Day 1 Conference Credentials Required

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2025
Congress Hall & The Harrison Room Cape May, NJ
11:00 am to 5:30 pm Registration Desk Open – Ballroom
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm Brown Room & Ballroom A – Networking
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Conference Sessions – Ballroom, Harrison Room
5:15 pm to 6:00 pm Keynote – Laura Stevenson Ballroom
6:30 pm to 1:40 am Showcases At Venues – All free and open to the public.
7:00 pm Doors Open for Concert – Sun Cruiser Ballroom Stage
7:30 pm to 10:30 pm Laura Stevenson at 9:00 PM Featured Performer (Ticketed) with Cacy Thomas at 7:30 PM and Camille K at 8:15 PM

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Ballroom
Don’t quit your day job and/or the art of the side hustle.
Jeff Snyder, Professor Emeritus (Moderator); Peter DeMeo, Jennifer Hill, Angela Perry, Anker Speaker bio’s
Professor Emeritus Jeff Snyder will moderate this panel about the jobs and side hustles several of our showcasing musicians have helped them to sustain the ability to perform
and create a career in the music industry. Each musician has created a path that is unique to their abilities and each will elucidate on their journeys that gave them the ability to record their original music and be able to share that with audiences. These artists all have unique stories to tell and will be an inspiration to many musicians.

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm The Harrison Room
Breaking Down The Doors. Les Scott, Source Q Boutique
Mr. Scott ​​will walk you through processes of how to gain and keep the attention of the gatekeepers & decision makers. You Will Learn: How and where to meet the gatekeepers/decision makers, How to prepare & research a company prior to approaching them. The do’s & don’ts of introduction emails. How to use key phrases in order to make a significant first impression. How to compose a strong introduction letter. How much material to show & what delivery formats to use and how your online comments & posts can help or harm you. And if time permits: explaining royalties by showing cue sheets & royalty statements, untangling the maze of digital distribution providers and the copyright registration process.

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm Ballroom
Marketing & Branding for Independent Acts & Artists.
Lucy D. Briggs, Marketing Manager WXPN, (Moderator); Michael Kornfeld,
Acoustic Music Scene: Rick Eberle, Magnetic Vine PR; Carter Fox, Carter Fox Consulting: David Avery, Powderfinger Promotions; Jill Schafer, Deko Entertainment. Speaker bios
Marketing and branding your act is about telling your story. This panel of industry experts will examine the tools that help artists tell that story. They’ll examine how to build your brand, promote your shows, develop a fan base, go out on tour, collaborate, distribute music or raise money for your next project. Learn how to keep up with all the platforms and which will work best for your project. It’s time to get started on creating a digital strategy for 2025 and beyond. We all know that traditional methods of publicity and marketing have undergone major changes. Independent artists can survive, thrive and profit in the new music industry paradigm.

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm The Harrison Room
The 8 Keys to Success in the Music Business
Bill Pere, Connecticut Songwriters Academy
This nationally acclaimed workshop presented by Bill Pere has been called “groundbreaking” by the editor of Songwriters Market. The music industry is first and foremost a people-driven business, on networking and personal relationships play a large part in your overall success. In taking a song from creation to realization, there are many roles that must be filled, and skills which must be brought to bear. Understanding how a person prefers to take in information, make decisions, and communicate with others gives you an immeasurable advantage in negotiation, selling, collaborating, and working as part of a group. Why do some songs become timeless classics while others never break through? Why do bands break up? What is really happening when there are “creative differences”? Why are some collaborations successful while others fail? What are some common business mistakes? What are the key words you need to get someone to say “yes”. What marketing tactics will work best for your target audience? What kind of agent can best represent you? How do you find the right producer? Why is a person drawn to a particular style of music? Why do some metaphors resonate with you, while others do not? What are your greatest strengths and gaps as a Writer/Artist?

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm Ballroom
Insights for the future of the music industry and independent acts & artists.
Jeff Snyder – Professor Emeritus (Moderator); Chris Swartz – FATA Booking Agency, Lou Plaia – Hot Rats Entertainment; Vic Steffens – Horizon Music Group; Rob Schwartz – Who?Mag/ACX1 Studios/DistroFest; Christine Collins – Social Media, Branding, Marketing Specialist Speaker bios
The future of the music industry is promising for independent artists, with more opportunities to connect with audiences, build brands, and earn money. Artists can reach global audiences on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp. Artists can connect with fans directly with their music and videos on social media platforms like Facebook, Tik Tok and Youtube. AI tools can help artists analyze listener preferences, anticipate trends, and create personalized experiences. Join our panel of industry professionals and look to the future.

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm The Harrison Room
New Copyright & IP issues in Music, Film, TV, Adverts, & Games
Dr E Michael Harrington, E. Michael Music
Dr. Harrington will demonstrate his work in recent music copyright infringement lawsuits involving Taylor Swift, Led Zeppelin, Carrie Underwood, Ed Sheeran, Fifty Cent, as well as his work in preemptive/proactive copyright issues involving music in film, TV, advertising and games, and new issues involving co-writing, interpolation, sampling, and mashups. He will also demonstrate how he has convinced parties to avoid litigation as well as analysis of the CASE Act, aka the U.S. Copyright Office’s “small claims” copyright court.

5:15 pm to 6:00 pm Keynote – Laura Stevenson – Ballroom
7:00 pm to 1:00 am Showcases at all the other venues are all free of charge and Open To The Public.
7:00 pm Sun Cruiser Ballroom Stage Doors Open
7:30 pm to 10:30 pm Featured Performer Concert Laura Stevenson 9 PM With Cacy Thomas 7:30 PM & Camille K. 8:15 P

Day 2 Conference Credentials Required

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2025
Congress Hall & Harrison Conference Center Cape May, NJ
11:00 am to 5:00 pm Registration Desk Open – Ballroom A
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm Brown Room & Ballroom – Networking
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Conference Sessions – Ballroom, Harrison Room
5:15 pm to 6:00 pm Keynote – Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie Ballroom
6:30 pm to 1:40 am Showcases At Venues – All free and open to the public.
7:00 pm Doors Open for Concert – Sun Cruiser Ballroom Stage
7:30 pm to 10:30 pm Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie at 9 PM
Featured Performer (Ticketed Show)
with della at 7:30 PM and Craig Greenberg at 8:15 PM

Speaker Bios

11:30 am to 12:30 pm Ballroom
Harnessing AI for Music Creation: A Legal Perspective
Dr. E Michael Harrington, E. Michael Music
Learn how to leverage AI as a creative tool while safeguarding your intellectual property. This talk will cover:

AI’s potential and pitfalls in music production
Legal considerations for AI-generated works
Strategies for responsible AI use
Future trends in AI and music copyright
11:30 am to 12:30 pm The Harrison Room
Regenerative Creativity: Making a Musical Life That Matters
Kay Pere – Sound Krayons Music
We often focus on the business of music and the craft of songwriting, but let’s not overlook the wellspring from which it all comes — our creativity and inspiration. The demands of our busy schedules make it difficult to find inspiration, try new things, or just have the time to create. This workshop provides practical tools and strategies to ensure that your creative self never disappears beneath the heap of day-to-day pressures. You’ll learn ways to deal with writer’s block, find subjects to write about, make time to write, and stay motivated as a creative person. You’ll look at when to separate pure creative flow from analytical crafting and business considerations. Most importantly, we’ll ask questions together to guide you toward a life in the arts that matters both to you and to others, regardless of circumstances.

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Ballroom
Marketing Your Music for Film & Television
Les Scott, Source Q Boutique
In this workshop, Les Scott walks you through the process of getting your songs used in Film & Television while presenting current information on: • insight on how music supervisors select music • tips on how to prepare your recording for presentation • how to find the good publishing companies• explaining different types of publishing and licensing deals • current industry etiquette • the legal documents that will be required of you • how a recording is owned – performance releases • how a song is owned – collaboration agreements • your sync fees and performance royalty income• typical flow chart of the earnings from a tv placement. And if time permits: untangling the maze of digital distribution providers the copyright registration process.

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm The Harrison Room
Building a Successful Career as a Songwriter
Bill Pere, Connecticut Songwriters Academy
Are you reaching only 30% of your potential audience? The other untapped 70% is only a few keywords away. The only way you can grow your fan base is by resonating with people who are not already your fans. You do not have to sacrifice artistic integrity to reach a wider fan base. You just need to know some of the key factors in effective musical, lyrical, and business communication, and then decide how you want to apply them. The difference between songs that are liked and remembered by broad and diverse audiences as opposed to those that have a narrow following lies in a few easily applied techniques and an understanding of how people prefer to give and receive information. This workshop, based on Bill’s internationally used “Songcrafters’ Coloring Book” (www.songcrafterscoloringbook.com) provides practical, actionable tools for you to use in writing, presenting, and marketing your songs.

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm Ballroom
Maximizing Your Potential As A Musician.
Lou Plaia, Hot Rats Entertainment (Moderator); Rob Schwartz, WhoMag/ACX1 Studios; Camille K, Singer-Songwriter; Charlie Calv, Deko Entertainment; Rick Eberle, Magnetic Vine PR Speaker Bios
As the current landscape of the music industry continues to shift and evolve, for already bootstrapped independent artists, it can seem like a daunting task to figure out how they should be focusing their efforts and prioritizing their time, especially when preparing for a new release campaign. This session will discuss:

the different options available to release your music and their pros and cons: record label or DIY
the various revenue streams: streams and sales of master recordings, publishing, live music, and merchandise
best practices on marketing your music to existing and new audiences
The Music Industry guests include experienced and successful executives in each area described above. Hang with them, learn from them, get their opinions, ask them questions, pick their brain, and don’t forget to invite them to see your show. Always informative and always a good time!

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm The Harrison Room
The Life of a Recording Project Vic Steffans – Horizon Music Group
Starting with the pre-production: song selection, keying the songs if needed, picking the players, if needed. Pre-production demos for the participants. Scheduling the sessions: Tracking. electing which tracks to use. Musical overdubs, reference vocals, backing vocals, final lead vocals. Sweetening if needed. Added Keys, horns, or even strings. Final mixing and mastering. And a general overview of options for making the recording work for you.

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm Ballroom The Producer Panel
David Ivory – Ivory Productions, MCCC, Philadelphia Music Alliance (Moderator); Keath Lowry – Groove Control Production; Geronimo Vannicola – Wavlab Studios; Helen Bruner & Terry Jones – Philerzy Entertainment; Ron DiSilvestro – RDS Music and Media Speaker Bios
You’ll get the inside story on recording sessions, working with the musicians, production budgets and supervision. Discussions about mixing and mastering recordings as well as hiring the right producer for the right project will be covered as well. Learn about the roles of the producer in the past and the current roles that they hold today. Also covered will be the advances of recording technologies, home recordings and consulting productions. There is a lot more than just a name. Learn the real role of a real producer in the music business.

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm The Harrison Room
Hey AI…What Have You Done? Jeff Snyder, Professor Emeritus
While everyone has heard about artificial intelligence or AI, most musicians are not aware of the many ways that AI has already been used by artists, record labels, Spotify, etc. This session led by Professor Emeritus Jeff Snyder will consist of a series of real examples of the many uses of AI already happening, especially for musicians and the music industry. We are just at the beginning with AI and this workshop should make for some interesting discussion and shed light on this new era in which AI can be our friend, our foe, or both.

5:15 pm to 6:00 pm Keynote – Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie Ballroom
7:00 pm to 1:00 am Showcases at all the other venues are
All free of charge and Open To The Public.
7:00 pm Sun Cruiser Ballroom Stage Doors Open
7:30 pm to 10:30 pm Featured Performer Concert
Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie 9 PM
with della at 7:30 PM & Craig Greenberg at 8:15 PM (Ticketed Show)