2010 Conference Program

NXNE TOWN HALL 2010

Moderator Jake Gold is back with another esteemed panel of industry veterans to take stock of the music business in 2010, covering key issues such as copyright reform, music licensing on the web, the challenges of breaking new acts with smaller marketing budgets, and how in the end, it still all comes down to your relationships.

2 – 4 pm – SECOND CITY

US RADIO SPEED DATING (invite only)

Presented by:

“FM USA” – The NXNE Music Meeting

Presented by:

While radio formats in Canada are narrow, and only certain types of music get airplay, the US radio landscape is much more diverse. In particular, AAA and Non-Comm formats are those in which Canadians generally excel in, though ironically, Canada itself has only a handful of stations across the country in this format. Bruce Cockburn, Alanis Morissette, Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan, Sarah Harmer, Kathleen Edwards, and many more all got their start on radio in the AAA format, and then crossed over to other formats in the USA and eventually onto commercial radio in Canada.

The Music Meeting will offer insight into the inner workings of some of America’s most influential radio programs. Learn to pitch more effectively by learning what those at the top of the radio game look for in a song. Listen to new music alongside the experts and hear what works and why.

2:30 – 4 pm – REGENCY C

Forever Young: Tapping into the Canadian College & University Market

Presented by:

Downtown dives vs. newly renovated student centers with a resident audience. Do you think your band or company could benefit from direct access to the eyes and ears of thousands of young students nationwide? This is everything you need to know about getting on to college or university campus across Canada.

12 – 1 pm – Regency A

SOCAN – The Mountains and Revenue Streams: Earning a living as a songwriter in a shifting music marketplace

CASE STUDY

Presented by:

This panel discussion will review and explain the important revenue streams that songwriters earn from the use of their copyrights. Songwriting can pay the bills. But many artists don’t know where the money is or how to get it. In today’s challenging and shifting marketplace, it’s more crucial than ever to know the ins and outs of rights management and other lucrative revenue streams that come along with writing songs and performing your music. Learn how you can potentially make money from touring, merchandising, synch placements, performance royalties, publishing deals etc. This panel of experts will discuss their experiences in both writing songs, making money from them, knowing where to find the money, and finding new ways to exploit their copyrights and make a few bucks.

12 – 1:30 pm – Regency B

Interstate – 101: US Routing & Touring in America’s Eastern Markets

LIVE PERFORMANCE

Understanding the strategies behind touring your band through America’s eastern markets: New York, Chicago, Boston and how promoters view Canada’s burgeoning music scene as an added value in their clubs.

1 – 2 pm – Regency C

Re:Sound – Do We Owe You Money?

Royalties from neighbouring/performance rights are one of the few areas of revenue growth in the music industry and have become an important part of the compensation picture for recording artists. Yet few artists know much about their rights, and how it all works. The folks from Re:Sound will give a quick primer, explain how to get signed up, and present some of the important work being done to establish the real value that music adds to many businesses, including radio, retail, restaurants and the fitness industry.

12 – 1 pm – Regency D

X

INTERVIEW

The late 1970s saw a rise in American punk rock on the LA scene, and among its founding members are X. They are cited as being among the most influential figures in the punk rock and folk rock scenes, while Rolling Stone named their first two albums among the 500 greatest records of all time.

2 – 3 pm – Regency B

S.A.C. Demo Derby

Presented by:

Get valuable insight and information from professionals in the music business! The demo critique is your chance to meet fellow songwriters and begin or expand your network, while getting personal feedback on your demo from a distinguished panel that can include pro songwriters, A&R reps, publishers, music supervisors, and more.

Demo Derby Panel:

Music of all genres and songwriters of all levels are welcome. It is not necessary to bring a song to attend and hear what the panelists have to say.

Songs must be submitted on audio CD and are selected at random. Submissions can be dropped off in the S.A.C. box at registration or at the S.A.C. booth until 2:30pm on Friday, June 18th 2010. A section is played for the entire group, followed by comments from the panel on the relative merits of each song from both a craft and business point of view. Please include five (4) copies of lyrics with your submission.

Please note that songs are selected at random. There is no guarantee that your song will be chosen.

This event is sponsored by the Songwriters Association of Canada with the financial assistance of the SOCAN Foundation and the Government of Canada through the Creators’ Assistance Program of the Canada Music Fund.

3 – 4:30 pm Regency D

Mudhoney

INTERVIEW

Members Mark Arm and Steve Turner of the legendary Seattle grunge rockers Mudhoney revisit Sub Pop’s early days, the Seattle music scene, their role in the development of grunge and place in the history of music.

3:30 – 4:30 pm – Regency B

Velvet Goldmine: Picking Apart the 360 Deal and Getting Rich on Alternative Revenue Streams

LAW

See the 360 deal from a legal perspective and learn what you may be losing in turning one around. Entertainment lawyers from Canada and the US discuss new alternative revenue streams and how they are coming into play for artists now.

4 – 5 pm Regency A

Race for the Prize: The Competitive World of Synch Placements & Publishing

PUBLISHING

As licensing fees continue to make up more and more of an artist’s primary source of income, how are artists maintaining their rights as songwriters? How do bands split their songwriting credits and royalties? Are synch fees sinking the publishing companies?

4 – 5 pm – Regency C

The NXNE Pitching Sessions – Invite Only

NXNE, in cooperation with CIMA, is pleased to present a new event at this year’s festival, The NXNE Pitching Sessions, These sessions will bring together professionals from all aspects of the industry – music supervisors, booking agents, venue promoters and festival programmers who will take private meetings and hear pitches from established labels and management companies.

11 – 1:30 PM – Thompson Room

McKee Agency Presents: The Beat Makers Panel

URBAN FOCUS

Presented by:

In today’s world of hip-hop & R&B, the producer is becoming just a big a star as the artist. Today’s top Canadian & American hit makers discuss strategy for career longevity and how their career paths differ from their MCing counterparts. Also at hand is the Battle of the Beats and why the competition to put a stamp on the next big beat could make or break a career.

12 – 1 pm – Regency A

The DIY Starter Kit

MARKETING

There is no time like the present to bring out your inner entrepreneur. Some of the best music in decades is being created, the challenge is to figure out how to make a living from it and more importantly who do you need on your side to make it happen? This panel is not about finding a label but finding the right team to do this DIY! Do you need a Manager more than a publicist? What options are open for you to sell your music and why do you need an Aggregator? And what about the add on’s like selling t-shirts and vinyl, and what’s all that chatter about Social Media?

12 – 1 pm – REGENCY B

Case Study: Rock Steady Music – Marketing, Promotion and Artist Development in the USA

MARKETING

The market for music in America is massive. As an artist or a record label, where should you focus your time and money to ensure meaningful return? How can you strengthen your fan base, build consumer awareness and generate media exposure in America? What steps can you take to connect radio promotion, retail marketing, publicity, digital marketing and direct-to-fan development into a cohesive plan?

Rock Steady Music was founded by a group of Ontario based record labels and provides integrated services that can help artists break into America. Join Canadian and US industry reps in an open discussion as they share insight and offer a realistic view of how artists and labels can effectively enter the US market.

12 – 1 pm – REGENCY C

MMF Speed Dating

Presented by:

New this year, the Music Managers Forum presents Speed Dating; an initiative for artists to network their way to success by getting face-time with seasoned music managers. Interested artists can sign up on Friday at the walk-up kiosk in the registration area at the Hyatt Regency Hotel for a Saturday session.

12:00 – 1:00 pm – Regency D

A Festival of Tinnitus: Is that a ringing in my ear or the latest buzz band?

LIVE PERFORMANCE

We’ve all raced to buy passes to a festival because of the stacking of powerhouse artists and wanting to be the first to see a new buzz band live. Booking an emerging artist to a festival can help the promoters sell tickets and earn further support from sponsors, while getting booked by one of these festivals can mean a spike in album sales and heightened media exposure for an artist. Why does an artist get slotted on a festival line up while others don’t? Hear four festival programmers’ perspectives on the subject.

1:30 – 2:30 pm – Regency C

MMF Board Meeting (MMF Members Only) (Invite Only)

Presented by:

1 – 2 pm – Regency D

McKee Agency Presents: What Next: Packaging The Artist in Urban Music

URBAN FOCUS

Presented by:

With all of today’s tools for marketing and promotion, how do artists define themselves as a brand and what are the right steps to take to promote yourself? Canada’s Urban music decision makers discuss how to take your career to the next level of hip-hop and R&B.

1:30 – 2:30 pm – Regency A

FACTOR WORKSHOP

WORKSHOP

Presented by:

The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings is proud to have helped artists, help themselves for the past 28 years. During this interactive session, FACTOR will cover the best ways to apply to the programs, and make a successful application to FACTOR. We’re ready to point you to the money that could make all the difference in your career.

About FACTOR: The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to providing financial assistance toward the growth and development of the Canadian independent recording industry. Funding comes from two sources, The Department of Canadian Heritage’s Canada Music Fund and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.

1:30 – 2:30 pm – Regency B

On the good side of the Tax Man : Understanding Income Tax from Touring (workshop), presented by Fuller Landau LLP Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors

WORKSHOP

Presented by:

Let’s face it – you tour because you want to get your music out there. You’re focused on getting exposure alright, but you’re likely not thinking of the income taxes you’re exposed to when you tour here at home or south of the border. Understanding the tax consequences of earning your living this way can minimize the cost of the tour and put more money in your pocket. And, it doesn’t have to be complicated.

This workshop discusses how proper tax planning can reduce your tax exposure, and provides an overview of the paperwork you need to complete to keep peace with the US and Canadian income tax officials.

3 – 4 pm – Regency B

All The Other Panels At NXNE Are Wrong. Here’s Why.

Watch as five industry veterans as they explain why every other panelist at this conference couldn’t find their way out of a dark closet with a flash light. Do you think this is offensive? It’s probably because you are either a panelist and/or you take yourself and the music business far too seriously. There’s the distinct possibility of full-on adult nudity. Those under 18 must be escorted by a guardian holding a box of Tim Horton’s doughnuts (for the panelists).

2:30 – 3:30 pm – Regency D

How We Got Here: A reflection of how Urban Music in Canada got to where it is today

URBAN FOCUS

Presented by:

From the likes of Maestro & Michie Mee to Dream Warriors, explore how Canada’s pioneers of Hip Hop promoted themselves in the late 80’s/90’s and helped build the Canadian Urban Music scene into what it is today. Presented by McKee and UMAC: The Urban Music Association of Canada.

3 – 4 pm – Regency A

Modern Love: Winning the Online Hearts of Bloggers

DIGITAL

A good review on Pitchfork can boost your album sales to the charts in a day, while coveted reviews on Stereogum and Brooklyn Vegan can catapult your career into the lauded-indie-rock inner sanctum. What these online writers want to hear.

3 – 4 pm – Regency C

UMAC Demo Derby – Please Listen to My Demo!

Presented by:

Music industry experts and heavyweights will listen and critique a sampling of artist music submissions. Enhancing the experience, random members of the audience will either be asked or will volunteer their opinions on the tracks played during this session.

4 – 5 pm Regency D

Moderator

• Dwayne Dixon, VP, UMAC: The Urban Music Association of Canada and owner of Linkage Movement Talent Development Agency

Panelists

• Jeni McKenzie – Radio Personality/Host, Flow 93.5
• Chris Perry – Songwriter/Producer
• Mel Boogie – DJ, Publicist, CKLN Radio Host, Communications Director of UMAC
• Flo King – CEO, toflo.com & Co-Host on Toronto Morning Live – CHRY 105.5FM
• Kyron “Kid” Clarke – Grindin’ Editor, Urbanology Magazine

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