Talks

This panel offers a practical, industry-facing look at how music discovery works today, who holds influence, and how trust, curation, and independence operate beyond a label-first model. Blending cultural history with current marketing and discovery platforms, it explores what artists and managers need to understand about visibility, validation, and long-term value in 2026, brought to life through curated aural snippets tracing decades of discovery. Moderated by Rose M. Crichton-White (Emmy Winner; Hot97, KissFM) to be held at Chelsea Studios, the panel features Dr. Chelsey Green, Chair of the Recording Academy Board of Trustees and Berklee professor, on stewardship and institutional support without gatekeeping; Steve "Rhythm" Clarke, A&R and producer, on early crate-digging and street-level discovery in New York; and The Mixtape Queens, representing the next generation of tastemakers shaping artist discovery through intentional curation and community. Music + sound clips will be woven throughout the panel to contextualize each era of discovery. Presented by Happy Media and NoMad at Chelsea Studios, a state-of-the-art recording and immersive audio space built for contemporary music creation, listening, and cultural exchange, the event reflects a shared commitment to discovery as a living, relational process rooted in trust, taste, and community.