, and Ravyn Lenae, while headlining key showcases like Live Nation Urban’s The Garden, Black History Showcase, Rhythm & Vibes, RnBrunch, and Hotel Cafe. 

     

    Salt Lick Incubator is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit artist development organization supporting aspiring musicians in the early stages of their creative journeys. The Incubator seeks to help these musicians develop artistically, sustain their well-being, and forge viable careers. While the artists they help remain responsible for their own success, Salt Lick Incubator offers motivated musicians critical support in key moments. 

  • Paul Reed Smith, founder and managing general partner of PRS Guitars, delivers "Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony" a masterclass designed to simplify music theory and performance for musicians of all skill levels. The presentation focuses on the three "gifts" of rhythm, melody and harmony, which make you a better musician by breaking down how they interact in real-world playing, in a workshop with guitarist Tim Pierce, drummer Curt “Kirkee B” Bisquera and bassist Alex Al.

    Paul Reed Smith is a luthier and the founder of PRS Guitars, a company renowned for producing high-quality, handcrafted guitars since 1985. The company has gained recognition for its innovative designs and exceptional craftsmanship. Smith's guitars are known for their stunning aesthetics, including intricate inlays and vibrant finishes, as well as their versatility and playability, catering to various musical genres. Over the years, Paul Reed Smith 

    Guitars has collaborated with many celebrated artists, including Carlos Santana, John Mayer, and Mark Tremonti, which has further solidified the brand's reputation within the music community. Smith is also known for his commitment to quality and attention to detail, ensuring that each instrument meets high standards. In addition to his work as a luthier, Paul Reed Smith is also an accomplished player and is best known for his performances with the PRS Eightlock band. Beyond his craftsmanship, Paul is a passionate advocate for music education. He actively supports initiatives that promote and sustain music programs in schools. His influence extends far beyond guitar making, as he continues to shape, inspire, and support musicians around the world.

    Tim Pierce is an acclaimed American guitarist, songwriter, and producer, known for his versatility and contribution to various musical genres, including rock, pop, and country. He has worked with a wide range of artists, both in studio recordings and live performances. Tim began playing guitar at a young age and quickly developed a passion for music. Over the years, he built a reputation as a skilled session guitarist, recording with high-profile musicians such as Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and Liz Phair, among others. In addition to his session work, Tim has released his own music and continues to collaborate with various artists. His distinctive guitar work and ability to adapt to different styles have earned him respect in the music industry. Tim is also known for sharing his expertise through masterclasses and instructional videos, contributing to the education of aspiring musicians. He remains an influential figure in the guitar community, inspiring others with his work and dedication to the craft.

      

    Curt “Kirkee B” Bisquera is an American studio and touring drummer known for his powerful groove, versatility, and extensive work with major recording artists across pop, rock, R&B, and film soundtracks. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Bisquera has become one of Los Angeles’ most respected and in-demand session drummers. Since then, he has performed or recorded with an impressive range of legendary artists, including Elton John, Mick Jagger, Tom ddPetty, Seal, Sarah McLachlan, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Johnny Cash. His drumming appears on more than a hundred recordings and he has also contributed to film and television soundtracks, working with composers such as Hans Zimmer.

     

    Alex Al is an American bassist, musical director, and producer widely respected for his work with some of the biggest artists in pop, R&B, and soul. Known for his powerful groove, musical precision, and leadership on stage, Al has built a career as one of the most trusted bassists in the professional touring and recording world. Best known for as Michael Jackson’s bassist, Alex has also performed, recorded, and served as musical director for numerous major artists, including Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Babyface, Herbie Hancock, and Mary J. Blige.

  • This masterclass delivers insider tips and techniques on programming, recording, and mixing with synthesizers and samplers. From how to add warmth to virtual instruments, to integrating synths and samplers in productions, to controversial topics like oversampling -- and much more -- this fascinating exploration of today's instruments is essential for modern musicians and producers.  

    From 60’s teen rock star, to 70’s studio musician, 80’s record producer, European EDM gigs in the 2000’s, and ongoing collaborations with Public Enemy, Craig Anderton is an internationally recognized authority on music and technology. He has played on, produced, or mastered well over a hundred tracks for various artists, written over 50 books on the arts and technology, and lectured all over the world. David Bryce is a composer/producer specializing in keyboards and synthesizers.

  • Join Gavin Lurssen and Reuben Cohen of the world-class mastering studio, Lurssen Mastering for a condensed in-person mastering session covering workflow insights and real-world decision making from the mastering stage. This session offers a practical glimpse into the philosophy behind their full "How to Master Your Music" course — designed to help producers and artists confidently polish and finish their records using their personal tools and techniques. https://tutorial.lurssenmastering.com

    Gavin Lurssen is a renowned 4-time Grammy-winning mastering engineer and founder of Lurssen Mastering, Inc. in Hollywood, boasting over 30 years of experience. A Berklee College of Music graduate, he famously began his career under Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab. Known for his work with artists like Foo Fighters and soundtracks such as O Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Mandalorian, he is a pioneer in both analog and digital mastering techniques.

    Reuben Cohen won a Latin Grammy in November 2010 for his work on Diego Torres’ album “Distinto,” and a 2014 TEC Award for his work on the single,“Happy,” by Pharrell Williams. He worked on the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire, which won the Grammy for Best Soundtrack in 2010. The soundtrack also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and two Academy Awards, one for Best Original Music Score and the other for Best Original Song for “Jai Ho”. He’s mastered albums, singles and/or compilations for Bruno Mars, Incubus, Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros, Skylar Grey, Ingrid Michaelson, India.Arie and Boyz II Men and multiple soundtracks including Pitch Perfect, Minions, Disney’s Tangled and Cars 2, Across The Universe, Game Of Thrones, and more.

  • A double-session workshop with executive music publisher, artist mentor, author and champion of the writer and song Judy Stakee, is one part symposium, one part critique, and one part Q&A, in an educational experience for songwriters at all stages of their creative journey.


    Judy Stakee’s years of music industry experience includes elite curriculum and coaching. She’s achieved recognition for developing some of the biggest songwriters in modern history, including Sheryl Crow, Michelle Branch, Jewel, John Shanks, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Scott Cutler, and Julian Bunetta, Kevin Kadish, Joy Williams, and Franne Golde, among many others.

  • Pandora AMP’s Andee Connors and Michelle Solomon take attendees through the company’s free set of tools that helps artists connect directly with listeners on Pandora. In this session, we’ll walk through how to share voice messages, spotlight new releases, promote shows, and better understand your audience. They’ll leave time at the end for live Q&A so you can ask questions and focus on what’s most relevant to you. 

    Michelle Solomon is a Senior Operations Manager on Pandora’s Creator Services team, where she helps independent artists grow their audiences using AMP’s free tools. She also programs Pandora’s jazz, oldies, Broadway, and soundtrack stations. Outside of her day job, Michelle is an all-vinyl DJ known as Mexican Spitfire, spinning eclectic pre-1980s sets around the Bay Area. 

    Andee Connors is a drummer, musician, artist, DJ, music curator, former record store owner, former record label owner, and is currently a curator at Pandora / Sirius XM. He also manages the Catalog & Creator Services team. In addition, Andee also programs Metal, Punk, New Age and Experimental music on Pandora. Before Pandora, Andee ran aQuariusrecOrds in San Francisco from 1994 - 2016. There’s an Aquarius documentary on Amazon Prime. Andee has also been running tUMULt, a record label that has existed for 20+, with more than 50 releases. He still tours and records regularly with Common Eider, King Eider, a ritualistic doom/drone duo, and a doom synth duo called My Heart, An Inverted Flame, as well as his recently reformed nineties math-pop band P.E.E. Andee lives on the top of a mountain in the middle of the woods with two goats, a bunny and eight cats.

  • AI can generate infinite music. That makes identity the rarest thing in the room. “Artificial Identity” is a live experiment showing that the real value isn’t the sound, it’s the intention behind it.

    Oak Felder is a two-time Grammy Award–winning producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur, and one of today’s leading voices at the intersection of music, technology, and artificial intelligence. Born in Istanbul and educated at Georgia Tech, where he earned a Master’s in Networking Technologies, Oak began his career grounded in disciplines that would later evolve into modern AI and machine learning. He now applies that expertise to redefine how music is created, distributed, and protected in the digital age. A partner in a company developing AI-driven tools for music creation and rights management, and a regular collaborator with Apple’s GarageBand and Logic Pro teams, Oak helps design technologies that empower artists and producers worldwide. Through his Los Angeles–based company The Orphanage LLC, he has sold over 100 million records and helped shape the sound of contemporary pop and R&B through collaborations with Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Alessia Cara, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Lizzo, and Nicki Minaj. Beyond the studio, Oak is an advocate for ethical AI in the arts and a sought-after speaker who has presented for TED, TED AI, Harvard, The Wall Street Journal, and Recode.

  • Anderton shines a spotlight on underutilized - and even unknown - techniques that will have a revolutionary impact on how you compose, mix, and master music.

    From 60’s teen rock star, to 70’s studio musician, 80’s record producer, European EDM gigs in the 2000’s, and ongoing collaborations with members of Public Enemy, Craig Anderton is an internationally recognized authority on music and technology. He has played on, produced, or mastered well over a hundred tracks for various artists, written over 50 books on the arts and technology, and lectured all over the world.

  • This is an extraordinary panel of extraordinary film and tv music veterans who will discuss today’s opportunities to work in their industry segments. Here’s an edited summary of their credits!  

    The fresh approach to sound design and music production of music producer, composer, arranger, sound designer, and keyboardist Bruce Lowe has had a major impact on today’s new generation of sound.His film credits are extensive, including The Color Purple and The Lion King.  His television composing/producing credits include Ellen, Anderson Cooper, Dr. Drew, Erin Burnett, The Lopez Show, Extra, TMZ, The People’s Court, Judge Pirro, WB Cartoon Network, Animal Planet, NBA Finals, and more. He also offers one of the finest full record and film music production houses and currently utilizes a spectrum of musical styles composing and producing TV and film music for Telepictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. Glen Ward is an attorney and former CEO of Virgin Entertainment with more than 30 years of diverse, international management experience in music, film and games. Marc Mann is a highly accomplished LA-based musician, arranger, and conductor recognized for his work with Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and his pivotal role in The Concert for George (covering George Harrison’s parts). He has contributed to over 60 films, including the Men In Black and Spiderman series. He frequently works with Danny Elfman on film scores and is known for his string arrangements. M.B. Gordy is an acclaimed drummer and educator. As a session player he is a go-to resource for the industry’s top composers and record producers. His film credits include Selma, Frozen, Transformers (series), X-Men (series), Fantastic Four (series), Moana, Harry Potter, Spiderman (series), Logan, Ride Along 1 & 2, Monkey King 1 & 2, American Sniper, World of Warcraft , Jack Reacher, Men in Black (series), Terminatorseries, Wonder  Boys, Minions, Die Hard series, Despicable Me, 310 to Yuma, and many more. His TV credits include Battlestar Gallactica, Agent Carter, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Madmen, Good Morning America, The Mentalist, Human Target, The Tudors,and many more. His games credits include World of Warcraft , God of War, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 & 3, Africa, League of Legends, Dante’s Inferno, Shadow of Mordor, The Simms, and many more. 

  • Is AI really going to spell the end of musicians? No, but we can’t bring a knife to a gunfight. AI can't make music with a personal, stylistic fingerprint, so we have a powerful edge that we can leverage—if we recognize and take advantage of it. Music industry veterans Craig Anderton and Bobby Owsinski will offer their unique, research-based insights into how musicians can survive in an AI world. You'll leave this provocative presentation galvanized and inspired.

    From 60’s teen rock star, to 70’s studio musician, 80’s record producer, European EDM gigs in the 2000’s, and ongoing collaborations with Public Enemy, Craig Anderton is an internationally recognized authority on music and technology. He has played on, produced, or mastered well over a hundred tracks for various artists, written over 50 books on the arts and technology, and lectured all over the world. Producer/engineer Bobby Owsinski is one of the best-selling authors in the music industry, with 24 books that are staples in music production programs at colleges around the world, including The Mixing Engineer's Handbook and The Musician's AI Handbook.

    A regular contributor to Forbes, Bobby's long-running production and music industry blogs have won numerous industry awards, and he has appeared on CNN and ABC News as an audio expert. His highly-rated Inner Circle podcast is now in its 12th year, with more than 600 episodes featuring movers and shakers from every corner of the music industry.

    Bobby has also recently produced and mixed albums that charted at #2 on the Billboard Blues Chart and #5 on the Apple Music Rock Chart.

  • Keyboardist and singer/songwriter David Paich is best known as the co-founder, principal songwriter, keyboardist, and secondary vocalist of the rock band Toto. He wrote or co-wrote much of Toto's original material, including the band's three most popular songs: "Hold the Line", "Rosanna", and "Africa". Paich has contributed to 17 Toto albums which have sold over 40 million records. He and guitarist and singer Steve Lukather are the only members to appear on every studio album (Steve Porcaro contributed to every studio album as well but was not an official member of the band from 1987 to 2010). In addition, Paich has worked as a songwriter, session musician, and producer with a host of artists including Boz Scaggs, Cheryl Lynn, George Benson, Helen Reddy and Michael Jackson. 

  • Getting your music live is step one. The real pain is everything after that: registrations, forms, and mysterious dashboards that decide whether you get paid. Music producer/mixer F. Reid Shippen, composer and recording artist Chris McMurtry, and SongFarm Executive Director Rachel Bepko share their thoughts on the state of payment tracking and their new app, ONCE, an end-to-end rights registration program, “so that your recording and songwriting data can move where it needs to go.”

    F. Reid Shippen has produced and mixed 12 Grammy-winning albums and hundreds of Billboard #1s for artists, including Dierks Bentley, TobyMac, Backstreet Boys, the Jonas Brothers, Ingrid Michaelson, and Kenny Chesney, among others.

    ChrisMcMurtry is a composer and multi-platinum recording artist, with 26 albums and over 300 compositions to his credit.


    Once COO     Rachel Bepko is also CEO of TechSilo and serves as a Strategic Advisor to Give A Note foundation.

  • This session will offer a deeper understanding of SoundExchange, the largest global neighboring rights organization in the world. As the sole organization designated by the U.S. government to administer the Section 114 sound recording license, SoundExchange seamlessly collects and distributes digital performance royalties from platforms like Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and thousands more, as well as all available international performance royalties through a strong global partnership network. Join SoundExchange VP Artist & Industry Relations Doug Cohn to learn how to register, claim your repertoire, and best position yourself to get paid when your music is played. 

     Vice President of Artist & Industry Relations at SoundExchange Doug Cohn leads SoundExchange’s artist and music industry outreach program, building and fostering key relationships within the music community. A six-time Emmy-winning entertainment executive and creative leader, Doug has 25 years of experience working at the intersection of music, television, and digital content. He guided the careers of homegrown talent at Nickelodeon, including JoJo Siwa, Ariana Grande, and Big Time Rush, and secured some of music’s biggest acts, including Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Rihanna for the Kids’ Choice Awards and various live-action and animated television series. In addition, he forged profitable joint development ventures with Sony Music, Live Nation and iHeart Media. He also helped lead the network’s first foray into theater with the Tony Award-winning SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical. 

    SoundExchange is the premier music tech organization powering the future of music through technology, data, and advocacy. The nonprofit was independently formed in 2003 to build a fairer, simpler, and more efficient music industry. SoundExchange collects and distributes digital performance royalties on behalf of 800,000 music creators and has paid more than $13 billion in distributions to date.

  • This panel dives into the newest tools shaping artist development, from AI-assisted content creation to data-driven audience insights. Attendees will learn how to craft scalable campaigns that align branding, messaging, and release strategy across platforms. Experts will share concrete workflows, metrics to track, and real-world case studies from emerging artists who achieved breakout growth.

    Jay Gilbert has been on the cutting edge of digital music marketing in executive positions with Universal Music, Sony Music and Warner Music Groups. In 2004 while at Universal, he launched the first digital-only label and has created and executed unique online marketing plans for Nirvana, The Police, KISS, Motley Crue, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Styx, Rob Zombie, Johnny Cash, Guns ‘N Roses, Smokey Robinson, Tears For Fears, Rick Springfield, Lisa Loeb, Ringo Starr, Ron White, Peter Frampton, The Temptations, Amy Grant, Melissa Etheridge, The Accidentals, Travis Tritt and many others

    Ryan Vaughn has worked as a percussionist and drummer in both the studio and live on stage with artists of myriad genres. In addition, he’s worked in tour management, artist management, label management, production, consulting, A&R, digital distribution, marketing, publishing, and more. He currently works as a manager for independent artists at his company Backline Creative, and he is the Chief Financial Officer of Head Bitch Music, where he oversees all operations, including project management, digital distribution, publishing, and licensing services to brands and independent artists. 


    Benji Stein is a founder and former artist manager who knows firsthand the challenges of building momentum in today’s music industry. He leads Innovation Syndicate, the team behind Booking-Agent.io, PlaylistSupply, and RadioPromo.io, focused on making music industry data more accessible and actionable for independent artists and their teams.

  • This session demystifies the Mechanical Licensing Collective. Attendees will learn how U.S. digital mechanical royalties are collected and distributed, why distributors don’t pay composition income, and how unclaimed royalties accumulate. We’ll cover registration basics, metadata accuracy, ownership splits, and practical steps independent songwriters can take to ensure they receive all streaming revenue owed to them. The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) is the nonprofit established under the Music Modernization Act to ensure songwriters, music publishers, and other rightsholders receive their U.S. mechanical streaming royalties from digital platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Since launching operations in 2021, The MLC has distributed more than $3.5 billion in royalties, grown to nearly 80,000 Members, and maintains a free, publicly searchable database of ownership data for over 52 million songs. Learn more at themlc.com.  

    Dae Bogan is a music rights administration expert, technical strategist, and a music creators' rights advocate. Bogan is passionate about innovation at the intersection of music and technology and currently serves as Head of Third-Party Partnerships at The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) where he leads The MLC’s strategy of engaging entities that provide support to music creators and music publishers in the areas of rights administration, metadata management, music distribution, royalty analytics, and more. He also develops internal cultural and service programs to empower and educate music creators. 

  • The advent of AI has rekindled the issues that surround sampling and content ownership, and in this session, attorney and professor Deborah Kidd explores contemporary themes and legal constructs and devotes a significant portion of her time to answering attendee questions about entertainment and media law.*

    Deborah R. Kidd, J.D., LL.M., and M.A., is an entertainment attorney and executive with over two decades of of direct involvement in the music, entertainment, and media industries. Kidd is an associate professor in the music business department at Berklee College of Music, teaching courses on the legal aspects of the music industry, copyrights, and contracts and negotiations. Her latest venture is Airhug Radio, a station devoted to the music of independent and emerging artists. She is also a veteran, having served in the United States Air Force JAG Corps.

    * This educational session provides general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

  • Recording Industry Association of America Chairman and CEO addresses the impact of AI on music in a unique presentation and Q&A that is now critical to the careers and interests of every recording and performing artist. 

    In his 25 years at RIAA, Glazier has played a vital role in the music industry’s transition to “anywhere anytime” access to music. Before joining RIAA, Glazier served as Chief IP and Special Counsel to the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. In his career in and out of government, Glazier has worked on every major U.S. copyright bill considered in the past three decades from the Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act of 1995 to the Music Modernization Act of 2018, laying the foundation for the modern music economy that has strengthened and remade the business for the 21st Century.

  • Artist management has evolved along with the industry. It had to. And whether you’re exploring a new management relationship or evaluating the one you’re in, the insights of professionals like Phil Guerini and Neal Spielberg will be invaluable. Here’s a conversation with two music industry veterans who’ve seen it all, and have sage advice for independent artists regardless of genre. 

    With an early background in radio and record labels, Phil Guerini spent 25+ years at the Walt Disney Company, responsible for overseeing the music strategy of the Disney Channels Worldwide networks and all aspects of programming, strategic direction, talent, label relationships, branding and the daily management for Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country businesses. After a stint as CEO of Jonas Group Entertainment, Guerini is an artist manager, entrepreneur, collaboration architect, team and brand builder, and content producer, still focused on artist development and celebrity talent. 

    Neal Spielberg is a veteran artist manager based in Nashville and president of Leadership Music, one of the nation’s top leadership programs designed for establishing leaders in the music industry. He spent his formative years in the music business as VP Sales for Warner Brothers Records Nashville, and WEA before establishing his management company, Spielberg Entertainment and Consulting.

  • Veteran The Voice Musical Director and guitarist Dory Lobel tells how and why MDs choose artists for their TV, live event and touring bands. Topics range from audition practices and dynamics to MD preferences to hits and misses of note, and more.  

    Dory Lobel is a renowned Los Angeles-based guitarist, producer, and musical director. Since 2013, he has been a staple on NBC’s The Voice, where he held roles as musical director and lead guitarist, arranging performances and playing for the show’s top talent. He also performed as part of the house bands for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and The Masked Singer. Beyond his work on television, Lobel’s credits as a guitarist and musical director include The Backstreet Boys, Enrique Iglesias, Colbie Caillat, Hilary Duff, Jesse McCartney and Tori Kelly. 

  • Music “merch” empresario Ricky Riker discusses the current state of the merchandise business, focusing on its elevated role in fan engagement and artist compensation. A specialist in finding creative ways to augment tours and music events, artists’ online outreach, and retail, Riker will undoubtedly spark ideas and provide inspiration for career sustenance and artist development. 

    Ricky Riker is a respected music-industry executive and co-founder of Sandbag USA, a leading global merchandise and direct-to-fan company. He has helped artists build sustainable touring and e-commerce strategies, blending creative branding with smart retail execution. Sandbag was established in 2002 to provide global merchandise solutions and the ultimate fan experiences. Their teams in Los Angeles and the UK are comprised of industry experts with decades of experience. Over the years, Sandbag has represented and handled campaigns for a long and extraordinary list of artists, providing all-encompassing merchandising programs and solutions also serving a wide array of live events.

  • Michael Palmisano is living proof that creating a multi-faceted music career is the best way to guarantee creative longevity and repeated chances at success in the music business. His path has taken him into the world of music education, and in his session he offers a scenario for harnessing technology and discusses how artists can integrate teaching into their careers.  

     Michael Palmisano, is a YouTuber and  founder of Guitargate.com.  An early adopter of online education, over the past 13 years Michael has built Guitargate into one of the largest guitar learning communities on the internet, with 200k+ students enrolled from over 185 countries to date.  He is perhaps best known for the YouTube channel bearing his name where he reviews live performances, with over 600k subscribers. Michael is committed to helping musicians learn, collaborate and connect in the digital age and Guitargate's recent launch of the Teleport allows players from around the world to form virtual bands, meet musical partners, and make music together. 

  • In this session, Silver Side’s Mike Locke moderates a panel of music supervisors, one specializing in TV/Film, one in trailers, and one in advertising, while he weighs in from the sync agency/label/publisher perspective. The session will give emerging artists a clear, realistic understanding of how sync works, what each vertical looks for, and how to prepare their music and career accordingly. 

    Mike Locke is Co-founder and President of Silver Side Productions. A seasoned leader in music licensing, Mike Locke began his journey at Warner Music Group, where he innovated a fresh business line for Rhino and ADA.  His leading music licensing boutique boasts recognizable vintage catalogues and represents top-tier contemporary artists and producers. Silver Side not only runs a successful label but also offers premier worldwide publishing services. Mike's tenures as the Vice President of Creative Synchronization & Marketing at Atlas Music Publishing, Big Machine Music and head of sync creative at Ingrooves Music Group further solidified his reputation. He’s secured high-profile placements across a plethora of media platforms, from major campaigns for iconic brands like Google, Apple, Starbucks and Budweiser, cinematic blockbusters as well as major studio film trailers and hit TV shows like "Grey’s Anatomy" and "American Idol". 

  • David Goldberg has decades of experience producing top vocalists and musicians with Edge Studio. Then while composing and producing 26 projects for Disney, he began guiding singers to land voice over work—commercials, audiobooks, animation, narration, e-learning, cartoons, documentaries, and video games—transforming singers' unique talents into thriving VO careers through proven methods and programs. In his session, David will show you how you can break into voice acting and have a new stream of income.

    Voice director, author, trainer, and studio owner, David Goldberg is CEO of Edge Studio in New York City. A renowned speaking coach, he is a voice director, DLCC Speech Trainer, Vistage Presenter for Speaking & Presence, and Certified SCORE Mentor. Edge Studio specializes in the production of voice recordings and in the training and support of new and established voice actors, narrators and spoken-word performers.

  • Waiting for a big break is like waiting for lightning to strike, and building your career plan around it is just as risky. Too many artists bet everything on one viral song, one big festival slot, or one label meeting… and then have nothing in place when the moment passes. The artists who win in the long run? They stack small, strategic wins until they’ve built something no algorithm, gatekeeper, or trend can take away. In this session, Kevin Breuner will show you how to think like a long-game strategist and turn everyday opportunities into fuel for your next move. 

    Kevin Breuner, currently serving as the Head of Artist Development & Education at BandLab Technologies, brings over 25 years of experience in the music industry. His career encompasses roles both as a recording artist with the Atlanta-based band Smalltown Poets and as an industry professional. With Smalltown Poets, the band has sold 300,000 albums, received a Grammy nomination, and produced ten Top 10 radio hits, including two #1 songs. Additionally, Kevin’s music has been featured by Peacock, ABC, the NFL, and the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Previously, Kevin played a pivotal role in marketing at CD Baby and developed the DIY Musician brand, focusing on content for musicians. Now at BandLab Technologies, he is dedicated to advancing new opportunities in creator development.

  • Artist manager Neal Spielberg leads a panel of booking agents Brian Hill, John Lloyd Taylor, Alana Gitt and David Strunk through a conversation and Q&A session about live performance today; getting gigs at different levels, the vagaries of festival appearances, becoming an opening act, and more.

    UTA agent John Lloyd Taylor is an entertainment industry veteran with over two decades of diverse experience. Renowned for his role as lead guitarist and musical director for the Jonas Brothers, he contributed to their rise to from 2005 to 2013. He’s directed the acclaimed 2019 Amazon Prime documentary "Chasing Happiness" and executive produced the Amazon Prime series "Regular Heroes" and more. His versatility extends to musical performances with notable artists like Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley and appearances on major platforms such as the Grammy Awards and Saturday Night Live. As an agent at UTA, John leverages his extensive network and industry insight to guide both established and emerging talent. John represents a diverse client roster that includes Jonas Brothers, Sombr, Brandon Lake, Jon Bellion, Mike Posner, Phil Wickham and many others. 

    Brian Hill started his career in the famed mailroom of Creative Artists Agency in Beverly Hills. This led to a promotion to the music department, and eventually a move to Nashville, to start the Progressive Global Agency (REM, Widespread Panic, The Specials, Adam Ant, The Bluetones, Gene, Guster) with Buck Williams and Scott Clayton. After three years at PGA, he made the move to Monterey Peninsula Artists (Dave Matthews Band, Wilco, Phish, Robert Earl Keen, Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett) where he spent 18 years, through their sale to Paradigm and beyond. In 2015, he returned to CAA for almost eight years, and in 2022, followed many ex-pat CAA and Paradigm agents to United Talent Agency (Megan Moroney, Lizzo, Eli Young Band, Kristin Chenoweth.)

    Alana Gitt started as an assistant in artist management at Red Light Management and later Deckstar, before transitioning to the agency side at ICM and CAA, where she spent four years in the music department. In 2021, she joined UTA as a Festival Coordinator and was promoted to agent the following year. At UTA, she works with artists

  • Fremantle, the British multinational TV production/distribution company famous for shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and X Factor has been presenting opportunities for emerging artists for decades. In this MusicPro ’26 session, American Idol’s Senior Supervising Casting Producer Peter Cohen sits down for a conversation with artist manager Neal Spielberg about the state of today’s shows, their original protocols and prerequisites for artists, and their requirements today. 

    Senior Supervising Casting Producer Peter Cohen oversees the international talent search for world-class music talent for the groundbreaking Fremantle reality series American Idol (ABC). He served as Senior Talent Producer for the No.1 rated series America’s Got Talent (NBC) for nine seasons, Talent Producer for seven seasons of the Emmy-winning NBC series The Voice, as well as CBS’ Rockstar:INXS, Rockstar:Supernova, and The Road To Stardom with Missy Elliott on UPN. 

  • There’s an art to performing “keynote concerts” on large conference stages by combining live music with keynote speaking. In this session, artist mentor Tiamo De Vettori will be sharing about high-paying keynote concert gigs in the international conference market. As a multi award-winning singer/songwriter, Tiamo has had 20 years of experience performing at conferences and offers a course on how to have success with his model. 

    Tiamo De Vettori is founder of Musicpreneur Academy and has spoken to over 100,000 people on 250+ stages while delivering “Keynote Concerts” at conferences, universities, and seminars. He has been featured on FOX, CBS, and NBC, is a two-time #1 best-selling author, and is passionate about creating this path for message-driven musicians.

  • In this session, Darlene Hall of Create Music Group and a panel of indie record label A&Rs talk about what they look for when evaluating acts for signing. Topics touch on how artist discovery happens, what A&Rs listen for beyond the song, what the important data points are, and more. 

    As Director of Distribution at Create Music Group – a company that supports and invests in independent record labels - Hall ensures her clients’ music is available through Digital Service Providers (DSPs) such as Spotify and Apple Music. She also addresses issues with metadata compliance (the proper labeling of songs, with the right artist name, title, songwriters, label, etc.) and copyright infringement, and she works to combat artificial streaming.

    Jacob Henry is the Music Director of Monstercat, a renowned independent electronic label whose catalog spans a wide range of electronic subgenres. Founded in 2011, the label is widely known for its cultural impact in bass music, supported by a prolific release schedule and a global festival presence including Tomorrowland, Rampage, Amsterdam Dance Event, Miami Music Week, and more. Monstercat also helped popularize the “Crab Rave” cultural meme through Noisestorm's hit of the same name. The label has released chart-topping records by Marshmello, Vicetone, Kaskade, and more, collectively generating billions of streams worldwide.

    Christian Cespedes is an A&R with over a decade of experience in the music industry. He has maintained his role with multi grammy-nominated independent label Mind of a Genius as A&R and serves as Success Manager at Green Tea Distro. With a background in DJing, production, engineering, and artist management, Christian brings a well-rounded perspective shaped by touring as a DJ and developing talent behind the scenes, guiding artists toward sustainable, long-term careers.

    Ben Farber is the Vice President of Streaming Strategy & Revenue at Warner Records, specializing in the Alternative, Rock, Country, Folk, and Americana genres. With a career spanning almost two decades, Farber has been instrumental in shaping Warner Records’ presence in the streaming space, driving success for a dynamic roster of artists, including Linkin Park, Green Day, Zach Bryan, Warren Zeiders, Billy Strings, Dasha, and My Chemical Romance. In 2024, Farber played a key role in the breakout success of Dasha’s global hit, “Austin.”

    Jonathan “Jonny B” Beaulieu is the Founder and CEO of BAM Artists, a Los Angeles based artist management and record label focused on helping emerging musicians build long-term, sustainable careers while keeping artist wellbeing and mental health a priority.
    Having grown up in and around the music business and currently working with legacy artists (Gregg Rolie of Santana and Journey) and rising independent talent (Rachel Ruzumna, Tommy Lloyd, 20K Rio, JENTL), Jonny brings a firsthand understanding of how careers are built, nurtured, and sustained in today’s evolving music landscape.

  • Moderated by Tim Pierce, renowned session guitarist, educator, and content creator, this session will feature industry veterans Beverly Fowler, Artist and Community Relations Director for PRS Guitars, and Lindsay Love-Bivens, Artist Relations Manager for PRS Guitars, alongside former Adidas executive and brand partnership specialist Jon Sinko, and acclaimed artist Erick Walls, discussing how bands and brands can collaborate effectively. The panel will explore the key elements that drive meaningful partnerships, offering practical advice from both the artist and brand perspectives. The conversation will highlight strategies for maintaining authenticity while building mutually beneficial relationships that resonate with audiences.

  • Through engaging tales from his career performing and recording with legendary artists including Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, The David Lee Roth Band, Joe Satriani, Santana, Spinal Tap, Toto, Don Henley, and Ray Charles, Bissonette illustrates how combining musical passion with business savvy leads to lasting success in the industry." 

    Gregg Bissonette is an American rock drummer and vocalist. He is the brother of bassist Matt Bissonette, with whom he frequently collaborates. Bissonette is known for playing and recording many different styles of music. That experience led to him winning the 2023 Modern Drummer readers’ poll for best "All Around" drummer and also winning their 2015 category of best "Studio" drummer. He has played on albums by dozens of recording artists and has toured and performed on the biggest stages around the world.

  • This session and panel will review and explain the current landscape for music rights and royalty streams and is about “making sure you’re getting paid each time your music is played and used.” Moderator and CSUN professor Andrew Surmani is joined by the MLC's Dae Bogan, SoundExchange's Doug Cohn, and Peer Music's Steve Torres in a conversation about the PROs, music publishing, neighboring rights, the Mechanical Licensing Collective and more.


    Andrew Surmani is President and CEO of Surmani Business Coaching, LLCand Professor of Music Industry Studies/Academic Lead of the Master of Arts in Music Industry Administration program in the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). He previously served as Chief Marketing Officer for Alfred Music, where he played a key role in the company's acquisition of Warner Brothers Publications, and launched numerous product lines.


    Dae Bogan is a music rights administration expert, technical strategist, and a music creators' rights advocate. Bogan is passionate about innovation at the intersection of music and technology and currently serves as Head of Third-Party Partnerships at The Mechanical 

    Licensing Collective (The MLC) where he leads The MLC’s strategy of engaging entities that provide support to music creators and music publishers in the areas of rights administration, metadata management, music distribution, royalty analytics, and more. He also develops internal cultural and service programs to empower and educate music creators. 



    Vice President of Artist & Industry Relations at SoundExchange, Doug Cohn leads SoundExchange’s artist music industry outreach program, building and fostering key relationships within the music community. A six-time Emmy-winning entertainment executive and creative leader, Doug has 25 years of experience working at the intersection of music, television, and digital content. He guided the careers of homegrown talent at Nickelodeon, including JoJo Siwa, Ariana Grande, and Big Time Rush, and secured some of music’s biggest acts, including Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Rihanna for the Kids’ Choice Awards and various live-action and animated television series. In addition, he forged profitable joint development ventures with Sony Music, Live Nation and iHeart Media. He also helped lead the network’s first foray into theater with the Tony Award-winning SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical.


    An experienced professional in the world of music synchronization, Steve has been working with rightsholders and creatives across stints at MCL Music Services (where he helped license music across various Lionsgate and STARZ properties), Bally Sports (where he licensed music for use across their various RSNs), Creative Control (working as a music coordinator across multiple projects such as Nickelodeon's Blue's Big City Adventure), and peermusic (where he currently works as Creative Manager, Film/TV). After a tour in the US Army as a Musician and Live Sound Engineer, Steve completed his B.A. in Music (Music Industry Studies option) at Cal State Northridge.


  • The tools and tactics for promoting music have transformed dramatically in recent years, but the fundamentals of effective marketing remain constant. In this hands-on workshop, Hunter Scott, founder of TREND PR and college instructor for over 15 years, walks attendees through the essential skills every music professional needs in their arsenal today. From securing meaningful press coverage and building relationships with playlist curators, to creating social media content that actually cuts through the noise, participants will leave with a practical framework they can apply immediately.  

    Hunter Scott is the founder and president of TREND, a music publicity and marketing firm he launched in 2008. Now a 15-person team, TREND specializes in press outreach, Spotify playlisting, and social media management, working with independent artists, managers, and labels. Drawing on nearly 20 years of experience promoting artists ranging from Mitski and KARMIN to emerging independents, he shares what's working right now for artists and labels at every level, along with real-world case studies that illustrate the difference between campaigns that connect and those that get lost in the scroll. This isn't theory; you'll leave with real-world actions you can start doing that very day.

  • Shure presents emerging musician, songwriter and live-streamer Kira Lise in a session focused on empowering emerging artists and sharing actionable insights from Kira’s experience as an active TikTok artist with 6.3M likes and 685.7K followers. 

    Pivoting from her work as a barista, and a product of the Orange County music scene, Cal State Fullerton alum Kira Lise is on the rise in the world of music. A classically trained pianist, she sings and plays bass. Her debut EP, “Missing Piece,” was released last year, and her latest single “Linger” was recently released by indie label 3686 Records.  

  • Historically, the music business has always taken pride in its artistic instincts and its leaders having great ears. But increasingly, it’s data that is significantly influencing if not driving decisions on whether an artist gets signed, picked up by streaming curators and algorithms, played on the radio, is able to tour strategically, generates an active following and ultimately, becomes successful. This panel will feature music industry pros who know how to turn data into stories that artists and their teams can use to achieve success. 

    Jeff Green is an award-winning executive, writer, researcher, editor and analyst, co-forming the Stone Door Media Lab in September 2012. His longtime background includes executive posts at Country Aircheck, the Americana Music Association, Radio & Records, the Country Music Association, and Billboard’s former European trade pub Music & Media. A best-selling reference book author, Jeff currently publishes The Metrics of Music, a new, free, online college textbook that details the various types of media, tools of the trade and myriad ways creatives and industry pros use data, analytics and resources to study artistic performance and audience behavior to advance their priorities.

    Casey Campbell is Senior Vice President of Research and Analysis at Warner Records. Haley Jones is Head of Independents at Luminate. Scott Miller is a Music Data Expert at ADA, a Division of Warner Music Group.

  • Landing exposure in blogs, consumer and trade press and through podcasts or broadcast opportunities can lift awareness of your career, but how does one get the ball rolling before the big bucks start rolling in. Los Angeles College of Music instructor Geoff Mayfield and John Vlautin of Spinlab Communications will lead a workshop that features two music publicists and a wealth of ideas on how creatives can get their stories in front of public and industry gatekeepers. 

    Veteran industry observer Geoff Mayfield has worked in various facets of the music industry throughout his entire career, including 23 years at Billboard, where he served as director of charts, providing analytic insights on music consumption while guiding the industry’s adoption of big data. He then provided both company and industry insights to Universal Music Group, its owned Land distributed labels and its partners as Vice President of Business Analysis and Market Research. Mayfield teaches classes in the Music Business program at Los Angeles College of Music and since 2020 also contributes stories about the record industry to Billboard and Variety.

    John Vlautin heads SpinLab Communications, a boutique corporate communications agency serving the music and media industries.  The company’s clients include world class record labels, distributors, music publishers, global talent agencies and the leading music creation platforms.

    Aishah White is the head of urban publicity at Warner Records and founder of AKW PR, where she created media campaigns for artists such as Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Pump, and the late XXXTentacion.

    She has represented artists signed to virtually every major label in the industry, including Warner Records, Atlantic, Sony Music, Columbia, Def Jam, Roc Nation, RCA, Empire, 300 Entertainment, and others.

    Prior to starting AKW PR, White held executive positions at Primary Wave, Team Image PR, and Def Jam. She lives in Los Angeles and has a teenage daughter. 

  • Independent artists have more power than ever — the key is using it strategically. We’ll break down how to release with intention, build sustainable momentum, and use digital distribution to move your career forward. Plus, live insights from artists who are doing it in real time.

    Mike Fink leads Creator Services at Distrokid, building partnerships that help independent artists expand their global reach. Before DistroKid, he oversaw independent label and artist relationships at Pandora, launching several of the company’s first direct deals. He previously produced more than 1,300 performances at the Kennedy Center and co-founded the indie label The Kora Records.

  • In a world where technology has made music creation more accessible than ever, what actually sets great artists apart? In this interactive session, Caleb Chapman explores why performance—not just skill—is now the defining advantage for working musicians. Attendees will learn how to elevate their presence, deepen audience connection, and create moments that truly resonate. This session challenges musicians to rethink their role—not just as creators, but as performers—and equips them with practical tools to stand out in an increasingly crowded, AI-driven music landscape.

    Caleb Chapman is a GRAMMY-nominated bandleader, speaker, author of The Next Stage: Why Performance Matters More Than Ever, and founder of Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse, one of the nation’s leading performance training programs for young musicians. A past president of the Jazz Education Network, Chapman’s bands have received well over 100 DownBeat Awards and have worked with hundreds of artists, including members of The Killers, Toto, Maroon 5, Journey, AC/DC, and Dave Matthews Band, as well as Grammy-winners Huey Lewis, Kenny Loggins, Victor Wooten, Esperanza Spalding, Branford Marsalis, Poncho Sanchez, and many others.

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