2008 CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival - New York City

Past panel topics have ranged from touring green to breaking out within the world of Web 2.0 to DIY promoting on shoestring budgets to the art of the remix to the industry's metalhead minority to the fine line between high concept and silly gimmick for on-stage antics to China's music business to the intersections of graffiti and hip hop, sex and hip hop, and misogyny and hip hop to defining that elusive yet ubiquitous term "indie rock."

Panelists and keynote speakers from previous Marathons include David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, Brian Wilson, Al Franken, KRS-One, Yoko Ono, Johnny Rotten, Tori Amos, Moby, Chuck D, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Janeane Garafalo, Johnny Marr, Fred Durst, Mark Cuban, Robert Christgau, Nic Harcourt, John Cale, Chubby Checker, Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Run.

MUSIC BUSINESS
Thank God We Got Dropped	...there's a statement you hear more and more everyday. Panelists here will try their hardest not to bash their former dwindling labels while giving the audience a dose of reality about being signed to a major label.
A Day in the Life of a Major Music Publisher	If you've ever wondered EXACTLY what a music publisher does on a daily basis, you don't want to miss this panel. As record labels struggle, the music publishing roll grows more and more important for elements such as placement, A&R, and added revenue streams.
Major Label Outlook - What's Left?	The business paradigm is shifting for major labels. Fewer signings, 360 deals, and a concentration on New Media are just a few pieces to an ever-changing puzzle. Here, we play the part of fly on the wall inside the offices of today's major labels.
Upstreaming and Downsizing	The game-plan has changed today for both Indie and major labels. Major Labels are looking to the Indies to get bands out of the gate, while Indie labels look at major labels to pick up options. This panel discusses the new strategies of the upstreaming process along with its dynamics.
Major Label A&R Discussion and Demo Critique	We know how fans are discovering new music, but how are labels discovering new music? A&R topics will be discussed followed by a good ole demo throw-down critique.
It's Broken, Fix It	This panel will be an in-depth discussion on new models of the music industry and how it can become profitable and fair for all.
Essential Resources For Independent Labels	Running a real deal independent label isn't easy. Yes, there are ways now to cut corners, but you can easily spin your wheels for years on various mistakes. Come find out about some great resources out there from our expert panelists who have made the trek.
Artist X The D.I.Y Route	This panel moderated by an artist, takes the audience on an artist ride through a D.I.Y. system in the fashion of a timeline. The players - manager, publicist/marketing person (Indie hired out), producer, radio promo- (Indie hired out), licensing person.
Artist X The Indie Label Route	This panel moderated by an artist, takes the audience on an artist ride through the Indie Label system in the fashion of a timeline. The players - Label President/Owner, Manager, Promotion/Marketing Person, Producer, Publisher.
Artist X the Major Label Route	This panel moderated by an artist, takes the audience on an artist ride through the major label system in the fashion of a timeline. The players - Manager, Publicist (or New Media) at label, Producer, Radio Promo, Marketing Dir, A&R.
The Music Supervision Evolution and Master Critique	Licensing music is a great way for any artist to gain ground. Walls have been torn town with the digital age and music supervisors are turning to Indie artists with great sounding masters. Drop your master recording in one of the "Mood Boxes" to be randomly critiqued at the end.
Avenues for Music Placement	This informative panel will expose innovative ways and resources for getting music into film, TV and other media channels.
Mixing in the Box	An In-depth conversation on the technique of mixing music without a mixing console. Plugins, DAWs, tips and tricks will all be covered on this forum.
Writing Jingles and Other Ways to Make $ and Not Be Cool	If you're an independent producer or musician, there are many new opportunities out there to generate income streams. The digital age has enabled crafty people to turn beats, songs and noise into "works for hire".
The Basics Of An Effective Online Ad Campaign	Online advertising campaigns are in their infancy stage with regards to the future of music. In an open discussion form, this panel will start with the basics and continue on to discuss more in-depth info and strategies.
Internationally Licensing the Future	There's been recent positive forward motion to make international licensing easier and more lucrative for independent entities. The European Commission is mandating what will be known as the "Pan European" system which will blur boarders and institute a "one-stop" licensing shop for international territories. Not everyone's happy. Open the floodgates...
Music Licensing Reform - Digital Cell Block: Section 115	The compulsory mechanical license allows for the reproduction and distribution of any commercially released non-dramatic musical work. Section 115 governs the terms and conditions for these activities, including the royalty payments. It's obvious to many that the current antiquated system of collecting royalties does not work well in the digital world. It's crucial that legislation reforming the music licensing system respect creators' property rights. Let the conversation begin...
You're An Artist. Who's on YOUR "Team"?	Here we focus on a most important factor of your career as an artist... how to build a successful team around "you". From your girlfriend taking emails at shows, to your publicist utilizing those email addresses; you can't go it alone but you can control your business.
A Performance Rights Organizations Workout	Misconceptions and confusion about performance rights organizations are always evident in the music industry. This discussion will cover the basics about performance rights and royalties, and then lead to more in-depth content including the blurry international factor.
The Keys to Driving a Cost Effective Recording	With the cost of DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations such as Pro Tools) going down, it's possible in today's age to record high quality audio compositions for a nominal investment. However, many musicians and artists fall short when recording on their own. Some of the biggest songs in the past few years have been recorded either wholly or partially in a small project studio environment or even a hotel room. We'll uncover some specific tricks, ideas and gear that will bring your recordings to the next level. Find out what it takes to capture and create a sound that will get you out of Demoville.
The Ad Based and Subscription Based Models Dissected	The basic Ad Model is based on letting users consume music for free in return for viewing advertising. There are many opinions on whether or not this concept will hold, and many say the numbers don't add up. While the Subscription Model has been around for a while, it's now starting to take on a new life with emerging companies, concepts and technologies. Here expert panelists will converse about these models along with their pros and cons.
Online Video: How to Successfully Rise Above the Noise	Online video is a key component to any developing artists? marketing arsenal, but there are many hoops to jump through to really leverage its power. Ultimately, music video distribution via multiple sharing sites and social networks can lead to commercial radio spins, a global fan base and additional revenue channels. It?s figuring out how to get noticed and rise above the noise that?s the hard part. This panel of industry insiders has strategic tips on how to engage your fan base, drive play counts, create traction and buzz, and, essentially, get the publishers to work for you through collaborative promotions.
Understanding Mastering	Mastering; always a touchy subject. Why? Because it's complicated, it can be expensive, and it makes a huge difference as the last part of the recording process. This expert panel will expose modern mastering issues and techniques while the process is explained.
Artist Managers: The New Labels?	The roll of the manager has drastically changed over the recent years. With many labels downsizing, artist managers have found themselves having to pick up the slack. Panelists will discuss these new rolls of artist management.
Everything PR Minus the Music	The visual, verbal and textual message an artist sends to a target audience is a very important element of any music campaign. These panelists know what it takes to clearly and effectively convey a clear message to a target audience for an artist.
A New Media Fat Trimming Session	Overwhelming fatty web content is everywhere. From falsely pumping your Myspace plays, to strategically connecting your social networking web; this panel cuts through and gets right to the lean meat of infiltrating your target audience in web 2.0.. and what you really need to know.
Independent Success Stories	Hear some positively enlightening stories on how these D.I.Y.'ers took it to the streets, and then to the next level.
Bands as Brands	For an artist just starting out, one of the smartest concepts to live by is considering yourself a brand. In the next ten years, you will need to figure out non traditional ways to make money. By branding your business as an artist, you are more likely to profit from revenue streams off the beaten path.
Sponsorship: A Futuristic Music Industry Strategy	Effectively pairing the right artists with the right brands can lead to lucrative and mutually beneficial end results. What are some of the newest concepts around this fast growing strategy? What happens when the marriage goes south?
Three Hundred and Sixty Degrees: A Discussion with the Managers of MMF	The now famous (or infamous) "360 deal" is a pretty common term. What are the actual parameters involved with this kind of relationship? All issues and topics will be discussed by people living it.
Global Mobile Music Business	Here we are; 2008 and directly downloading music, games and powerful aps onto our phones. Experts say that revenue will increase in this market dramatically in the next 5 years. Many layers of this business will be discussed in this Panel.
If I Only Had Some Funding	Artists and managers are finally starting to figure out that a label sometimes is nothing more than a bank. If you've got the goods, why not just get some funding and control your own destiny? Find out some ways to raise.
The Stinging Reach of the RIAA: Don't Taze Me Bro	The methodology and practices of the RIAA's lawsuits have been both celebrated and challenged. Do music consumers really understand the people affected by downloading and sharing illegal music? Can labels justify the old profit margins and reasoning behind not embracing the digital age sooner? Bring your opinions as this will be an open sounding board for our panelists.
Digital Distribution: Management, Misconceptions and Realities	Are we setting ourselves up for a digital distro backlash? Is the fact that ANYONE can sell songs on iTunes cluttering up the bandwidth? For every song up on any digital distribution engine, there's a monster behind the scenes. Millions of lines of data are rifled through the bandwidth tube for meta-data management, trans-coding, error management, content ingestion and sales reporting. The process takes human resources to implement and maintain, and at the end of the day... it ain't cheap, and it ain't easy. Learn and listen to insightful thoughts and opinions from the pros of the digital distro trenches.
Go Cheap or Stay Home: A Cost Effective Touring Symposium	It used to be: Get in the van > rock a club > sell CDs from said rocking > fill tank, eat, sleep, repeat. Wait, no one is buying CD's and gas prices are over $4/gallon? This panel will assess the current state of the touring independent artist, and aim to collectively shed some light on effectively squashing gig-obstacles.
RADIO
Unformatting the Radio Formats	This panel goes into deep discussion on the evolution of commercial "Radio Formats". It will precisely discuss current trends and formats along with what is and isn't working in today's markets.
Small Stations - Big Obstacles	For every huge radio station in a city, there are many low-watt'ers fighting the good fight. Small town stations (including internet stations) share common problems such as budgeting, staffing, promotions and community involvement to name a few. This panel will discuss some of these obstacles while collectively acting as a sounding board for constructive ideas.
The Internet Music Broadcasting Dilemma	New royalty rates for webcasters have recently been imposed by copyright judges (CRB) and have started a firestorm of opinions. These royalties which are separate than that of terrestrial stations affect labels, artists and broadcasters. Here we sift through the facts to discuss this important topic.
TECHNOLOGY
Grabbing Web 2.0 By the Horns	Social-networking, wikis, vlogs, folksonomies... HELP! WEB 2.0 simplified, explained and embraced.
The Evolvement of Social Networks and Music	The relationship between music and social networks is still gaining momentum. As technology evolves, so does the potential for groundbreaking music. Our panelists converse about current and future trends.
Gadgets for Tweakheads and the next big thing...	All right, so you've blogged, you've vlogged, you've got your own "Rock Band" now and you're racking up some serious points. Your latest version of the iPhone and its aps are starting to get boring; so what's next? What are the next big shifts and trends around the corner in media that will continue to quench thirsty tech savvy minds?
The Best Ways To Discover The Best New Music	An information sharing forum on places and new ways to connect with music, artists and fans.
Web 2.0, Music 2.0, and the Blog Factor	This IS NOT just another panel about how blogs are exposing new acts. The discussion here is about relevance and credibility. Some bloggers and blog sites now have the capability to help an unsigned act fill a room or sell records and products on their own to the masses. Meet the virtual gatekeepers.
Music and The Video Game Takeover	Video games are fast becoming the new radio and distro outlets of the 21st Century music industry. Mega-bands such as Metalica are even releasing full LPs in video game formats. Our expert gamer panel will cover many relevant topics trends and issues.
Cost Effective Music Video Insurgence	Music videos are back and in full force minus one aspect, you don't need a label or megabucks winnings to make a good one. This forum technically and creatively discusses ways to cut some corners while maintaining a professional finish.
Hi Fidelity for the Future	This panel is an in-depth conversation and demonstration on the future of hi fidelity listening. If you're a fan of sonic maximization, you don't want to miss this panel.
GENRE SPECIFIC
A Jazz State of the Union Forum	This panel will deliver compelling conversation about changes in jazz music along with the state of the jazz industry.
A Blues State of the Union Forum	This panel will deliver compelling conversation about changes in Blues music along with the state of the Blues industry.
Reaching The Potential of Reggae	Reggae is an isolated sector in terms of "the industry". Some say the genre could be so much more if promotions were more organized and facilitated properly. With so many worldwide fans, how can soldiers' of this genre pull together to keep the great music moving forward?
Vinyl Boomerang or Vinyl Hype?	Is Vinyl really coming back? It depends on who you ask.
Breaking Through The Cluster of Beat Makers	Guess what? Everyone's making beats- it's not tough these days. What's tough, is making beats that break away from the pack. Killing that freshest new joint is what it's all about - find out what THAT is all about.
Blog Hop and the Digital Factor	Between blogs, social networks, and file-sharing, the Internet has affected the music industry at every level and in every genre, especially hip-hop where the longstanding tradition of mixtapes has even gone digital. Here we'll discuss hip-hop's digital revolution, which blogs have cred and why, how such sites are impacting the genre's landscape and other pertinent digital topics regarding the genre.
POLITICAL / SOCIAL
Music and Disasters	Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 tsunami, The recent earthquake in Chengdu China; these are just a few of the many natural disasters that have affected millions of people. This panel will openly discuss how music has a way of bringing people together while raising funds to help soften the blow of these tragedies.
What Happens After November 5th?	We've voted. We've done our part. What happens now and how do we stay on track? This interestingly opinionated crew will zoom in on post election topics in a round-table question/response format.
Music for Change	Sounds simple right? Well it's not. This group will go behind the scenes to brainstorm more ways for artists and musicians to promote beneficial changes across the layers of our social, economical and political landscape.
The Political Spin on the Music Industry	What do Barack Obama, John McCain and RIAA all have in common? "Change!" This panel is sure to set off some fireworks as it pulls up the political roots of music and exposes the affects of each party with their regard to the music industry. Believe it or not, lobbyists are pushing new laws that would change many aspects of the business and music as we know it. Our expert panelists will shed interesting light on possible political scenarios and how they would intertwine with the laws, policies, and ethics of intellectual property... and beyond!
Raging Against The Political Machine	Biodesiel is niche at best, Tibet's still not free and peace was never properly given a chance. So why do politically-motivated musicians attract so much attention when results are rarely quantifiable? Experts in both fields discuss how to effectively create change using music in an increasingly confusing political climate.
ARTIST ORIENTED
How, Where and Why I Wrote That Song	This round of songwriters will perform and talk about the inspiration behind some of the great songs they have written.
Current Independent Culture Through the Eyes of True Indie Pioneers	Some are saying that with the decline of the major label system, there will soon be an insurgence of more successful independent record companies and independent artists. This panel will dive into the minds of and experiences of Indie warriors prying out information to forecast the prospective future climate of music and other art forms of the independent landscape. Discussions will include everything from personal views to personal experiences and will focus on where the independent music scene is headed
INTERNATIONAL
What's It Like Over There?	This Panel of International Artists and music industry professionals will be discussing their respective international music scenes in depth. The goal here is to expose resources, programs, and information for aspiring international artists and industry professionals.
CLE
SHOW ME THE MONEY: UNDERSTANDING THE CURRENT CONTROVERSIES OVER BROADCAST AND DIGITAL MUSIC ROYALTIES	Amid growing demand for internet radio, interested parties have gone to battle over how royalties should be paid. Disputes continue over performance royalties for terrestrial and Internet radio. DiMA, publishers, labels and others rumble over royalty payments for streams, downloads and other digital uses of music. This panel will examine the current controversies (and anticipated controversies) affecting music royalty schedules and provide some guidance as to how these controversies may be resolved.
SOCIAL DISTORTION: USING MUSIC ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES	Users on social networking sites like MySpace, Bebo, Imeem, Friendster, Facebook, and mobile-based services are able to create public or private profiles displaying both original content as well as videos, music and images that are owned by other parties. As a result, various legal issues arise pertaining to a user's right to display or perform the intellectual property of others on his or her profile where it can be seen and heard by other users. This panel will discuss the types of licenses needed to use un-edited third party content, the deals which have been cut between these sites and copyright owners, and the limits of fair use.
BROKE: HOW THE BANKRUPTCY OF A RECORD LABEL CREATES DANGER, UNCERTAINTY AND OPPORTUNITY	Both major and indie labels are taking a hit from the music industry's financial slump, and at least one well-established "mini-major"indie label has been forced to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. How does the bankruptcy of a label affect artists, licensees and licensors? Are there opportunities for buyers to acquire assets of a bankrupt label, and how does these work? Are such acquisitions royalty free? This team of experts will cover these issues and more as it discusses the ominous intersection of music and bankruptcy.
1-800-WHAT-NOW: ETHICAL ISSUES AND ATTORNEY ADVERTISING	With recent changes to state ethics rules regarding attorney advertising and web based marketing, many practitioners are confused about the limits on their ability to market their practice and skills. This panel will examine these rules and provide guidance on the ethical limits of attorney advertising.
PARTNERS IN RHYME: HOW JOINT VENTURES AND OTHER ECONOMIC MODELS ARE RESHAPING THE INDUSTRY	The days of the traditional artist recording agreement are numbered. With record sales in a steady decline, labels and artists have had to come up with new alternatives to the traditional system by creating a variety of joint venture-type agreements for both superstar artists and new acts signing their first indie deal. This panel will discuss the risks and benefits of these deals, as well as the range of economic and legal terms often involved.
COLLEGE DAY
WMP3: The Revolution Will Be Digitized	Download what?! .mp3? .rar? .zip? How stations of all shapes and sizes handle the massive influx of digital music to college radio.
Music Directors' Summit	No subject is taboo at CMJ's yearly forum for college radio music directors, once again lead by the best in the field.
Radio Hostessess With The Mostesses	Learn how to throw a successful event-record swaps, in-studio performances, local band nights-from those most active on and off campus.

*More panels to be added and all scheduled events subject to change.

PANELS PROGRAM