LUCIDMEDIA

Preview: NxNE Conferences

Written by Emily Santos Wednesday, 17 June 2009 10:06

Another large component of North By Northeast is it’s annual conference portion. In these semi-formal settings you can hear from musicians and industry professionals as they talk about the past, look to the future, and maybe even offer advice to up and coming musicians. Looking forward to the talk portion of this year’s NxNE, here are five conferences worth taking in.

The State of the Industry 2009
Thursday, June 18th, 2:30-4:30 pm

It can be hard to see marketing opportunities during a recession, and although there are many challenges that face upcoming artists, there can also be a number of benefits. Company heads from all aspects of the industry will be discussing how new challenges and new opportunities are altering and shaping the business world. Jake Gold, CEO/President of The Management Trust is stopping by Second City to moderate “The State of the Industry 2009.” He will be sitting down with eleven panelists including Denise Donlon, Executive Director of CBC Radio; Jodie Ferneyhough, Managing Director of Universal Music Publishing Canada; Steve Kane, President of Warner Music Canada; and Chris Sisam, General Manager of Corus Radio Toronto, among others.

Spinal Tap No More: Promo from the Pros
Friday June 19th, 12:00-12:45 pm

Struggling to establish your business? Ask any pro and they will tell you it’s all in the presentation. It’s always important to convey yourself in a professional manner when dealing with perspective clients. Joanne Setterington of Indoor Recess pairs up with Publicity phoneme Richard Flohil as they host an informative workshop titled, “Spinal Tap No More: Promo from the Pros.” With a combined experience of over two decades in the business, these two media buffs will teach you how to write a good bio, press release and what to include and what to avoid while preparing a press kit.

To Air is You, Man: Get Played on Radio & TV
Friday June 19th, 1:30-2:30 pm

CBC has already broke ground with their Radio 3’s “Breaking New Sound.”
Partnering with SIRUS radio, they are showcasing Canadian independent music to the rest of world. Featuring a number of indie musicians like The New Pornographers, Howie Beck and Provincial Parks, CBC has helped kick start an interest in indie-friendly radio stations. CBC Radio 3’s Grant Lawrence sits down with panelists Steve Parker of the CRTC, ExploreMusic.com’s Alan Cross, SIRIUS Satellite Radio’s Andreanne Sasseville, CBC’s Kai Black and Bite TV’s Raja Khanna and Andreanne Sasseville as they take a look at new indie radio and television stations growing in Canada. Lawrence and his group of panelists will teach you how to find these stations and how to get your music played on them. Stop by Regency A for this hour-long session.

Media Training: It’s You, Only Better
Friday June 19th, 1:00-1:45 pm

All publicity is good publicity, they say. But is that true? Moderator Joanne Setterington of Indoor Recess talks to six industry professionals including NOW Magazine’s Benjamin Boles, CBC’s Sarah Liss and MTV’s Johnny Hockin about learning the art of the interview. The panelists will teach you how to properly portray yourself and your band. This 45-minute media-training workshop will incorporate real-life examples as this seminar goes through the dos and don’ts while under media speculation. Stop by Regency B and learn how to become a better you. 

Celebrity Interview: GZA (Wu-Tang Clan) interviewed by Fab 5 Freddy
Saturday June 20, 1:00-2:30pm

Grammy-winning hip-hop group, the Wu-Tang Clan, brought the rap scene to the world’s attention. Internationally recognized and respected this multi-platinum group of rap musicians rose to fame with their aggressive sound and confrontational lyricism. Founding member GZA sits down for an hour-long interview with former graffiti artist and American hip-hop historian Fab 5 Freddy. GZA will be sharing his experiences living in the glare of the limelight with Torontoians and he may even provide a few tips and tricks for upcoming hip-hop newbies. Stop by Regency B/C for this intimate interview session.