New Music Seminar

New Music Seminar
New Music Seminar Official Logo
Location	New York City, New York, USA
http://www.newmusicseminar.com

The New Music Seminar (NMS) was a series of multi-venue music showcases held annually in New York City, in the month of June, from 1980 to 1995. It relaunched as a touring conference in 2009 and has been held each year since then. In addition to music industry panels and exhibits, which mostly took place in hotel conference rooms, the NMS hosted hundreds of bands every year, who would come from around the world to perform for music industry insiders, in hopes of being crowned the "Artist on the Verge."

History

1980–1995

In June 1980, Tom Silverman and Dave Lory brought 220 people together at a New York City rehearsal studio to discuss and debate the problems in the music business. The event grew in subsequent years, expanding its focus to cover the growth of the music business, and to include a music showcase/festival, initially called "New York Nights" and later, "New Music Nights." These were held in various New York City area clubs and venues, and were eventually opened to the public.

In its 16-year run, the first series of seminars attracted more than 8,000 participants from 35 countries, according to the seminar's recent self-published publicity material.

2009

In 2009, the New Music Seminar was relaunched by two of its original organizers, Tom Silverman and Dave Lory, as a touring series.^[1]

New York

The New Music Seminar returned as a one-day event in the 2009 summer on July 21. It was an event that created the template for music conferences by combining business and shows.The New Music Seminar, was held at the New York University Steinhardt's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts and was presented in association with the music business program at New York University Steinhardt. The programming consisted of a keynote, four educational sessions on how to combine new and old methods with technology for career success, and an artist's showcase.

Tommy Boy founder Tom Silverman, one of the original New Music Seminar founders, revived the New Music Seminar, which ran from 1980-1995. Dave Lory, a former NMS colleague, who has worked in the touring and managing sides of the music business, also helped revive the event.

"I have been asked many times over the last 15 years to bring back the New Music Seminar," Silverman say, "but it wasn't until the end of 2008 that I could finally see the new business begin to emerge. The trends are clear now and the future can finally be foretold."

Catherine Moore, director of the Music Business Graduate Program at NYU's Steinhardt School said in a statement: "The purpose and the philosophy of the NMS is a perfect fit for the music business program. We are honored to be part of the launch. I know the delegates will gain valuable information and insight that will allow them build a successful career in the changing music business landscape."

Chicago

Following rave reviews from the New York City conference on July 21, The New Music Seminar went to Chicago for the first time ever on October 6 at the legendary Park West.^[2] The music business has changed beyond recognition. The old record business is over at this point and it is a bleak picture for record labels. But it puts thousands of artists in the strongest position they have ever been to create their own success.

On October 6 in Chicago, the reincarnated New Music Seminar announced a new dawn of the music business. Offering practical, straightforward, cutting edge solutions for artists trying to make it in these challenging times, NMS promised to give artists the knowledge and tools to step into tomorrow's music business today. The conference kicked off with Keynote address by Michael Spiegelman, Head of Yahoo! Music, and was followed by four "Movements":

1st Movement: Welcome to the Music Business; everything you know is wrong. Redefining Success. 1000 True Fans and the Fan Relationship Pyramid.

2nd Movement: Expose Yourself: Marketing for the next music business; MySpace, Facebook and Twitter are not enough.

3rd Movement: The Creative Process and radical Differentiation; Supercharge your music to rise above the noise floor and achieve success

4th Movement: The Live Show and Tour; How to Cut through the Glut and reach the Magic 300

2010

Los Angeles

New Music Seminar came to LA’s Henry Fonda Theater on Feb 2nd as a one day music, networking and educational extravaganza for the industry who are seeking to learn and understand how to help artists “rise above the noise floor” in a shifting musical landscape.^[3]

Featured players included: Frank Cooper, CMO Pepsi, Kevin Lyman, President/founder Warp Tour, Alexandra Patsavas of Chop Shop Music, Justin Tranter, lead singer of Semi Precious Weapons, Derek Sivers, Founder of CD Baby and Jason Bentley, Program Director of KCRW. The full panel listing and keynote speaker will be announced shortly.

The full day conference included four “movements” aka panels, live performances, the New Music Seminar “Artist on The Verge” contest winner performance and a ton of schmoozing both before, during and after the event.

There was also an opening Night party at The Viper Room, located at 8852 West Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069, on Monday evening February 1, 2010. The evening began with a cocktail reception where people can network and schmooze. This was a private show and open only to New Music Seminar delegates, the media and partners, which includes NARAS, LA Weekly, Music Connection, Billboard, Digital Music News, Yahoo Music, MySpace Music, Hypebot, Filter Magazine, Ourstage, Revebnation, Mozes, A2IM Members and a host of new technology companies who are attending and many, many more. It will be a great opportunity to meet and schmooze with all the top media and players in the music industry.

Says NMS founder Silverman, ” The music business has changed beyond recognition. The old record business is over. For record companies it’s a bleak picture. But it puts thousands of artists in the strongest position they have ever been to create their own success. “The trends are clear now and at the NMS the future will finally be foretold. ”

The conference featured Keynote address followed by four Movements:

1st Movement: Welcome to the Music Business; Everything you know is wrong. The New Definition of Success. 1000 True Fans and the Fan Relationship Pyramid.

2nd Movement: Get Arrested; Marketing Yourself in the New Music Business – MySpace, Facebook and Twitter are not enough.

3rd Movement: The Creative Process and radical Differentiation; Supercharge your music to rise above the noise floor and achieve success. A virtual A&R meeting.

4th Movement: The Live Show and Tour; How to Cut through the Glut and reach the Magic 300 Ticket Mark

New York City

New Music Seminar announced that it longer would remain a 1 day conference but expand into a multi-day conference and event from July 19 to July 21 in New York City. The two day, three night conference included a symphony of five "movements" (focused discussions) over the course of two days, 8 TED-style presentations from key industry leaders, 22 mentoring sessions, nightly musical performances and ongoing networking opportunities. This seminar address both the artists’ dilemma of breaking out from the ever-growing glut of music releases and the development of a new business model for a sustainable music business.

NMS featured “players” (speakers) included: Eric Garland (Big Champagne), Joe Kennedy (Pandora) Mike Doernberg (Reverbnation), Courtney Holt (Myspace Music), David Goodman (CBS Interactive), Little Steven (Underground Garage and the E Street Band), Ariel Hyatt (Ariel PR), Corey Denis (Not Shocking), Linda Lorence, (SESAC), Jay Frank (CMT), Gwen Lipsky (Sound Thinking), Tom Jackson (onstagesuccess.com), Martin Atkins (Tour: Smart), John Simson (Soundexchange), Corrie Christopher (APA), Chris Vinson (Bandzoogle), and Tony Van Veen (Discmakers) and many more. The Artist Movement “conducted” by Margaret Cho featured superstar artists discussing how they got their break and tips on how to apply what worked for them.

Media partners and sponsors include: NARAS, Aquarian, LA Weekly, Music Connection, Digital Music News, Yahoo Music, MySpace Music, Hypebot, Filter Magazine, ReverbNation, Bandzoogle, Jakprints, SESAC, Soundexchange, AFTRA, Discmakers, A2IM Indie Label Members and a host of new technology companies.

2011

After a sold out event in New York City this July 19 - 21, 2010, New Music Seminar returned to Los Angeles one day after the Grammys, with its 3 day event from February 14 through 16th, 2011, at the Sheraton Universal Hotel . The kickoff red carpet event, The After Grammy Jammy (the NMS Opening Night Party), was held at The Music Box in Hollywood on Monday night, February 14 with the “Artist on the Verge Finals”, which selects one artist who will walk away with over $50K in promotion and marketing, Tuesday, February 15 at The Roxy.

The two day, three night conference included a symphony of five "movements" (focused discussions) over the course of two days, 12-18 minute Intensives (presentations) from key industry leaders, 22 mentoring sessions, daily and nightly musical performances, Summit Meetings and workshops on Rock, Hip Hop, Producers and Songwriting along with ongoing networking opportunities throughout.

NMS founder Tom Silverman explained, "The New Music Seminar is the epicenter of a new movement. The NMS is the creative crucible where new ideas are hatched and new collaborations formed. The New Music Seminar is a meeting of the architects of the next music business; the creators, the investors, the technological visionaries, those for whom music is a passion that they cannot do without.”

Media partners and sponsors include: The Recording Academy, Grammy Museum, Music Connection, Digital Music News, ReverbNation, KCRW, Indie 103.1, MySpace Music, Hypebot, IndiePower, Gibson, SESAC, Filter Magazine, Bandzoogle, Jakprints, Soundexchange, .Music, Indie Power, AFTRA, A2IM Indie Label Members, NARM, New Music Tipsheet and a host of other new technology and traditional music and entertainment companies.

2012

On June 17–19, the New Music Seminar will explore the exciting future of the music business with the SoundExchange Digital Broadcasting Summit and the BMI Creative Conclave; set to take place at Webster Hall in New York City. The creative community and their label partners will meet the digital broadcasters, music bloggers, music technologists and all of the new music exposure and monetization players. Clear Channel CEO, Bob Pittman and Sean Parker will share their vision for the future as keynotes, as every sector of the evolving new music business convenes to discuss their perspectives for the exciting new future for the music business.

For most of the people in the music business, this is probably the first time in a decade where they are feeling a new sense of optimism. Although unauthorized on-line music usage and distribution has not gone away, it is now time that the music industry begins to focus on expansion and positivity rather than fear and protectionism. Welcome to the Resurrection.

Similar events

The New Music Seminar's press materials claim that the New Music Seminar "spawned" almost every important music event worldwide, including South By Southwest, the Winter Music Conference, In the City, and Canadian Music Week.

Before the 2009 relaunch by Silverman & Lory, a "first annual" showcase with the name New Music Seminar was held October 31 & November 1, 2008, in Cleveland, Ohio. A second event was announced for May 2009 in New York City. These events, organized by New Music Seminar, LLC of New York, are not connected to the original seminar series or the relaunch by Silverman & Lory.

References

External links

• New Music Seminar