Jem Aswad, who launched Variety’s music section with executive music editor Shirley Halperin in 2017, has held senior editorial posts at Billboard, MTV News, Spin, Time Out New York and CMJ. He also has worked at three record labels (Atlantic, Warner and Caroline), two record stores, one performing-rights organization (ASCAP) and even helped out at CBGB for a few weeks while one of said labels was filming a documentary there. A lifelong music obsessive, over the years his work has been published in Rolling Stone, New York magazine, the Village Voice, Esquire and other publications. He has won several Los Angeles Press Club and Southern California Press Club awards — including the LAPC’s National Arts & Entertainment Journalist of the Year/ Online for 2022 — appears regularly on television and at conferences speaking about music, and sporadically guest-lectures at Syracuse University’s Bandier Program and New York University. He is based in Variety’s New York office.

I have been creating and operating small independent music venues in New York City for the past 27 years. Our new 300 cap venue Baker Falls will be in the legendary Pyramid Club space in collaboration with Knitting Factory. We will build on what we started with previous downtown NYC community places Cake Shop, The Library Bar, Bruar Falls and alt.coffee. Starting in 1995, we opened one of the first internet cafes in NYC: alt.coffee became a comfortable, welcoming downtown environment in an industry of cold “cyber cafes.” 1998 brought The Library Bar; a beer-and-shot dive bar with an award winning indie-rock jukebox. Then, we opened Cake Shop in 2005; a cafe/bar/record store/venue that helped break bands like MGMT, Vampire Weekend and Dirty Projectors. In 2009, we branched out to Williamsburg Brooklyn to open an outpost called Bruar Falls as a sister club which quickly became a gathering spot for emerging Brooklyn bands and artists. I am an intuitive, fluid self taught marketer who is a straight shooter and I always remind myself how good it feels to be included vs excluded.

President and CEO for the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), Dr. Richard James Burgess MBE has produced, recorded, and performed on many gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums. He was previously head of business at Smithsonian Folkways Recordings where he produced Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology, chronicling the history of jazz and the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap. His career path includes studio musician, touring musician, recording artist, producer, manager, and label owner. He is known for his pioneering work with synthesizers, computers, sampling, EDM, New Romantics, early house music, as the inventor of the SDSV drum synthesizer and for coining the music genre terms EDM and New Romantic. His latest books are, The Art of Music Production: The Theory and Practice, 4th Edition and The History of Music Production (Oxford University Press). Burgess has been listed multiple times as a Power Player and an Independent Power Player by Billboard and has received awards from Music Week, the British Arts Council, the Greater London Arts Association, the Park Lane Group, and the British Council for Education. He was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honors list 2022.

Songwriter/Recording Artist, Internal Affairs Entertainment

Torae, creator and host of ‘The Tor Guide’, on SiriusXM’s Hip-Hop Nation and ‘That Raw’ on LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Radio is the epitome of a multi-hyphenate renaissance man. When the songwriter, actor, rapper, philanthropist and entrepreneur isn’t delivering his daily radio shows listeners the hits or hosting red carpet events and live festivals, he’s interviewing the Kings and Queens of today like Nas, Swizz Beats, D-Nice, Megan The Stallion or Migos, to name a few. You can also find Torae in the New York chapter of the Recording Academy’s President seat. On the recording front, he’s written on gold and platinum albums, scoring a multitude of Hot 100 triumphs. Torae has released eight projects as a solo artist and collaborated with Hip-Hop heavyweights such as DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Hitmaka & DJ Khaled, to name another few. His various acting roles— from the no nonsense ‘Sig Sauer’ in VH1’s ‘The Breaks’ to the poised ‘Beans’ in BET’s hit show TALES—have all been met with critical acclaim. Whether at a podium, on a film set, in a classroom or in a recording booth, Torae will certainly be doing one thing: Dropping jewels..

Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment

Anne del Castillo is the acting commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), which supports the economic development of the city’s creative sectors and nightlife industry. Anne has over 25 years of experience in film production, public media, and arts and nonprofit administration. Prior to joining city government, she was vice president of development and business affairs at American Documentary, producer of the award-winning PBS documentary series POV. As associate director of the Austin Film Society, she oversaw the Texas Filmmakers Production Fund and was part of the initial task force that led the development of Austin Studios. She has served as a panelist for the National Endowment of the Arts, Center for Asian American Media, and New York State Council on the Arts, among others, and presented at industry events, including South by Southwest and the Sithengi Film and TV Market in South Africa. Anne received her BA in English literature and BS in mass communications with honors from Boston University and earned her JD at Brooklyn Law School. She was honored with a Rising Star Award in 2017 and currently serves on the board of women.nyc.

David Castillo has a rich history of curating music across New York City for nearly two decades. The Long Island native is best known as the Event Director for Saint Vitus which opened in 2011. Since then David has established Saint Vitus as a world renowned club praised by the New York Times, Vice, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, Etc. In 2014 he was named one of “Brooklyn’s Most Influential People” by BKMag and elevated to partner at Saint Vitus. Throughout his career, David has executed events working with everyone from niche underground artists to brand partners like Converse, Red Bull, Sonos, Shiner, and Spotify. In 2019, Castillo launched Saint Vitus Presents bringing the Saint vitus brand into rooms around the city.

Growing up in Brooklyn, NY of Guyanese descent, hip-hop surrounded her. Her father Nitti remains a subject of rap legend noted for his work behind-the-scenes with the likes of Fabolous, DJ Clue, and the Desert Storm crew. “Being around him made me want to be in that lifestyle,” she admits. Mom played Lil’ Kim for her, while she discovered Nicki on her own and found a balance between “the whole gangsta attitude and girly-girl Barbie vibe.” “I’m a mom, a female rapper, an entrepreneur, a young boss making her way in a male industry, and I’m living my life,” she leaves off. “I want girls to know my story, listen to my music, and realize you could be a mom and still be a bad bitch. I want you to feel good all around. I want equal power within the field. I’m not coming to play, and I’m not stopping. I’m going to keep going.”

Dhruv is CEO, President, and co-founder of Elsewhere, an independent music club and brand celebrating emerging music and culture. Elsewhere hosts 600+ music events a year, showcases thousands of artists across our stages, draws nearly 300k attendees a year, and is dedicated to self-expression, optimism, inclusivity, diversity, and a world with more joy. Dhruv grew up in Mumbai, India and Connecticut, USA. He studied economics at Yale University and worked for many years in investment management. Dhruv is on the board of the NY Hospitality Alliance, the North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the Leadership Team for BABAR (the BK Allied Bars and Restaurants), and the Board of the Mayor’s Office of Small Business Services. He works closely with numerous elected officials via various nightlife advocacy efforts, having worked with Senator Chuck Schumer on developing the Shuttered Venue Operations Grant (SVOG) which bailed out the independent music industry, and with former Mayor Deblasio to strike down the anti-dancing Cabaret Law in NYC. When he’s not working to help actualize Elsewhere’s cultural vision, you can find Dhruv hiding out at a jazz club, or somewhere remote in or on the ocean.

Alisa Coleman is a senior business executive and innovative thought leader in the music and entertainment industry and has a 30+ year track record and reputation for producing top line growth and bottom-line profits. During her long tenure at ABKCO, she has greatly expanded the exposure of the company’s legendary catalog, increasing its reputation and value, and is known for her innovative deal structures that focus on the long-term value of intellectual property and licensing partnerships. Alisa is an acknowledged expert in the field of intellectual property management, legacy content development, new media innovation, and transformative digital strategy.

Ebro Darden is Apple Music’s Global Editorial Head of Hip-Hop and R&B and a daily host on Apple Music 1. A cultural authority and arbiter of taste in the Hip-Hop and R&B community, Darden has been instrumental in bringing up authentic conversation around music and spotlighting some of the largest artists on the globe.

In his current role, Ebro manages a team of Hip-Hop and R&B editors as they build out editorial plans for artists, albums and song releases on Apple Music. With his own team and cross functional teams, Darden is plugged into the various music communities, seeking out talent in the United States and around the world.

On Apple Music 1, Darden showcases the latest and greatest music spanning genres and has interviewed Bad Bunny, Lil Durk, Lil Baby, Doja Cat, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, H.E.R, SZA, Alicia Keys, Dr. Dre and many more.

He also continues to host Ebro In The Morning, his successful New York morning radio show on Hot97 (WQHT) which airs M- F from 6AM to 10AM.

Jamie Dominguez is a music industry executive with 25 years of experience, specializing in rights management, music publishing, artist development, financial literacy, and education. She is currently Regional Director of Business Development & Artist Relations at Sound Royalties, providing music creatives with with innovative funding options allowing them access to capital without sacrificing ownership of their copyrights or independence. Her professional experience includes 19 years at Music Rights Organization, SESAC. As Senior Director of Creative Services she led the New York-based team in identifying, developing and nurturing their extensive roster of songwriters and publishers. She joined the faculty at Berklee College of Music’s NYC campus, teaching Business and Entrepreneurship in the Creative Space as part of their Master of Arts in Creative and Media and Technology program. She is an advisor for fintech startup company, Katastic, a compliant stock market for intellectual property that will revolutionize financing in the music industry and beyond. She serves on the Board of Directors for Mono Stereo Groove, a creative collective of API music creators and executives whose mission is to amplify and create visibility for the API music community. Jamie is currently Secretary of The Recording Academy’s New York Chapter Board of Governors.

Zach Falkow has been relentless in securing shows of all sizes in NYC and all over the country since his start in the industry over 10 years ago. He holds a master’s in music business from NYU Steinhardt, and as an agent at CEG and now UAA, he booked shows and tours for DMX, Snoop Dogg, Vanilla Ice, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Ja Rule, Ying Yang Twins, Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas, and many more. He has toured the country in his own original bands and his Blink 182 tribute The Dude Ranch, booking them at rooms such as House of Blues Las Vegas and Myrtle Beach, The Fillmore in Charotte and Silver Spring, as well as Firefly Music Festival, Summerfest and Great South Bay Music Festival. He also had a brief foray into the cannabis industry as the head of artist relations at Cherry Kola Farms. He founded CKF’s Artist Series of strains, and oversaw the release of branded strains for Vacationer, Kuzzo Fly of Tha Luniz, and Killah Priest of Wu Tang Clan. Zach is the responsible agent at UAA for Hey Violet, Grace Weber, Have Mercy among others.

Internationally known on the microphone as the “World’s Greatest Entertainer,” Doug E. Fresh is the Original Human Beatbox. His song, “La Di Da Di,” a duet with fellow hip-hop icon Slick Rick, is one of the top five most sampled songs in music history. His hit “The Show” is also a widely sampled hip-hop classic. Nearly a dozen millennial rappers have written Doug E. Fresh tribute songs, most notably the 2009 hit “Teach Me How to Dougie,” which spawned the global “Dougie” dance craze, an ode to moves Fresh created in his native Harlem, NY in the 1980s. His career has remained impressively active for nearly four decades, generating countless awards and a busy schedule averaging 200 live performances per year. On and off the road, Fresh is a lifelong activist, with a proven commitment to using his talents and resources to unite and inspire social justice. Alongside a renowned neurologist and Columbia University professor, he co-founded the globally recognized, award-winning nonprofit, Hip Hop Public Health, which develops free educational, culturally relevant resources to help remedy health disparities and build health equity in underserved communities.

Jennifer Frommer is an award-winning Culture creating expert, immersed in creativity and technology.

Jennifer has engineered award-winning campaigns combining entertainment, fashion, art and technology with some of the world’s biggest artists and brands. Known for creating content that cuts through, her central role has been developing impactful creative platforms merging art with commerce, talent with brands. Jennifer is an expert in creating visual storytelling programs, advertising campaigns and branded content stunts with brands including Jaguar, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Samsung, YSL, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and many others.

She’s created immersive experiences with global superstars including: Lil Nas X, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Adele. She is well recognized in her field for her unmatched expertise in helping brands target Gen Z & millennials with a unique combination of digital and entertainment assets.

Jennifer’s work has been recognized by leading industry and consumer publications from Billboard to Ad Week to the NY Times. She has served on several prestigious juries including the Clio’s and One Show Emerging Directors Showcase. Jennifer sits on the Executive Board of WIE, an influential women’s leadership network that provides professional women with the motivation and learning to succeed in their careers.

Pete Ganbarg is a 2X Grammy award winner and President of A&R for Atlantic Records as well as President of ATCO Records, a division of Atlantic. He joined the Atlantic Records Group as Executive Vice President of A&R in late 2008. A 30+ year A&R veteran and member of the board of directors of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Ganbarg has also held senior A&R positions at Arista, Epic, and SBK/EMI. As a publisher, Ganbarg operates Songs With A Pure Tone and Margetts Road Music, joint ventures currently in partnership with Warner Chappell Music. Songs published by Ganbarg include hits by Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, Katy Perry, Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran, Andy Grammer, Lizzo, Beyoncé, and more. Pete also hosts the podcast "Rock & Roll High School" which features exclusive interviews with legendary figures form the history of contemporary music.

Shira is Senior Executive Director of Policy + Programs at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment. She is the architect of NYC’s inaugural social impact strategy for the music industry pioneering the annual NY Music Month, a $9M fund for female-led creative projects, music career education for high school students, and establishing the first Mayor’s Office of Nightlife. Shira also directs NYC Film Green where she creates resources to help film/TV productions decarbonize and reduce waste.

Shira has spent her career working to address inequality through positions at the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Office of Manhattan Borough President, NYC Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Shira was named a 40 Under 40 Rising Star by City & State, a Climate Leader by Forbes, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Variety, Billboard, Elle, and more. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University.

Melissa Garcia is a Founding Partner at Collective Entertainment. As a talent manager and consultant, she develops careers and strategizes marketing initiatives in order to leverage her clients’ brands to grow their audiences.

Since 2011, she’s worked with numerous clients and companies across the music, sports, and skydiving industries as a project manager, day-to-day manager, tour manager, marketing/social media consultant, and marketing generalist. From 2020-2022, she served as Chief Marketing Officer for nonprofit organization #iVoted Festival where she worked with a team of over 200 volunteers to produce the largest digital concert in history, all in support of voter turnout.

Melissa is an alumnus of NYU’s Music Business graduate program. She is a musician at heart having studied flute, piano, and carillon at the University of Florida. Beyond music, she’s a certified yoga instructor, a licensed skydiver through the United States Parachute Association, and certified SCUBA diver.

In his more than 20 years at RIAA, Glazier has played a vital role in the music industry’s transition to streaming and “anywhere, anytime” access to music.

Before joining RIAA, Glazier served as Chief IP Counsel to the Judiciary Committee in 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 streaming economy that has strengthened and remade the music business for the 21st Century.

A native of Chicago, Glazier served as a Federal Judicial Law Clerk and practiced law at the firm Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg as an associate in commercial litigation. He graduated from Northwestern University and Vanderbilt Law School.

Named to Billboard’s Power 100 list of top music executives, Glazier serves as Chairman of the Board of RIAA, Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Musicians on Call, and serves on the Boards of IFPI, SoundExchange, and Leadership Music. He is an Adjunct Professor at NYU’s Steinhardt School, co-teaching a class in music business.

Andreea Gleeson is the Chief Executive Officer of TuneCore, and a leading innovator in the music industry. She joined TuneCore in 2015 as a member of the senior leadership team and rose to CEO in 2021. Gleeson has helped build TuneCore into one of the most innovative companies in the music industry. Her passionate support of independent artists has driven the implementation of leading-edge product and technology solutions, artist education programs, Best-in-Class artist support and more, establishing TuneCore as the premier development partner for self-releasing artists.

Andreea is also a fierce advocate for gender equality in the music industry, commissioning the annual study BE THE CHANGE: Gender Equality in the Music Industry to identify why independent gender expansive creators remain underrepresented in the music industry, raise awareness on their challenges and provide insights into how to combat them.

Since 2021, Andreea has been included in multiple Billboard Power Lists and in 2022, she was named International Woman of the Year at Music Week’s Women In Music event. Under her guidance as CEO, TuneCore was named the third most innovative company in music by Fast Company, and was included on Crain’s list of the Best Places to Work in New York.

Lynn Gonzalez is an experienced entertainment attorney and music executive. She most recently served as the Executive Vice President and Head of Business Affairs and Business Development at Def Jam Recordings, where she was the label’s lead attorney and oversaw matters for its roster of artists, including Kanye West, Big Sean, YG, and Justin Bieber. Prior to Universal, Lynn was counsel for Atlantic Records and Razor and Tie Entertainment. She also taught music industry and copyright at Hunter College in NYC after beginning her career as an intellectual property attorney at the Wall Street-based law firm, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP. Lynn has a passion for mentoring and was a founder and the president of the Black Women in Entertainment Law Foundation, a non-profit that mentored and funded scholarships for women of color in entertainment law. She is also proud to be a member of the NY Chapter of the Recording Academy, where she serves as a current Chapter Governor. Lynn’s a graduate of New York University and studied at University of Southern California School of Law and the University of Amsterdam School of Law before receiving her degree from NYU Law.

Jillian Hervey is an American multidisciplinary artist and frontwoman of the electronic soul duo – LION BABE. Hervey, studied dance at the New School, where she also became interested in performance art. During her time at the New School, Hervey began working with eventual Lion Babe collaborator Lucas Goodman. LION BABE are known for their unique sound and look blending vintage colors with modern sonics. They started with their break-out single “Treat Me Like Fire” in 2012, which quickly garnered attention across the globe. The success of their major label debut, which included stand out collaborations with Pharrell Williams and Donald Glover led to worldwide recognition and global brand campaigns from Pantene, H&M, MAC Cosmetics and major global festival performances..

The pair have released their independent debut album – Cosmic Wind and headlined their world tour summer of 2019, recently released their 2nd independent visual album – Rainbow Child and currently working on their new album “House of LION BABE”

Ian Holder is Senior Vice President of Creative at Sony Music Publishing. Since joining the company in 2017, Holder has been instrumental in elevating the success of its R&B/Hip-Hop roster across the U.S. and leading SMP’s growing presence in Atlanta, Georgia. He has signed and worked closely with prominent songwriters including Jack Harlow, Moneybagg Yo, Polo G, Lil Tjay, Lil Durk, Felisha King, Nardo Wick and many others. His success and impact can be seen across the charts including Jack Harlow’s chart-topping album Come Home The Kids Miss You, Lil Durk’s album 7220, Polo G’s hit single “RAPSTAR,” and more.

Holder previously spent ten years at BMI, where he served as Director of Writer & Publisher Relations. During his time at BMI he signed celebrated artists including Post Malone, Frank Ocean, Rae Sremmurd, Kiiara, MadeinTYO, Pusha-T, Sage The Gemini, Tyga, and The J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League (Rick Ross, Drake, Nas, 2 Chainz). Prior to joining BMI, Holder worked in A&R at Columbia Records.

Jesse Kirshbaum is a multi-hypenate creative businessman that is focused on the epicenter of entertainment, technology and brand marketing. He started his career finding and developing talent and from there has extensive experience securing talent for concerts, tours and endorsement deals for his various clients and brand partners internationally.

In the same way he is known for helping to break artists, he now focuses on building robust strategies and campaigns for big & emerging brands that wish to break into the mainstream zeitgeist. Jesse is known as one of the top deal makers and thought leaders in the music, tech and brand intersection. He writes Beats & Bytes, one of the more influential weekly newsletters in entertainment and the biggest music newsletter on LinkedIn. His writing is published all across the web and Jesse has regular featured appearances on platforms such as Cheddar, Yahoo Finance, NASDAQ and a regular guest on the podcast circuit.

In 2021, Kirshbaum was hired as the CMO of Dreamstage, a revolutionary music livestreaming company which sold to the French company Deezer. He’s currently back as the CEO of Nue Agency as well as teaching a class at American University’s Business School on The Streaming Revolution.

As President of Verve, Verve Forecast, and Impulse! Records, Jamie Krents took what might sound like an unlikely path to his current role. A professional bassist, Krents started at Verve as a temp between tours in 1998, and eventually worked his way up to running these venerable labels after more than twenty years at the company. His goal is simple: to help provide an environment that feels fair and additive to all artists who entrust these labels with their work. During his years at the Verve Label Group, he has been honored to be involved with artists from Jon Batiste, Diana Krall and Samara Joy to Kurt Vile, Blake Mills, Brandee Younger, Arooj Aftab and many more. Krents also works closely across the Verve and Impulse catalogs and the legacies of artists from John Coltrane and Louis Armstrong to Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. Outside of all things Verve, he still puts in his hours on the bass, hangs with his family and rescue dog, watches a lot of basketball, and calls Brooklyn home.

Since joining Droga5 in 2016, Mike Ladman founded and developed the Music Department managing music and audio capabilities across the agency and client roster. During this time, Mike has helped lead the agency to win over 50 music and advertising industry awards, notably four Cannes Lions, two D&AD Pencils, four Clios including the Grand Music Clio, seven AMP awards, an Emmy nomination among others, across Droga5 clients such as Google, The New York Times, Facebook, Hennessy, Levi’s and others. He has created and supervised music across global campaigns including work for the Super Bowl, Olympics, Grammy’s Oscar’s, Emmy’s, and Presidential Election. In 2018, Mike was named one of Billboard’s Top Branding Power Players. He has been an international music delegate around the world at music festivals and conferences in Denmark, Amsterdam, Israel, Brazil, Mallorca and more. Prior to joining Droga5, he was a Music Producer at McCann for nearly seven years, where he provided music for clients, such as Microsoft, the United States Army, Verizon, MasterCard and more, across the agency’s roster. In his free time he DJ’s under the alias DJ PuppyHiccups.

Drew de Leon is the Co-Founder and Chief Community Officer for a global music and tech community called The Digilogue. He's also a partner and President of an indie music distribution company called MPR Global recently known for breaking the artist Muni Long and receiving a Grammy for "Best R&B Performance".

He's formally the Head of Digital Marketing at Alamo Records and the Director of Digital at Def Jam. With over 13 years of experience in the music industry, he's lead digital for artists such as Rod Wave, Lil Durk, Nas, Teyana Taylor, Pusha T, Danileigh, and Alessia Cara.

In 2010, Drew started the music agency Blank Label, where he developed artists through digital marketing and brand partnerships. Starting in 2016, he co-founded the global music and tech community, The Digilogue, with a belief of paying it forward for indie artists and rising music professionals. The Digilogue programs music educational conversations, career resources, and artist discovery content.

Outside of music, Drew is also a basketball and soccer enthusiast. He loves the Knicks and Liverpool FC. He also actively embraces his Filipino heritage and enjoys spending quality time with family and friends.

JC Losada, “Mr Sonic”, is one of the most influential producers/engineers in Latin Music. Originally born in Venezuela, he is a multi-Grammy® and Latin Grammy® award-winner and he has been awarded with nearly a dozen Platinum and Gold RIAA certifications for his collaborations with artists like Santana, Shakira (Waka Waka), Ricky Martin , Prince Royce , Natalia Jimenez , Luis Enrique , Los Amigos Invisibles, Jon Secada , Chayanne, among many others. He has credits in over 25 Grammy and Latin Grammy-nominated albums, including two Album of the Year nominations, one for Best Engineered Album, Best Tropical Album, Best Pop Album, Best Latin Alternative Album, Best Classical Album, Best Instrumental Album, and more.

As an artist, he blends different genres and cultures to create a unique and contagious sound that transcends demographics. 80’s synths with Dancehall and Afro beats, or Disco Music with Reggaeton beats, are just a few of the unexpected yet thrilling sonic journeys he will take you through. Combined with the amazing vocal blends and catchy hooks he creates and performs with his collaborators, the result is a music experience that has been changing the sound of Latin Music for over two decades.

Owner, MeanRed Productions | Board President, New York Independent Venue Association

Known for alternative venues, thoughtful curation and generally existing on the edge by her own volition or not! Operating as an independent promoter for 16 years and in the live music industry for 20+. MeanRed Productions produces concerts and events in NYC and Detroit -notable shows include: Diplo at Summerstage, Kaytranada in a Dim Sum Restaurant, Moodyman in a Bed Stuy dance club, Travis Scott in an former auto parts factory.

Nari Matsuura is a partner and co-leader of the Music Economics and Valuation Services Practice. She has transformed the custom and practice of music valuation and supports most of the institutional funds transacting in this market. In 2022 alone, she led over 400 music asset valuations valued at over $9 billion.

Nari performs full-scale valuations of music publishing and recorded music assets on behalf of buyers, sellers, and lenders. Her valuation clients include major music funds, music publishers, record companies, banks, business managers, estates, as well as the creators themselves.

Nari has over 20 years of experience as an economist in the music industry, including valuation, litigation economics, process evaluation, performance income forecasting, cost analysis, strategy, evaluating new business opportunities, and developing license models.

Previously, Nari was a partner at Massarsky Consulting, which joined Citrin Cooperman in 2022. Prior to joining Massarsky in 2001, Nari was a concert pianist and recording artist, widely recognized for her performances in major venues throughout North America and Asia.

Ali McCloud is the VP, Live Music Partnerships (North America) at DICE and has 20 years of experience in technology sales, revenue growth strategy and management within the ticketing and live entertainment space. At DICE she focuses on building long-term relationships with strategic live entertainment partners across the world to ensure they are maximizing revenue through DICE’s entire suite of products, services, and event discovery app. Prior to joining DICE, Ali held senior roles at Flymachine, Eventbrite Music, Ticketfly and Ticketmaster. Ali also started and ran a small, independent fashion business and was an adjunct professor of marketing and management at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Professor and Director, Music Business, NYU Steinhardt

Larry Miller is a professor of Music Business at NYU Steinhardt where he is director of the Music Business program. He is a music and technology entrepreneur, advisor, producer and host of the Musonomics podcast. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on music entrepreneurship, music analytics, strategic marketing, global music management and the business structure of the music industry. He advises music creators and rights holders on public policy and litigation and provided expert testimony before the United States Copyright Review Board and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Larry supports media and technology companies and their financial sponsors on capital formation and music catalog acquisitions, digital product and service development and restructuring. He is the author of “How Streaming Has Impacted the Value of Music” and “Same Heart/New Beat: How Record Labels Amplify Talent in the Modern Music Marketplace.”

He earned an MBA at Columbia Business School, and BA at Brandeis University.

Larry a proud board member of the Newport Festivals Foundation and the Louis Armstrong House Museum. He is also a Clio Award-winning voice actor.

Travis Montaque is a serial entrepreneur that believes in building businesses in the context of his values. He is the co-founder and CEO of Group Black, the largest Black-owned media collective and accelerator focused on dramatically transforming the face of media ownership and investment. He is also the founder and CEO of Holler Studios, a full-service animation production studio and creative agency. Most recently, he launched and founded Crater, a first-of-its-kind creator network that accelerates next-wave culture. As an industry leader laser-focused on nextgen tech, media, and DEI; Montaque has been recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30, Adweek’s Media Executive of the Year, AdAge’s Diversity & Inclusion Champion of the Year, Entrepreneur Magazine’s Most Daring Entrepreneurs, CSQ NextGen 10, and led Holler to place on Fast Company’s 2020 Most Innovative Companies List and Group Black to Fast Company’s 2023 Most Innovative Companies.

maximum) Marcus J. Moore is an accomplished music journalist, editor, curator, pundit and author of “The Butterfly Effect: How Kendrick Lamar Ignited the Soul of Black America.” He’s currently working on his next book, “High and Rising,” a cultural biography of De La Soul.

Marcus has been a contributing writer with The Nation and a senior editor with Bandcamp Daily, an editorial platform he helped establish. He now co-leads the jazz-focused “5 Minutes That Will Make You Love…” series at the New York Times.

Elsewhere, his music coverage can be found at NPR, Pitchfork, TIME, Entertainment Weekly, GQ, The Washington Post and Rolling Stone, among other outlets. He has his own monthly column at TIDAL called The Liner Notes, where he writes about esoteric music and key figures from all eras and genres.

Rev. Moose stands at the forefront of developing artists and organizations from around the world. His boutique music marketing firm, Marauder, customizes long-term strategies and services for each client’s specific needs in the North American market. Through his work running Independent Venue Week in the US, Moose helped create NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) to organize and support American independent venues and promoters. Before founding Marauder, Moose greatly extended the international reach of The Syndicate’s radio, publicity, and marketing departments; additionally, during his many years at the helm of CMJ, he helped develop US programs for national export initiatives. His deep involvement with worldwide musicians inevitably directed him towards managing a diverse roster of international artists as co-owner of The Underground Management.

Chisaram (Chissy) Nkemere currently serves as the Global Chair of Education at Women in Music after spending 2.5 years as the organization’s first Global Co-Chair of Diversity & Inclusion. She also serves on The Recording Academy’s New York Chapter Advocacy Committee, a member of The Music Business Association’s Education Committee, as a Valence Spotlight and mentor, and recently served as a member on the Junior Board of The Music Business Association, focusing on the empowerment and education of the music community as a whole.

Over the course of the last three years, Chissy has dedicated herself to building out Women in Music’s first ever Executive Internship program. The internship feeder leverages WIM’s community and industry network to give paid career and educational opportunities throughout music to a diverse group of intern applicants who lack traditional access to joining the industry.

Chissy’s focus as an executive in music has led to her participation in several panels & industry discussions on leadership, minority representation/amplification, opportunity creation, & her own intersections as a young, Black woman in music.

Liz Norris is a Partner at Activist Artists Management. As head of Activist’s New York office and Media and Brand Strategy Department, she is instrumental in advancing and sustaining the careers of all of Activist’s clients.

Activist Artists Management is a top-tier, full-service Music and Film/TV talent management, integrated media and advisory firm founded on the belief that artists, actors, and brands can create positive change in the world. Activist’s clients include The Lumineers, Empire of the Sun, the Grateful Dead, Dead & Company (co-manager Azoff/Moir), Bobby Weir, Dwight Yoakam, The Pretty Reckless, Young The Giant, Brittney Spencer and Michael Franti & Spearhead, as well as iconic actors Ken Watanabe and David Alan Grier, screenwriters Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean, Godzilla Vs Kong), Jeff Eastin (White Collar), Oscar-winning media company Lion Forge Animation (Hair Love), the Southern Poverty Law Center and Human Rights Watch. Additional areas of focus include Media Rights Consulting for All Elite Wrestling, Cannabis Advisory, Branding and Licensing Consulting, a Family Office Practice.

As the firm’s name suggests, Norris and her team are committed to making a positive impact on the world through activism.

Kim Osorio is an executive producer for shows such as Love and Hip Hop, Growing Up Hip Hop, Hustle In Brooklyn, etc. Also the former Editor In Chief of The Source magazine, she is a Hip Hop journalist and cultural ambassador.

Adrian Perry is a partner in Covington & Burling’s NY office. Adrian’s practice focuses on transactional and advisory matters involving emerging and innovative uses of technology, intellectual property, and data. He is a recognized practitioner in the entertainment, music, sports and technology industries, and is co-chair of the firm’s Entertainment and Media Industry group, one of the leaders of the firm’s Metaverse Initiative and co-chair of the firm’s Music Industry practice. Adrian is also part of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things initiatives, advising on deals involving AI-powered and internet-connected products.

Adrian is ranked by Chambers and Partners in the Technology – New York category. Chambers’ notes “Adrian is business-minded, consistently collaborative and delivers actionable guidance.” He has also been selected by Law360 as a Rising Star in Sports and Betting, and recognized multiple times by each of Billboard as a Top Music Lawyer, The Hollywood Reporter as a NY Power Lawyer, and Variety in its Dealmakers Impact Report and Legal Impact Report.

Vernon Alphonsus Reid (born 22 August 1958) is an English-born American guitarist and songwriter. Reid is the founder and primary songwriter of the rock band Living Colour, Reid was named No. 66 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 2003 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Living Colour’s 3rd album “Stain” and the 35th anniversary of the release of their signature, Grammy-winning anthem, “Cult of Personality.”

Jillian Rothman is the Vice President of New Business & Ventures at Warner Music Group where she leads partnerships, strategies and development across gaming, the metaverse, and emerging media and technology. Additionally, Jillian helps manage WMG’s corporate venture fund, which invests in early-stage companies that will drive the evolution of our industry. Prior to this role, Jillian served as an attorney at Ropes & Gray, LLP, and clerked on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. A graduate of the University of Michigan two-times-over, Jillian is a native of New York City, which she says is the world’s best place to escape, but also to return.

Jazz/blues singer Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker born into a musical family. Her father, Luis Russell, was a legendary pianist/composer and bandleader and Louis Armstrong’s long-time musical director. Her mother Carline Ray was a pioneering multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who performed with the all-female swing orchestra “The International Sweethearts of Rhythm in the 1940s, pianist/composer Mary Lou Williams and arranger/orchestra leader Sy Oliver, among many others. Ms. Ray was a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music and The Manhattan School of Music.

After graduating from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Catherine began recording and touring as a back-up singer. She’s worked with many artists including David Bowie, Jackson Browne, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Rosanne Cash, John Pizzarelli, and Steely Dan with whom she still works.
As a solo artist, Catherine has released eight albums. Two of her albums, “Harlem On My Mind” and “Alone Together” earned Grammy nominations for Best Vocal Jazz Album.
Catherine has taught at Berklee College of Music and the New School, and also maintains a busy touring schedule in the US and Europe.

Peter Schwinge is the Co-Founder and CEO of Nybac Media / Music Industry City which is home to the annual Future Music Forum: Barcelona conference. He is also the host and broadcaster of numerous digital programs focused on inspiration, innovation, and information for the music business. Peter has spoken extensively on the future of music and technology including Web3, NFTs, and the Metaverse. Prior to his current ventures, Peter was a Partner and General Manager of New Music Seminar  and New York Nights Music Festival. He received a Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Sound Recording Technology and Performance from the University of Massachusetts and later, a Master’s degree in Music Business from New York University.

Erika Stallings is a senior counsel at Epic Games where she is the lead attorney for Bandcamp, an online record store and music community where passionate fans discover, connect with, and directly support the artists they love. She has previously held positions at Meta Platforms, Inc. and Broadcast Music, Inc. She currently serves as the co-chair for the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Associate Board. She is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where she was the recipient of a Morehead-Cain Scholarship.

Datwon Thomas is the Editor-In-Chief of VIBE and Vice President of Cultural Media for Penske Media Corporation. Datwon has held positions as Founder and Editorial Director of the men’s lifestyle guide, KING Magazine, the urban car enthusiast’s favorite, RIDES Magazine and was the Editor-in-Chief of hip-hop’s street authority, XXL Magazine. In addition, he’s also presided as Founder/Editorial Director of XXL Presents Hip-Hop Soul, a publication dedicated to documenting the successful hybrid genre of R&B and Hip-Hop. These trailblazing information outlets boasted a collective circulation that climbed into the millions.

Attorney / Clinical Associate Professor of Music Business, NYU

Judy Tint is a music attorney, educator, and musician. A graduate of Rutgers College and Columbia Law School, she represents recording artists, songwriters, producers, independent labels, DJs, and other music-makers, from unknowns to icons. She has served on the faculty of the NYU Music Business Program since 2008. Judy is Chair of the American Bar Association’s Forum on The Entertainment and Sports Industries, and a member of Leadership Music’s Class of 2020. She has made numerous trips to Capitol Hill as an advocate for artists’ rights, and has lectured extensively on various topics in the entertainment field, for organizations including SXSW, Practicing Law Institute, Women in Music, New Music Seminar, CMJ Music Marathon, MusiCares, and NOLA Music Tech.

Judy is also a musician and songwriter. She has provided vocals and percussion for a variety of recordings, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theater, Radio City Music Hall, The Ryman Auditorium, Broadway’s Palace Theatre, Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, and numerous other venues throughout the country and beyond. Her television appearances include NBC’s “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and multiple PBS music specials. She is a firm believer in the power of music to change the world. #havetambourinewilltravel