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Friday, October 23
1pm Merchandising
Terrace Room
Our featured speaker, Ian Heath, will lead a discussion about the pros and cons of the label “360-record deal,” direct-to-fan e-commerce, how a small band can develop merchandise, deal with wholesalers, websites and more. With Tim Crow (ROCKWORLDEAST), Jeremy Black (Third Estate) and Zac Crouse (artist: Caledonia), this panel will likely stir up all kinds of new info—particularly to help out the smaller bands!
3pm Publicity
Terrace Room
Ever wonder how to get your song played on the radio? Your album reviewed? Raved about in the papers? Go viral in the blogosphere? We can show you how! With the expertise of Jon Asher of Asher Media Relations, Josh Hogan of Hogan Media Relations, Kimberly Sinclair of SpinCount, Matt Charlton of Pigeon Row and moderator independent music journo Karen Bliss, this panel will show you how to become the talk of the town…if you’re any good.
4pm Social Networks and Media
Terrace Room
Social media has profoundly changed every aspect of our musical culture, from production to distribution to consumption to discovery. These are hard times for the old gatekeepers, the record labels and broadcast networks who single-handedly decide what song, artist or style merit mainstream attention. Today we use tools from Tunecore to Facebook to blogs to share our music, our tastes and our new ideas directly with one another. But what does this mean for a business still dominated by the old economic and legal structures of wholesale, retail, royalties and copyrights? Join Karen Bliss (freelance journalist) as she moderates, with Chris Budd (indiemusicfilter.com), Matt Charlton (Pigeon Row), Eric Warner (We Are Busy Bodies) as they go through the ins and outs of social media.
SAT OCT 24
2pm Mercy Mercy Me: What Does the Music Biz Have to do with Green?
Cavalier Room
This panel will invite discussion of the environmental footprint of musicians and the music industry. Charlene Boyce Young (Ecology Action Centre) will lead musicians and environmental experts to compare notes to determine what’s happening now, what could improve music’s “green standard,” and what should happen next. In particular, we hope to discuss areas including transportation, packaging/distribution/tour logistics, music’s influence on venues, fans and personal responsibility. Along with Charlene, Kari Riddell (Clean Nova Scotia), Zac Crouse (Caledonia) and Louise Hanavan (Grand Sass) will share their green expertise.
3pm Copyright
Cavalier Room
The Canadian copyright landscape continues to attract local, national, and international attention from public and private stakeholders in the music industry. Hear about current cases in Canada and the United States on downloading, webcasting, file sharing and performing rights. Find out the latest on the federal government’s e-consultations on copyright law. Learn how others are protecting their interests individually and collectively as performing artists and musicians in Canada. Megan Leslie, Halifax’s MP, will moderate this panel, with Walter McDonough (Future of Music Coalition), Jonny Stevens (Music Nova Scotia), Daniela Bassan (SOCAN), and Graham Reynolds (Dalhousie Law).
4pm No Money, No Music
Cavalier Room
This panel will offer in-depth discussion on several funding avenues available for musicians to assist in the creation and performance of music, along with some less conventional ideas. Of course, we’ll also discuss how to properly present yourself to make sure your bid for those bucks is as effective as possible. Today the odds of a fast-talking A&R rep swooping in to help bankroll your project are as unlikely as ever, so boost your knowledge and take matters—and hopefully some money—into your own hands, with the help of Gregg Terrence (Indie Pool) as moderator, Paul Gagnon (MuchFACT), Steven Himmelfarb (Billions Corporation), Andrew King (Canadian Musician Magazine).
