(subject to change)

Monday, June 12, 2023

• Monday, June 12: 2:00pm-6:00pm Badge Pick-Up @ Indie Week Venue Hotel The InterContinental Times Square. All badges will be picked up at our registration area on the lobby level of the Intercontinental Hotel Times Square, just past the elevators (we’ll have signs directing you exactly where to go!).

• 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Opening Night Party Presented by ADA @ Harbor NYC Rooftop, 621 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036, USA You will not be able to register for Indie Week OR pick up your badge at the Opening Night Party

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

• 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Executive One-on-One Meetings

• 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
  How to Develop a more Well-rounded, Inclusive, and Equitable Music Industry Solution-Oriented ways to be more Inclusive of Black, Brown, and Queer colleagues and those with disabilities. Panel talking points: Overhauling internships and hiring practices in the music industry, pursuing new pipelines, and training those with potential. Moderator: Gary Bushrod (Amazon Music) Panelists: Lachi (RAMPD), Jessica Sobraj (Cosynd), Caroline Garcia (The Orchard), Love Whelchel (Downtown Music Holdings), Nico Machlitt (Vevo/Queer Capita)

• 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
  Music Managers Forum-US and Women In Music present Artist Management Entrepreneurship Join established entrepreneurial artist managers sharing their extensive knowledge and experience from a variety of genres, races, ethnicities, backgrounds and identities. They will discuss all aspects of the business, from starting a business, structuring deals, building a team, nurturing the manager-artist relationship, artist growth and development strategies, delve into their most effective marketing tactics (including traditional, live and digital), mission-based initiatives and advocacy, how to grow and sustain long-term careers, and visions for the future of artist management. Moderator: Neeta Ragoowansi (Folk Alliance/MMF-US) Panelists: Liz Norris (Activists Artists Management), Jeanine Mclean (MBK Entertainment Inc), Riley Moriarty (ThreeSixZero)

• 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
  The Roadmap to Royalties: Mastering the Art of Royalty Collection Join industry experts in a dynamic discussion on maximizing music royalty collection and safeguarding artists' earnings. Gain valuable insights on strategies to optimize revenue streams, and leverage technology for accurate tracking and distribution. Don't miss this essential panel to unlock the potential of music royalties in today's digital landscape. Moderator: Mhairi Palmer (Curve Royalties) Speaker: Guillaume Droin (ShineX), Emmy Black (Eddy App), Cheryl Breindel (Royalty Share)

• 11:15 AM - Noon
  Reach More Fans: How To Build An Engaging Release Plan What does an engaging marketing strategy look like for an album or single in 2023? What new technologies should you be considering as you build out your plan, and what evergreen practices should always be included? This panel will discuss how to develop and execute a content strategy, identifying when it's time to bring in outside partners (radio, sync, and publicity) and how to reach the right audience and grow your fanbase. Moderator: Dan Pearson (Lakeside Entertainment Group) Panelists: Will Tenney (SunPop), Blair Clark (Brooklyn Basement Records), Mariah Czap (Yep Roc Records), Scott Maness (FORWARD GROUP NYC), Jesús Triviño (TIDAL)

• 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
  Where Can Independent Labels Seek Outside Funding? While the independent sector has never been stronger, access to funding still remains a barrier to success for many small to medium sized labels. In comparison to other countries, the US doesn’t provide a lot of monetary support for the arts - where else can you turn for funding? This panel will discuss the pros and cons of working with banks, private equity firms, distributor advances, etc. Learn how to make the best financial investment decisions for your label, and how to secure capital. Panel Talking Points: Pros and cons of these options: banks, private equity, distributors, friends/family, the new breed of fintech. What’s the best decision for my label for both the short and long term? Moderator Sam Jensen (STEM) Panelists: Peter Harvey (RoyFi, Inc.), Tony Alexander (Made In Memphis Entertainment), Matthew Tilley (beatBread), Chris Nolte (Duetti), Alex Heiche (Sound Royalty)

• NOON AM - 12:45 PM
  Qobuz: Working With The Music Lover’s Streaming and Download Platform Join the New York-based leadership of Qobuz for an information session about their approach to digital music. How is Qobuz different from other DSPs and why? We will provide an update on successful artist marketing campaigns from the past year as well as a sneak peek at what’s next.Panelists Sujan Hong (QOBUZ), Dan Mackta (QOBUZ)

• Noon - 1:00 PM
  Roundtable Session; Sync Join your peers for small group, moderated discussions; A knowledge share; free-flowing space for ideas and conversation. Each roundtable has a pre-selected topic + moderator/facilitator. Our Sync Roundtable features music supervisors from the Guild of Music Supervisors among others. To participate simply join one of the roundtables by taking an empty seat and engaging in the conversation taking place at the table. Each session lasts less than 15 minutes. At the quarter hour attendees are invited to switch seats and join a different roundtable. No pre-registration required. Roundtables are open to all badge holders. Moderator/Facilitators Ed Gerrard (Guild of Music Supervisors), Jonathan Finegold (Guild of Music Supervisors), Rich Goldman (Riptide Music Group), Patrick Hughes (Koze)

• 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
  Is A&R All About That Data? With the accelerated growth of AI/algorithmic discovery tools, what do current artist discovery and development processes entail? How are labels utilizing data to identify new artists and at what point does relying on numbers compromise elsewhere? In this new age of online virality, how do you successfully develop an artist on their own timeline in their own way? Moderator: Lexie Viklund (Better Noise Music) Panelists: Kenny 'Tick" Salcido (Red Bull Records), Mike Weiss (UnitedMasters), Alexandra Berenson (All Flowers Group), Ebrahim Rasheed (MNRK Music Group)

• 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
  The Essential Role of Visuals in a New Release Campaign With the oversaturation of short form content in our current digital landscape, unique and effective visual accompaniments are an essential part of a successful release strategy. What are the most important visual elements to consider when putting together a new release marketing campaign? Should most of your budget go towards short form creation? Do music videos still play the same crucial role that they used to Moderator: Liz Erman (Nettwerk) Panelists: Lina (Carolina) Yanson (Secretly Distribution), Storme Whitby-Grubb (Red Bull Records), Annie Shapiro (Vevo), Dan Aslip (Acrophase Records)

• 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
  YouTube Presents: The Rise of Regional Mexican Music According to Billboard Magazine, “Regional Mexican Music Isn’t Just Having a Moment — It’s Been a Movement.” Regional Mexican music has cemented its place in the charts and is rapidly growing into the hottest genre. How did we get here? What role has streaming played? Join us as we explore the growth of the genre and its impact on culture Moderator: Stephanie Carvajal (YouTube) Speakers: Isabela Raygoza (Billboard), Bruce Ramos (DEL Records, Inc.), Special Guest speaker

• 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
  Are You Spending Wisely? How To Go Far On A Limited Budget With an infinite amount of platforms to split your budget between, but a not so infinite budget, what is the best way to maximize a small digital marketing spend? What are the platforms that will provide the most bang for your buck? What are the different success metrics we look at when analyzing the impact and reach of a small campaign? Moderator: Jason Billy (Beatroot) Panelists: Dee Diaz (Reach Records), Francesca Harvey (Partisan Records), Benita Lotkhamnga (Sideways, Inc.), Ryan Whitman (The Orchard), Leslie Rosales (Rostrum)

• 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM
  CLE Panel #1 of #3
  U.S. Artist Visas: What Entertainment Lawyers Need to Know About Immigration Law Whether you are working with international artists who are coming to the US to tour, record, film, or write, it is critical that entertainment lawyers understand how their artists fit within the U.S. immigration system. This session is a primer covering immigration issues and strategies needed by any attorney who works with international artists. With Will Spitz and Matthew Covey (1 NY credit, general practice).

• 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
  The Bandcamp Breakdown 2023 An introduction to new and forthcoming Bandcamp features and initiatives, including Listening Parties, Playlists, international expansion, and more. Plus, we’ll share tips on pitching for the most popular Bandcamp Daily coverage and a run down on our integration with Epic and what opportunities that opens. In attendance for the workshop and Q+A will be members of the artist and label team, editorial, product development, Epic, and our CEO, Ethan Diamond. Don’t miss! Panelists: Ethan Diamond (Bandcamp), Joseph Edward Keyes (Bandcamp), Andrew Jervis (Bandcamp), Amit Nerurkar (Bandcamp), Dan Melnick (Bandcamp), Bert Reuler (EpicGames)

• 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
  Roundtable Session; Marketing Join your peers for small group, moderated discussions; A knowledge share; free-flowing space for ideas and conversation. Each roundtable has a pre-selected topic + moderator/facilitator. Our Marketing Roundtable features discussions on Influencer Marketing, Social Media Best Practices, Fan Engagement Best Practices, and Retail Marketing. To participate simply join one of the roundtables by taking an empty seat and engaging in the conversation taking place at the table. Each session lasts less than 15 minutes. At the quarter hour attendees are invited to switch seats and join a different roundtable. No pre-registration required. Roundtables are open to all badge holders." Moderator/Facilitators: Influencer Marketing - Josh Epple (Hopeless), Social Media Best Practices - Thiago Machado (Ranked Music), Fan Engagement Best Practices - Kevin Dailey (Remedy), Retail Marketing - Cathy Bauer (ADA)

• 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
  Time To Start Collecting: Neighboring Rights And How They Benefit Your Label Because the US differs from other countries in public performance rights collection, neighboring rights often have a confusing reputation associated with them. If left unattended to, your label could be missing out on a significant cash flow opportunity. Learn the basics of neighboring rights, how to collect them on behalf of your roster, and ensure no money is accidentally left on the table in this department. Panel Talking Points: Define neighboring rights. Steps to collect this revenue, How Neighboring Rights collection can maximize your revenue. Moderator: Luis Bonilla (SoundExchange) Panelists: Hunter Giles (Infinite Catalog), Jodie Ferneyhough (CCS Rights Management), Eric Veerman (peermusic)

• 2:40 PM - 3:30 PM
  CLE Panel #2 of #3
  Contracts & Equity: How New Thinking About Contracts is Making a Better Live Music Sector Many companies in our industry have expressed admirable concern for increasing the equity of their work, but legal practices often lag behind their aspiration. This session reviews groundbreaking new thinking that has been occurring over last three years within the performing arts and legal communities, exploring how contracts can be used as tools to promote fairer work practices. With Marla Guttman and Matthew Covey (1 NY credit, general practice).

• 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
  YouTube Workshop: Everything You Need to Know NOW This workshop will focus on YouTube's mutli-format approach for artist success, including Shorts and long-form content best practices. We will discuss how this integrated mutli-format strategy can be utilized during an all stages of an artist release cycle, including prerelease, in-the-moment, and postrelease. Panelists Zeeshan Merchant (YouTube), Brittany Hicks (YouTube), Brittany Schneider (YouTube)

• 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
  Straight From The Source: How To Sell More Vinyl Hear it straight from those who are slinging it - A2IM invites record store representatives from both the digital and brick and mortar space to discuss ways to amplify your vinyl sales. Tips will be shared, trends will be analyzed, success stories will be broken down. Learn how you can increase vinyl sales through tailoring your marketing to this specific community of fans. Moderator: Jocelynn Pryor (AMPED) Panelists: Peter Hahn (Turntable Lab), Ben Steidel (Brooklyn Record Exchange), Haile Ali (Legacy Records), Stephen Godfroy (Rough Trade Records), Jeffrey Smith (Discogs)

• 3:50 PM - 4:40 PM
  CLE Panel #3 of #3
  Synchronization Licenses: "And the Nominees for Bomb and Blooper Synch Cases of the Year Are…! This session will provide a bird's-eye view of copyright law, but also get into the weeds by exploring who is doing well and who could be doing better. We will review recent cases regarding the use of music in films and advertisements. We will also look into emerging platforms impacting the legal landscape for multiple cutting edge industries. With Mike Lawrence and Janis Shen (1 NY credit, general practice).

• 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
  Keynote Speaker: Madeline Nelson (Amazon Music)

• Indie Week After Hours - Tuesday 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
  Saudi Arabian Music Showcase @ Piano's 158 Ludlow Street, NY

• Indie Week After Hours - Tuesday 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  Secretly Distribution presents A2IM Indie Week Official Party @ Blue Ruin, 538 9th Avenue (at 40th)
  Celebrate Secretly Distribution's 25th Anniversary!

• Indie Week After Hours - Tuesday 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
  RoyFi’s Indie Week Rooftop Myxer, Sponsored by Dot Hip Hop, Beatroot, Synchtank, LyricFind, and AudioShake at Serafina In the Sky/Pod Hotel, 400 West 42nd Street.

• Indie Week After Hours - Tuesday 8 PM Until Late
  Le Fabulous Party at Anti Social Camp and Indie Week Flux Studios 154 E. 2nd St., Suite #4A New York, NY 10009 RSVP REQUIRED HERE

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

• 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Executive One-on-One Meetings

• 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  An A2IM Indie Week Town Hall: How Should the Independent Community Address the Use of AI? Does the rise of AI in music imperil the independent community or enhance it?Town Hall Discussion Points: Are labels using AI in their operations? As DSPs are flooded w/ AI tracks, How will this affect streaming rates? Licensing and AI With regard to legislation, what does the future hold? Moderator: Heather Johnson (FiXT) Panelists: Eden Shiferaw (NVG, LLC), Michael Drexler (Verifi Media), Tony Kiewel (Sub Pop), Howie Singer (NYU)

• 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
  Sync Breakdown; What's the Life Cycle of a Huge Sync? Dive into the life cycle of a major sync placement, examining the process from start to finish. Panelists will discuss the various stages involved in securing a sync deal, including pitching, negotiation, licensing, and final delivery. They will also explore the creative aspects of sync placements, such as selecting the right song, collaborating with music supervisors, and tailoring music to fit specific scenes and moods. A focus of this panel will be on examining the after effects of a sync placement and what metrics should be measured to deem it successful. Moderator: Katrina Balcius (DISCO) Panelists: Simon Vuillard-Pernier (AlterK), Peter Suk (Koze Music Publishing), Rich Goldman (Riptide Music Group), Julie Hwang (!K7)

• 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
  ShowUp Panel Presentation: Get in the Fight: Strategies to Support Artist Activism Will your next marketing idea end up saving lives? More than ever, artists’ identities are being framed around the issues they’re speaking out about. How can we creatively integrate artist activism into release strategies and marketing in a way that supports and amplifies the artists' voice, drives impact to critical concerns, creates new channels of fan engagement, and boosts attention and streams around releases? Moderator: Mat Hall (ShowUp) Panelists Mike Heyliger (The Orchard), Kimbra (Artist), Daniel Iammatteo (Tommy Boy), Bridget Kearney (Artist)

• 11:00 AM - Noon
  Roundtable Session; Meet the Recording Academy - Join the Recording Academy Executives for small group, moderated discussions. Each roundtable will have one executive from The Recording Academy who is the pre-selected topic moderator/facilitator of conversation. Attendees do not need to pre-register. To attend simply join on of the roundtables and engage with the group’s conversation. The Recording Academy Roundtable Topics: Artist Relations - Artist Engagement and Raising Your artist profile at the Academy; Chantel Sausedo, VP of Artist Relations. Joining the Recording Academy; Leah Dowdy, Membership Manager Making the most of your Recording Academy Membership; Nick Cucci, Senior Executive Director All things GRAMMY Awards; Nick DiFruscia, Senior Director Awards, Michael Almanza, Director Awards, Ralph Olivarez, Senior Manager Awards Advocacy; Todd Dupler, Acting Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer, Get to know the Wings with Maureen Droney, VP Producers & Engineers Wing and Susan Stewart, Managing Director Songwriters & Composers Wing.

• 11:15 AM - Noon
  Data is Money. How to Fix and Monetize Your Metadata Poor metadata creates an Inability to monetize optimally, opening yourself up to fraud, and creating a barrier to your company's growth. Panel talking Points: Why/How Poor metadata put your label at risk, How to avoid these pitfalls, and solutions to help labels of all sizes. Moderator: Mark Isherwood (Digital Data Exchange-DDEX) Panelists: Ellen Mangan (Verifi Media), Roy Hennig (LyricFind), Emma Robinson (Merlin), Chris Wetherell (Myxt), Pierre Bussieres (Six Shooter Records)

• 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
  Touring is Tricky. Can Your Artist Turn a Profit? The cost of touring is expensive and demanding - both financially for the label and physically for the artist. The rush back to live has been filled with challenges like new hidden ticket fees, fewer gig workers, higher expenses on the roads, and new health requirements in the post-pandemic era. What steps can you take to organize a successful tour for your artist? Moderator: Silvia Montello (AIM) Panelists: Pete Smolin (Upward Spiral Music), Richard Hannan (Big Indie Records), Felicia Risolo (Epitaph/Anti- Records), Evelyn Seiber (Reeperbahn Festival), Matt Urmy (Artist Growth), Morgan Steiker (DICE)

• Noon - 12:45 PM
  Too Lost Panel Presentation Financing Your Career & Future: Alternative Funding Options for the Independent Artist Artists have more options than ever to fund their career, create new revenue streams and manage their cash without relinquishing control and ownership of their masters. During the session, the panelists will discuss these various options and how artists can best position themselves to take advantage of them in the digital music landscape. Panelists: Gregory Hirschhorn (CEO @ Too Lost), Evan Heby (Sr. Marketing @ Tipalti), Peter Sinclair (CEO @ beatBread), Shav Garg (CEO @ Indify)

• 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
  Best Practices for Distributing to Regions Dominated by Mobile or Physical Panelists will share insights and practical advice on navigating the challenges of these markets, including identifying the need to engage with local partners, selecting the most effective distribution channels, adapting to local customs and preferences, and the typical structure of current mobile-centric deals (excluding deal terms and antitrust considerations) Moderator: Eline Reijns (Nettwerk) Panelists: Mark Meyer (Random Sounds), Hiba Irshad (South Asian Music Executive), Suhel Nafar (EMPIRE)

• 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
  Growth Opportunities in the Afrobeats Market Hear from those who have found commercial success within the steadily rising Afrobeats genre in the US. Gain further insight into current trends in this marketplace, the importance of artist collaboration, and what is resonating with US listeners in this space. Moderator June Saba (Vydia) Panelists: Ajene Watson (DotHipHop LLC), Fotemah Mba (Cinq), Abe Batshon (Beatstars)

• 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
  Spotify Panel Presentation: Spotify for Artists Masterclass Meet our team and learn about the creative tools and resources we're building to help artists find, grow, and monetize their audience on Spotify. Hear case studies and insights on the various strategies artist’s teams have employed to reach and connect with new and existing fans using Spotify for Artists’ suite of tools. Panelists: Jesse Jacobsen (Spotify), Maureen Ochs (Spotify), Ruth Collett (Spotify)

• 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
  Roundtable Session; Publishing Join your peers for small group, moderated discussions; A knowledge share; free-flowing space for ideas and conversation. Each roundtable has a pre-selected topic + moderator/facilitator. Our Publishing Roundtable features experts in the field. To participate simply join one of the roundtables by taking an empty seat and engaging in the conversation taking place at the table. Each session lasts less than 15 minutes. At the quarter hour attendees are invited to switch seats and join a different roundtable. No Pre-registration required. Roundtables are open to all badge holders. Moderator/Facilitators: Phil Chidella (Wonderlous), Abby North (North Music Group), Brooke Underwood (SongTrust), Milica Cuckic (bmat)

• 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
  Modern Approaches to Independent Label Publicity: Strategy and Tactics As traditional media opportunities dwindle for musicians and social media becomes a more dominant form of promotion, what options do labels have? Panel Talking Points: When should you spend money on a great publicist and when is that budget better diverted elsewhere? When to have a publicist in-house and when to hire out? Moderator: Bryant Kitching (Partisan Records) Panelists: Brendan Bourke (The Syndicate), Fiona Bloom (The Bloom Effect), Jazz Atkins (Loma Vista), Matt Hanks (Shore Fire Media), Nicole Poulus (Sideways, Inc)

• 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
  Practical Steps To Combat Streaming Fraud Panel Talking Points: Special Annoucement (New Task Force). General overview, how have things changed (better/worse) in the past 12 months, insights and tools to detect the labels and distributors can use to combat streaming fraud, including stopping fraudulent 3rd party playlisting companies, How can distributors encourage quality over quantity when allowing users to sign up for their services Moderator: Rob Levine (Billboard) Panelists: Darlene Hall (Create Music Group/Label Engine), Christine Barnum (MFPA/CD Baby), Andrew Batey (BeatApp), Andreea Gleeson (MFPA/Tunecore)

• 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
  Simplifying Digital Royalty Solutions with SoundExchange As the premier technology platform providing royalty solutions for sound recordings, SoundExchange is proud to serve creators everywhere -- including artists, major music companies, and labels. In this presentation, Tiara Guy (Associate Director of Industry Relations & Marketing Operations), discusses how to effectively leverage SoundExchange’s cutting-edge data and technology products and services to make the business of music more simple, more efficient, and fairer. Moderator Tiara Guy (SoundExchange)

• 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
  Roundtable Session: AI Join your peers for small group, moderated discussions, a knowledge share; free-flowing space for ideas and conversation. We'll have (4) tables set up with a moderator at each table who will facilitate a conversation about AI tools including AI Royalty Payments Morgan Hayduk (Beatdapp), AI Artwork Heather Johnson (FiXT), AI Mixing/Mastering Alex Mitchell (Boomy), AI Marketing Kristin Grant (Westcott Media). This 60-min session will be divided up into four 15-minute segments. Attendees do not need to pre-register. To attend simply join on of the roundtables and engage with the group’s conversation.

• 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
  When Should You Consider Adding Publishing To Your Label? Now! While the publishing world can seem daunting, it’s easier to enter than you think. Not only does handling in house publishing make clearances easier to attain, it’s also a steady revenue source for labels who are equipped to handle it. When is the right time to consider adding a publishing division to your label? Why is it important to the health of your business? Learn from established labels who have successfully launched publishing wings about how and why they got started. Panel Talking Points: When is the right time to add a publishing division to your label? Why is it important? How and Where to Begin. Common pitfalls and how to avoid them? Moderator: Randall Foster (Symphonic Distribution) Panelists: Caitlin Lytle (Nice Life Recording Company), Jack Sills (Stones Throw Records), Trevor Peterson (FireTalk), Tara Shannon (Willow Sound Records)

• 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
  A 360 Look at Merch: What to Sell and How to Sell It? Long gone are the days of a standard t-shirt / album bundle. Today, artists are brands themselves and with this trend comes the opportunity to exploit new avenues while simultaneously building a dedicated fan community. What are the buzziest merch trends in indie music right now? Learn how to create products that are true to your artist and excite their fanbase. Touring with Merch; Trends beyond t-shirts, Legal; Do you own the merch rights? Branding: How can labels use merch to become artist agnostic? Moderator: Sarah Roberton (A to Z Media) Panelists: Andrew Jervis (Bandcamp) David Barnes (Rhymesayers), Vanessa Ferrer (Merch Cat), Fred Feldman (Many Hats Endeavors)

• 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
  ONErpm Presents Battling Short Form Video Content Burnout - How to Stay Creative as the Short Form Landscape Grows Short Form Video content is more important than ever. How to work with artists to target their content specifically for each platform without burning out and losing creative inspiration. Moderator: Casey Childers (ONErpm) Panelists: Julia McLeod (ONErpm), Juliana Otero (ONErpm), Will Cubero (ONErpm), Emily Coleman (META)

• 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
  How Can labels and Managers Protect Artists From Social Media Burnout? And/or manage artists who don't use social media? Gone are the days of the music being enough - with the ever increasing demand for more content from more platforms, all in real time and with an organic approach, artists are reaching the point of burnout at a rapid rate. How can positive boundaries be encouraged, while still keeping artists engaged on social media and feeding those fabases? How can you design a successful strategy that focuses on quality over quantity? What is the process for working with musicians who don't want to have a social presence at all? Moderator: Thomas Sharp Maxwell (IDOL) Panelists: Reed Watson (Singlelock), Hallie Anderson (Rareform), Maria Gironas (ShowUp)

• 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM
  AI Tech Full Circle Innovation; How AI can improve Sync Success and How Music Rights Holders Can Support Innovation. Our experts will delve into the pain points the rights holders and music supervisors face, including slow licensing workflows and growing requests for licensing. Panel Talking Points: Strategies for streamlining these processes and maximizing revenue opportunities. What can be learned from the success production music libraries are having, how to set up your label to meet the demands of today. The latest trends in licensing, technology, and collaboration, and discuss how rights holders can work together to foster growth and innovation Moderator: Cory Sims (CES Music) Panelists: Jessica Powell (Audioshake), Grayson Sanders (Chordal) Additional Speaker TBA

• 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
  Czech Music Scene Overview, presented by SoundCzech The panel Czech Music Scene Overview should give you basic information about the Czech Music Market, and what are the best access points and collaborative ideas to get started. Experts of the different field of music landscape will share their views and suggestions on how to get connected. Moderator Monika Klementová Panelists: Barbora Sikorová, Matěj Burda, Milan Dedera, Radek Vašíček, Jiří Burian

• 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM
  How Do You Manage Mid-Level Catalog? Mid-level catalog, or non-marquee artists, often make up the lion’s share of a label’s IP. Marketing catalog requires a vastly different approach from promoting new releases - how do you successfully market mid-tier releases that don’t have the same familiarity as legacy records, but still have opportunity to be exploited? What is unique to this group of IP? Moderator: Bill Wilson (MNRK) Panelists: Ian Harrison (Hopeless Records), Paola Marinone (BuzzMyVideos), Rosie Lopez (Opus Music Group), Adrienne Mohummed (Open on Sunday)

• 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
  Chartmetric (Lightning Talk) A2IM by the numbers: Chartmetric presents their findings of the report they've done on A2IM Members. Moderator: Domenico Randazzo

• Indie Week After Hours - Wednesday 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  Stem Happy Hour | Partiful @ Foundry Kitchen and Bar
  270 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036

• Indie Week After Hours - Wednesday 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
  Queer Capita's A2IM Indie Week Mixer @ Tara Rose, 384 3rd Avenue

Thursday June 15, 2023

• 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
  Executive One-on-One Meetings

• 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
  The New Sound of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is a country on the move. It boasts a land mass half the size of Europe, a population of 35m, 70% of whom are under 35 years-old and with 98% internet penetration. Seismic cultural and societal change has taken place over the last five years, but much of it under the international radar. This session will explore the new Saudi landscape, its opportunities, its sounds and what the future holds as it emerges as a new music market. Moderator Paul Pacifico (Saudi Music Commission) Panelists Nada Alhelabi (MDLBeast), Hani Al-Banjary (Saudi Music Hub)

• 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
  When To Approach Commercial Radio As An Indie While Indies have a rich history of support at AAA and non comm stations, opportunities for labels at commercial radio shouldn't be overlooked. Approaching big radio can be a viable investment for your artist - it's just about knowing how to identify if and when the time is right. This panel will discuss the benefits of commercial radio support for priority releases, when and how to approach radio as an indie, and what metrics of success look like for big radio hits Moderator: Jessica Weber (co-sign) Panelists: Tyson Haller (Shelter Music Group), Karen Glauber (HITS Magazine), Jesper Skibsby (WARM), Rob Wilcox (Polyvinyl)

• 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
  Web3 Series, Presented by SoundExchange: Intro to Web3 - Vickie Nauman shares actionable information that applies uniquely to the independent community, telling a story through a series of panels. Introductory Remarks: Vickie Neuman (CrossBorderWorks)

• 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
  Web3 Series, Presented by SoundExchange: Fan Engagement Panel Talking Points: How Independent labels are at an advantage to unlock the true potential of an artist. Increasing fan engagement, rewarding superfans, gaming. using blockchain to bring real value and utility to fans. Moderator: Vickie Neuman (CrossBorderWorks) Panelists: Chris Mendez (Pixelynx), Shamal Ranasinghe (Audius), Christopher Sealey (OneOf)

• 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
  Meta Workshop: Diving Into Reels This masterclass will focus on everything you and your artists need to know about the Meta platforms with a deep focus on Reels. Panelists: Emily Coleman (META), Josh Nicoll (META)

• 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
  Inbox Gold: How To Build A Compelling Newsletter This panel will provide a deep dive into the skeletal structure of a successful newsletter, including how to build and maintain your contact list, increase your open rate, and drive further engagement on outside platforms. Hear from those who are leading the way in unique direct-to-reader/ fan communication as they share tips and tricks on how to implement powerful email marketing techniques. Panel Talking Points: Nuts and Bolts on how to build and maintain your database, Who is doing new and interesting things in direct-to-reader/fan communication, Tips, and tricks that can be learned from them. Moderator: Michael Kauffman (Clio) Panelists: Carson Vickrey (Marauder), Erica Johnson (Vydia), Jessica Mitchell (MonsterCat)

• 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
  Web3 Series, Presented by SoundExchange: Monetization Panel Talking Points: How to stimulate different ecomomies around music. What are the important parameters to be considered when creating/selling NFT? How is technology enabling growth and sales? What wallets are more artist-friendly? Cryptocurrency; How to add value to digital goods Moderator: Vickie Nauman (CrossBorderWorks) Panelists: Dan Smith (Armada), Nigel Eccles (Vault), Roneil Rumburg (Audius), Kristin Epstein (Screenwave)

• NOON - 12:45 PM
  Simplifying Digital Royalty Solutions with SoundExchange As the premier technology platform providing royalty solutions for sound recordings, SoundExchange is proud to serve creators everywhere -- including artists, major music companies, and labels. In this presentation, Tiara Guy (Associate Director of Industry Relations & Marketing Operations), discusses how to effectively leverage SoundExchange’s cutting-edge data and technology products and services to make the business of music more simple, more efficient, and fairer. Moderator Tiara Guy

• NOON - 12:30 PM
  A Fireside Chat With Keke Palmer & Vydia's Jenna Gaudio Co-President of Vydia Jenna Gaudio sits down with acclaimed superstar Keke Palmer to discuss her transition to becoming an independent artist. Nearly 20 years and three major label deals later, Keke now releases music through her own independent label with a focus on breaking creative boundaries and genuine storytelling. Jenna and Keke will discuss the challenges of running an independent label, the artistic liberties that come along with it, some of Keke's upcoming projects, and the importance of maintaining ownership on your copyrights.

• 12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
  Strategies/Best Practices for Teasing Audio Early on Social Platforms Early delivery of audio ONLY to social platforms, ahead of official track release dates, is becoming a best practice to pre-promote and tease upcoming single/album releases. Panel Talking Points: Working with your distributor to navigate delivery across social platforms, different delivery preferences of various social platforms, the best timeline for delivery, issues encountered with early delivery/early discovery/artist concerns/etc., and best practices dependent on the social platform. Moderator: Sam Cope (FUGA) Panelists Celia Palau Lodge (Cooking Vinyl), Emily Coleman (META), Courtney Young (Too Lost)

• 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM
  Web3 Series, Presented by SoundExchange: Rights Management Let's get clarity on Rights in Web 3. Panel Talking Points: Problems and potential solutions. Blockchain. Smart contracts; How can they be used? Monetizing music and dealing with music rights in the metaverse. How tech can solve problems with rightsholder payouts Increasing the transparency of the process. Moderator: Vickie Neuman (CrossBorderWorks) Panelists: Daan Archer (Copyright Delta), Deborah Mannis Gardner (DMG Clearances, Inc), Rich Masio (Revelator, Ltd), Matthew Maxwell (SoundExchange)

• 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
  Sustainable Is Attainable For Indie Labels! Presented By MDE US There's an understandable misconception that in order to green your business, you need to spend more money. The panelists for this discussion are here to prove that wrong - this conversation will explore ways to adjust your business to be more sustainable while not sacrificing on profitability or growth. It will also touch upon the deeper, positive effects of making sustainability a standard in your company, including the impact it plays on company culture, employee retention / recruitment, artist relations, consumer engagement, and more.
  This panel is sponsored by Music Declares Emergency US, a group of artists, music industry professionals and organizations that stand together to declare a climate and ecological emergency and call for an immediate governmental response to protect all life on Earth. We believe in the power of music to promote the cultural change needed to create a better future. Moderator: Alyssa Mark (A2IM) Panelists Horst (!K7), Ben Swanson (Secrety Group)

• 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
  Web3 Series, Presented by SoundExchange: Future Focus Panel Talking Points: What does the future of music in the metaverse look like? What's next? Moderator: Vickie Neuman (CrossBorderWorks) Panelists: Speakers from the entire Web3 Series, Presented by SoundExchange

• 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
  Keynote Speaker Jen Masset (Spotify) in Conversation with Molly Neuman (Downtown Music) Jen Masset, Global Head of Indies, Commercial Partnerships, at Spotify, joins Molly Neuman, CMO at Downtown Music, for a conversation about the ongoing innovation to support the needs of independent artists and labels. Jen will discuss her journey through the music industry – from indie label !K7, serving as a founding member of A2IM and helping to launch Indie Week – through to her current role at Spotify where she represents the needs of the Indie community. Reflecting on how the industry has evolved, Jen will share how she, and Spotify, are working to create more opportunities and a level playing field for the industry of today.

• 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
  A2IM Annual General Meeting Join Dr. Richard James Burgess, President and CEO of A2IM and the A2IM Team as they wrap up Indie Week 2023 with the Annual General Meeting. Meet the newly elected board of directors, and featured speakers: Lisa Hresko (A2IM), Vic Zaraya (Concord/A2IM Board President), Angel Labrusse (IMPALA), Noemí Planas (WIN), Jeremy Sirota (Merlin) and Josh Hurvitz (NVG, LLC), Shira Gans (Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment)