PROGRAM

TUESDAY, JUNE 11:

10:00AM-10:45AM – Pandora AMP Workshop – Please join Pandora’s Creator Services team for an introduction to AMP, our Artist Marketing Platform. We will walk you through all of our FREE, powerful and DIY creator tools – available to all artists and their teams – including Artist Audio Messages, Featured Tracks, Pandora Stories, Track Reporting and more! We’ll also announce recent improvements and additions to the toolset, and of course, we’ll leave plenty of time for Q&A.

10:15AM-11:00AM – Beyond Streaming: How Labels are Diversifying Revenue in 2024? Streaming and vinyl might be the lionshare of revenue today, but what other income sources should you be considering in 2024? Learn what’s been working for other labels and artists, and how diversifying your revenue is both easier and more important than it ever has been.

10:30AM-11:15AM – United We Create: Empowering Indie Voices Against Industry Titans

In an era when the very essence of creativity is being challenged by consolidation, monopolies, and the relentless advance of artificial intelligence, the power of unity has never been more crucial. “United We Create” shines a light on the strength found in unity. This panel illuminates how independents turn challenges into opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Highlighting the Protect Working Musicians Act (PWMA), hear from leaders at A2IM, ARA, SONA, and more on forging paths that empower the indie community. Join us to discover how solidarity is not just our shield, but our sword in the battle for a fair and vibrant creative future.

11:00AM-11:45AM – SoundExchange: SX Direct Portal Best Practices

Join SoundExchange for a hands-on deep dive into the SX Direct portal for Sound Recording Copyright Owners. Come with your questions as we demonstrate how to search and claim recordings, metadata submissions, and the overlaps and disputes process, as well as international royalty collection, membership mandates, and contact updates.

11:15AM-12:00PM – Fostering Wellness: Progress and Practical Solutions
Explore effective strategies for supporting wellness across our community, spanning from artists to label owners and beyond. Industry leaders driving change will share actionable approaches to prioritize wellness, foster sustainable work environments, and reshape the industry as a force for empowerment.

11:30AM-12:15PM – Sustainability 360: Navigating Music Industry Initiatives for Environmental Responsibility

Mary Jurey, MDE (Music Declares Emergency) guides a discussion through the latest sustainability endeavors within the music business.

11:45AM-12:15PM – Bay-Area/Pacific Northwest Meet Up

Whether you work in the Pacific Northwest or want to meet those from the region, join us for a meet-up event. Drop in to meet your fellow A2IM colleagues and say HELLO – No advance RSVP required.

12:00PM-12:45PM – Music Data Live Workshop Presented by Chartmetric!

During this session we will go over key data points that are relevant to artists and the music industry on a global scale!

12:15PM-1:00PM – Unleashing Innovation: Marketing Genius Award Panel

Delve into the intricacies that propelled Blondshell, nominee for the 2024 Libera Award Marketing Genius, to success. Our panelists will unveil the secrets behind the triumphant launch of their debut full-length album. Gain firsthand insights, strategies, and confrontations from the marketing team, band manager, and key figures intimately engaged in the campaign.

12:30-1:15PM – Recorded Music Copyrights: Clear and Simple Guidance

Delve into the basics of music copyright protection in straightforward terms. Discover effective strategies for safeguarding your Constitutional music rights.

1:15PM-2PM – Viral Success Next Steps: How to Capitalize and Amplify It

Discover how to harness and amplify viral moments, such as increased TikTok user-generated content or trending on YouTube, to drive growth on DSPs and social platforms intentionally. Learn tips to promote releases effectively, ensuring the artist’s success translates into a sustainable career beyond TikTok trends. Gain insights into converting viral success into long-term impact.

1:30PM-2:15PM – Sync Success Strategies: Placement to Optimization

Explore essential strategies for securing and maximizing sync deals. After securing the sync, discover how to leverage it effectively to boost streams and capitalize on its influence. Delve into real-world examples and gain insights into assessing the ROI of sync deals, comparing license fees to potential exposure.

1:45PM-2:45PM – ROUNDTABLE: Fan Engagement

Our roundtable sessions offer informal networking opportunities where one moderator leads discussions and addresses questions from up to 10 Indie Week participants. Each 60-minute session will be divided into four 15-minute segments, allowing attendees to join multiple conversations within the hour. While conversations can flow organically, the moderator will prepare some initial questions to kick things off.

2:00PM-2:45PM – Being Independent in Today’s Market Landscape – Can You Really Do It All? – Presented by Virgin Music

Independents are comfortable taking on challenges all on their own. It’s part of their DNA. But partnering with outside resources who have the expertise and tools that can augment indie labels’ efforts is essential to staying competitive. This panel will examine the best practices of leveraging everything available to today’s independent entrepreneurs. From tools and insights, to advertising, playlisting and synch, this panel will empower the indie marketer to get the most out of the resources available today.

2:15PM-3:00PM – 30+ Years Strong: Secrets to Independent Label Success

Join industry veterans as they unveil the keys to thriving as an independent record label for three decades. Gain insights on adapting to industry changes, nurturing artist connections, and ensuring financial resilience. Delve into candid discussions on overcoming challenges while honoring the enduring legacy of these labels.

2:30PM-3:15PM – Exploring Art Support Initiatives: A Global Perspective

Many foreign governments prioritize arts and culture through various programs. What can the US learn from these initiatives? Discover both public and private arts programs worldwide that could be replicated. Learn about A2IM’s advocacy efforts within the US government, including grant proposals and tax bill amendments. Explore the role of copyright protection in US trade relations and its impact on nurturing local arts scenes.

3:00PM-3:45PM – The Bandcamp Breakdown

At our annual Indie Week workshop, Bandcamp will reveal all the latest goings on and share the plans hatched with new parent company Songtradr. We will preview new and upcoming features on the site and share case studies on recently released features like Listening Parties to highlight how artists and labels can reach our avid music-buying community. We’ll have stats, stats, and more stats plus a treasure trove of helpful tips. Bandcamp Daily staff will also discuss new editorial features to pitch for and there will be a Q+A/meet and greet session.

3:15PM-4:00PM – Advancing Your Career: Transitioning from Mid-Level Management to Leadership

Discover the essential skills required for career growth and advancement. Learn how to navigate the next steps in your professional journey and secure investment from your company. Gain insights from individuals at various career stages, offering firsthand experiences and actionable advice for success in your career path.

3:30PM-4:15PM – Spacing on Spatial Audio, Hazy on Hi-Res?

Learn from labels that have embraced and integrated spatial audio and/or Hi-Res into their marketing strategies. Discover valuable tips, tricks, and strategies for navigating this innovative tool and leveraging it to your label’s advantage.

4:15PM-5:00PM – Mastering the Money Flow: Understanding Music Rights 

Explore the global flow of money and music rights, focusing on digital revenue streams and intermediaries. Discover essential strategies for maximizing revenue collection from all potential streams.

4:15PM-4:45PM – Mentor Program Meet and Greet

Are you part of the A2IM Members Mentor Program? If not, would you like to be? Come meet the mentor committee and fellow mentors/mentees in this drop in meet up session.

4:30PM-5:00PM – Deciphering the American Radio Scene: Navigating Radio Formats American radio formats can be perplexing. When your artist is on the verge of breaking, what are your options for US radio? From niche and commercial to non-comm and internet radio, explore the diverse landscape. Learn how to determine the right track and timing for pitching, and whether streaming numbers impact your chances. Discover how radio success can open doors to other opportunities and understand the financial dynamics, including who pays more.

Wednesday, June 12:

10:00AM-10:45AM – Keynote: Golnar Khosrowshahi, Founder of Reservoir Media in conversation with Billboard’s Kristin Robinson

10:30AM-11:00AM – Innovations and Trends in Live Music

Discover what’s on the horizon for live music events. Let’s explore the latest innovations and trends shaping the live music landscape, from immersive experiences to cutting-edge technology. We’ll also delve into the challenges faced by bands on the road and how they’re finding innovative solutions to overcome them.

10:30AM-11:15AM – Short Form Revolution: Boosting Music Video Impact and Harmony with Long Form Content

Unlock the power of short form video and its dynamic synergy with long form content. Discover how they mutually enhance each other and learn from creators who have transformed modest budgets into numerous engaging short form pieces. Explore emerging trends, innovative monetization tactics, and the pivotal question of return on investment (ROI).

11:15AM-12:00PM – Unlocking Global Success: Navigating International DSPs & Marketing

Explore tactics for harnessing international DSPs to amplify your label’s presence worldwide. Learn the significance of fostering strong partnerships with these platforms and tailoring marketing approaches to diverse global audiences. Gain insights into creating culturally resonant content and navigating challenges to effectively engage international fans.

11:30AM-12:15PM – Financial Transparency: The Economics of Music Releases

Explore the intricacies of financing music releases and the potential conflicts arising from misaligned perceptions among artists, labels, distributors, managers, and attorneys. Join us for an honest conversation revealing the actual numbers behind a project from an emerging artist on an independent label. Gain insights into the needs of each party for a successful collaboration.

11:45AM-12:15PM – Delta Region Meet-Up

Whether you work in the Delta Region or want to meet those from the region, join us for a meet-up event. Drop in to meet your fellow A2IM colleagues and say HELLO – No advance RSVP required.

12:15PM-1:00PM – Brand-tasitc: How Can Labels Engage Brands for Their Emerging Artists?

Discover strategies for labels to build relationships with brands early in an artist’s career. Learn effective tactics for attracting brand interest for emerging artists. Explore the role of influencer marketing in artist development and understand what approaches yield results.

12:30PM-1:15PM – Level Up: Mastering Sync Licensing in Gaming

Uncover the strategies to land sync placements in video games. Get practical tips on pitching your music for gaming syncs and engaging with game developers. Explore the distinct sync licensing landscape of the gaming industry, where many games lack in-house sync teams. Gain firsthand insights into navigating gaming rights complexities and catering to the needs of game developers.

12:45PM-1:45PM – Roundtable: International Market Overview

Our roundtable sessions offer informal networking opportunities where one moderator leads discussions and addresses questions from up to 10 Indie Week participants. Each 60-minute session will be divided into four 15-minute segments, allowing attendees to join multiple conversations within the hour. While conversations can flow organically, the moderator will prepare some initial questions to kick things off, such as providing an industry overview of the market, strategies for engaging with markets beyond DSPs, the necessity of having a physical presence (“boots on the ground”), language considerations, popular genres, and music trends, as well as noteworthy festivals, music events, and touring options.

1:15PM-2:00PM – Publishing Town Hall

Join leaders of A2IM’s publishing community for a town hall discussion on the current landscape of music publishing. Our speakers, who represent the breadth and depth of our community, will prepare pertinent questions/discussions points as a starting point. At our town hall events we encourage lively interaction between our audience members and our panel; please bring your questions and curiosity.

1:30PM-2:15PM – Revealing the Lifecycle of a Record From Digital Impact to Earnings Uncover the financial journey and social media footprint of several hit songs and compositions. Hear from rightsholders and creators about what they gained from tracking their records online, the tools they used for tracking UGC, how much revenue was made, and at what points. Hear of these successes and how challenges were overcome.

2:15PM-3:00PM – You Got Game: Maximizing Your Gaming Game

Now that you’ve landed the gaming sync, what’s next? Dive into working within the gaming ecosystem, understanding audience dynamics, cultivating superfans, and more.

2:30PM-3:15PM – Unlocking Global Radio Success for Independent Artists

Explore avenues for independent artists to thrive on international radio beyond the USA. Discover which genres are most advantageous abroad and learn from successful artists about the unique opportunities available to independents.

2:45PM-3:45PM – Roundtable: International Market Overview 

Our roundtable sessions offer informal networking opportunities where one moderator leads discussions and addresses questions from up to 10 Indie Week participants. Each 60-minute session will be divided into four 15-minute segments, allowing attendees to join multiple conversations within the hour. While conversations can flow organically, the moderator will prepare some initial questions to kick things off, such as providing an industry overview of the market, strategies for engaging with markets beyond DSPs, the necessity of having a physical presence (“”boots on the ground””), language considerations, popular genres, and music trends, as well as noteworthy festivals, music events, and touring options.

3:15PM-4:00PM – Unlocking Added Value in Your Distribution Partnership
The digital and DSP landscape has democratized distribution and presented new global opportunities for independent labels and artists. But beyond distributing your product to consumers, what else is available? What are best practices, what should you be asking to succeed in digital music?

3:30PM-4:15PM – The Current Landscape of Sample Licensing in 2024

Sample licensing remains a complex and often misunderstood aspect of music creation. As technology evolves, including AI, the metaverse, and NFTs, the process of clearing samples becomes even more intricate. Join sample clearance experts and industry executives as they navigate the challenges and misconceptions surrounding sample licensing. Gain insights into the current climate, address prevalent myths and concerns, and discover strategies for using samples creatively and ethically.

4:15PM-5:00PM – Neighboring Rights: Exploring the Latest Updates

We begin with a quick “HOW TO” primer to ensure you are receiving all the information you’re entitled to and learning how it impacts you. This panel will explore recent developments, including shifts in qualification criteria in Europe for US performers, and the continuous expansion of the record company market.

4:30PM-5:00PM – Rethinking Music Streaming Payout Models 

Dive into an engaging discussion on the evolution of music streaming payout structures. Our expert panel will dissect the advantages and limitations of pro-rata, fan-powered, and artist-centric methodologies. Gain valuable insights into how these models shape revenue distribution across artists, labels, and platforms, and uncover their implications for musicians navigating the digital music landscape.

Thursday, June 13:

10:00AM-11:30AM – Measure your impact with A2IM’s new sustainability project with IMPALA, supported by Merlin

A2IM and IMPALA (Europe) are launching a one-year pilot project supported by MERLIN, on using IMPALA’s Carbon Calculator in the USA. The project is open to all A2IM member labels. This panel is the launch and also features Julie’s Bicycle who developed IMPALA’s calculator and who will be guiding members on how to use the tool, as well as giving advice “beyond carbon”. This is the first step towards rolling out the tool in the world’s biggest music market, so the independent sector can measure and reduce carbon footprints in as coordinated a way as possible. If you want to test and shape how we measure our impact in the USA, this is for you.

10:00AM-10:45AM – Empowering Independent Business Models: Seizing Fresh Opportunities

Uncover the evolutionary path of independent business models from traditional labels embracing publishing to management firms evolving into comprehensive powerhouses. Delve into the driving forces behind this rapid shift, the rising demand for diversified services, and strategies for traditional labels to thrive in the changing landscape.

10:15AM-11:00AM – A&R in 2024: Balancing Artistry and Analytics

Explore the evolving landscape of A&R in the age of data overload. How are labels leveraging data to make informed decisions? Discover the crucial data points driving A&R strategies and their significance.

10:30AM-11:15AM – Content Creation: Strategies and Essentials

How do you address content creation with your team? What strategies and “must-have” assets are needed for success? How do artists and labels create multiple content formats in support of their music and fan engagement, including incentivizing fan creation that’s also multi-format? Let’s compare the ROI on each line item and rank to marketing tools on several platforms to see what does and what does not move the needle.

11:15AM-12:00PM – Holistic Marketing: Uniting Components for Success

Explore how integrated marketing components such as social campaigns, genre dynamics, radio, and AI-driven engagement are intertwined. Learn how companies of all sizes organize and execute their social media campaigns, from resource allocation to investment understanding. Discover the potential of AI in crafting engaging social media content efficiently. Delve into the role of genre in promotions and optimize radio’s inclusion in your overall strategy.

11:30AM-12:15PM – Credits Due: is music metadata improving?

Industry perspectives on the campaign which supports efforts to enable complete and accurate song metadata is attached to all recordings at the point of creation. Panelists from DiMA, The Ivors Academy, The Recording Academy, A2IM and more.

11:45AM-12:15PM – Chicago/Mid-West Region Meet-Up
Whether you work in the Chicago Region or want to meet those from the region, join us for a meet-up event. Drop in to meet your fellow A2IM colleagues and say HELLO – No advance RSVP required.

12:15PM-1:00PM – Maximizing Your Catalog: Label Strategies Unveiled
How do you revitalize interest, maximize performance, and boost your label’s catalog potential? Gain insights into effective remixing, contest timing, and opportune moments for selling or purchasing.

12:30PM-1:15PM – Empowering Independent Retailers: Overcoming Data Collection Challenges

Join A2IM’s Physical Goods Working Group as they tackle the data collection hurdles confronting independent retail stores. First we begin with a quick primer on How the Billboard charts work. With the removal of the weighting system, new dilemmas have arisen. Despite these challenges, the Working Group remains dedicated to exploring alternative solutions and support avenues for independent retailers.

12:45PM-1:45PM – Roundtable: Publishing & Sync Our roundtable sessions offer informal networking opportunities where one moderator leads discussions and addresses questions from up to 10 Indie Week participants. Each 60-minute session will be divided into four 15-minute segments, allowing attendees to join multiple conversations within the hour. While conversations can flow organically, the moderator will prepare some initial questions to kick things off.

1:15PM-2:00PM – Nurturing Superfans: Connecting and Cultivating Communities

Where do your superfans gather? Explore strategies for your label to nurture and expand these dedicated communities. Discover cutting-edge tools and engagement methods that labels and distributors are employing to strengthen artist-fan and fan-fan relationships at the heart of their business.

1:30PM-2:00PM – Real Talk Vinyl: Insights into Timelines, Players, and Production Uncover the inner workings of vinyl production with a candid discussion on timelines, key stakeholders, and the intricate process from cutters to press plants. Gain insights into the craftsmanship behind physical records and explore the economics of vinyl sales.

2:00PM-2:45PM – Keynote: GRAMMY-winning artist, best selling author and Reach Records co-founder, Lecrae

3:00PM-4:00PM – A2IM AGM (Annual General Meeting)

Join Dr. Richard James Burgess, President and CEO of A2IM, and the A2IM Team as they wrap up Indie Week 2024 with the Annual General Meeting. Meet the newly elected board of directors, and featured speakers: Heather Johnson (Sup Pop/A2IM Board President), Karla Rogozar (IMPALA), Noemi Planas (WIN), Jeremy Sirota (Merlin), and Josh Hurvitz (NVG, LLC).