Done with DRM Debates: Gotham Gathering Features Music Industry's Future Leaders Offering Business Innovations as Alternatives to Piracy
New York, NY -- Digital Music Forum East (www.digitalmusicforum.com/east) to be held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York on February 25-26, 2009, will feature many of today's most progressive, forwarding thinking companies representing the ever-evolving digital music industry.
As the music industry morphs into a fully digital domain, Digital Music Forum is the only event that focuses squarely on developments related to this industry as it grapples with its evolution into a service oriented industry and away from its product based past.
Some of the most compelling and innovative companies in the digital music landscape that are appearing at the event include:
SoundCloud
Berlin-based SoundCloud will discuss its innovative new cloud-based music sharing service for industry professionals. Only two weeks ago, the company won `'The New Business Showcase" at the prestigious MidemNet conference in Cannes, which focuses on the most enterprising, innovative and inspiring business ideas that will help create value and move the music industry forward in the 21st century. SoundCloud has been described by the online web community as the "Flickr for music" and recently also picked up the SIME 2008 Award for Best Technical Innovation. SoundCloud CEO Alexander Ljung joins a session on international developments and perspectives on digital music on February 26.
The Hype Machine
Harnessing the power of social media and utilizing it to empower the music discovery process, The Hype Machine tracks a variety of MP3 blogs. If a post contains MP3 links, it adds those links to its database and displays them on their frequented front page. The Hype Machine server subsequently caches some of the frequently accessed tracks, much like Google Search caches web pages, to reduce load on the bloggers' servers and protect their bandwidth. The blog that posted a particular track is identified under every track by name so anyone can read more about why they posted it. Users may then purchase CDs and individual tracks by using the "Amazon" and "iTunes" links that appear next to most tracks. Each purchase you make via the Amazon and iTunes links supports both the artists and the Hype Machine. Anthony Volodkin, Founder, The Hype Machine joins a session on the growing influence of music blogs on February 26.
Omnifone
At the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, Omnifone, one of the world's leading independent unlimited music service providers, announced MusicStation Next Generation, which gives broadband users legitimate unlimited access to the world's music on their Mac, PC and set-top box. In partnership with internet service providers (ISPs) and cable companies, the service heralds a new era in home entertainment, delivering unlimited access to both music and music videos direct to a broadband user's living room. Rob Lewis, CEO of Omnifone joins a panel titled "Can Mobile Save the Music Industry?" on February 25.
Buzznet
Buzznet.com is a vibrant social media destination representing the next evolution of social networking. It distinguishes itself from traditional media sites and social networks that are focused on profile pages and communication tools by enabling Web users to program dynamic multimedia communities around the music and pop culture topics they are most passionate about. More authentic, content rich and frequently updated than a website, and more interactive than a blog, Buzznet's integrated media and community platform allows its users to network like never before with leading bands, trendsetters and their peers through self-created content, videos, photos and journals. This unique user-centric approach has attracted more than 10 million users who program, by contributing, combining, providing context and connectivity, making Buzznet a top destination for people seeking the most current and authentic content and news. Anthony Batt, President & Founder, Buzznet Inc. joins a session on the growing influence of music blogs on February 26.
Dada
Dada Entertainment, a joint venture between two of the worldwide leaders in the mobile and music industries, Dada USA, Inc. and Sony Music Entertainment, is the foremost innovator in digital and mobile entertainment services. Formed in October 2007, Dada Entertainment is launching the next generation of ubiquitous personalization and entertainment services. The only company offering both ringtones and DRM-free full-length MP3s for mobile and PC paid via the mobile phone, Dada Entertainment is a growing leader in the U.S. market. Just one year old, Dada has rapidly created a unique and seamless Web 2.0 experience around its rich catalog of music and entertainment content, ranging from full-length audio and video to ringtones and games. Dada Entertainment manages several direct-to-consumer offerings, including a full portfolio of web-based services centered around the discovery and consumption of music, designed to encourage a sense of community and social networking. Dada CEO Massimiliano Pellegrini joins a panel titled "Can Mobile Save the Music Industry?" on February 25.
The Isle of Man
The Isle of Man, a self-governing Crown dependency located in the Irish Sea, is promoting a new way to fight piracy and promote music sales: a compulsory music license. Under the proposal announced at MidemNet in January, the 80,000 people who live on the Isle of Man would pay a nominal fee of as little as £1, or $1.38, a month to their Internet service providers to be able to download unlimited amounts of music, perhaps from peer-to-peer networks. "At the end of the day, we're not going to stop piracy," said Ron Berry, director of inward investment for the Isle of Man. "Embrace it… Had the music industry embraced [the original Napster, we'd have a very different medium today." Berry will discuss the proposal during a session with LimeWire's CEO George Searle on February 26.
Choruss
For the past year, Jim Griffin has advised Warner Music Group on digital distribution and licensing models with the goal of bringing an end to the litigation that has put a wedge between the major labels and their customers and replacing it with a regular flow of income for right holders. The project known as Choruss, which is being incubated at Warner and is planned to be rolled out as a non-profit with Griffin at the helm, proposes to build a small music-royalty fee into university tuition payments received from students, and, if successful, could be expanded to make ISPs the collector of the fees. In this keynote presentation and Q&A on February 26, Griffin will give attendees an exclusive look under the hood of Choruss, an initiative that just could save the music industry.
Imeem
Music-focused online social network imeem has raised over $50 million in funding from investors including Sequoia Capital and Warner Music Group, according to reports not verified by the company. The company, which counts 30 million registered users, has licenses from all four major labels and many independents to offer free, ad-supported streaming music. While many see social networks as a crucial component in helping indie musicians and record labels win fans and launch careers in the Web 2.0 era, some are skeptical about the company's future. In a rare opportunity to meet imeem's 28-year-old founder, Dalton Caldwell recently featured in BusinessWeek.com's up-and-comers under 30 story, attendees will get a view of the current inner workings of the digital music industry and what role he would like imeem and other social networks and streaming services to play in the music eco-system of the future.
These companies join over 300 senior decision-makers from record labels, music publishers, producers and distributors, technology companies, wireless companies, rights organizations, industry bodies, radio, advertising, attorneys, artists, investors and venture capitalists. Speakers include:
Anthony Batt, CEO & Co-Founder, Buzznet
Jay Baage, VP, Content, Digital Media Wire
Rich Bengloff, President, A2IM
Ron Berry, e-Commerce Advisor, Isle of Man
Aydin Caginalp, Partner, Entertainment & Media Group, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Dalton Caldwell, Founder/CEO, imeem
David Card, VP & Principal Analyst, Forrester Research
Ted Cohen, Managing Partner, TAG Strategic
Jim Cooperman, COO, Wind-Up
Russ Crupnick, VP & Sr. Industry Analyst, The NPD Group
Matt DeFilippis, VP, New Media & Technology, ASCAP
Brad Duea, President, Napster
Maria Egan-Cohen, A&R, Columbia Records
Mark Eisenberg, EVP of Head of Bus./Legal Affairs, Global Digital, Sony BMG Music
Jeffrey Epstein, VP, Business Development & Artist Acquisition, Elite Artist Services
Tom Erskine, Dir., Global Sales, Music Division, Nokia
Adam Farrell, Head of Marketing, The Beggars Group & Matador Records
Mark Fischer, Attorney, Fish & Richardson
Andrew Fisher, CEO, Shazam
John Fleckenstein, SVP, International, BMG Label Group
Mark Ghuneim, CEO, Wiredset
David Goodman, President, Digital Media & Integrated Marketing, CBS Radio
Jim Griffin, Managing Director, OneHouse, LLC
Michael Hausman, Artist Mgr. / Co-Founder, Superego Records / United Musicians
Martin Heath, Chief Executive, Lizard King Records
Celia Hirschman, Host, "On The Beat", KCRW
Dan Hoffman, EVP, Bus. & Legal Affairs, Razor and Tie Direct
Frank Johnson, VP, Data Solutions, Macrovision
Christian Jorg, SVP, New Media & Commerce, Island Def Jam Music Group
Larry Kenswil, Of Counsel, Loeb & Loeb LLP
Don Kimenker, Founder, earBuzz.com, LLC
Marty Lafferty, CEO, DCIA
Mark Lam, Chairman & CEO, Live365.com
Matt Laszuk, President, IRIS Distribution
David Leibowitz, EVP, Bus. & Legal Affairs, Gotuit Media
Zahavah Levine, VP, Business Development & General Counsel, YouTube
Rob Lewis, CEO & Co-Founder, Omnifone
Alexander Ljung, Founder & CEO, SoundCloud
Cecily Mak, Senior Counsel, Legal & Business Affairs, RealNetworks
Dinesh Mathew, Senior Director, Consumer Insight, MTV
Robb McDaniels, Chairman & CEO, INgrooves
Ellen McGirt, Sr. Writer, Fast Company
Jim Merlis, President & CEO, Big Hassle
Alex Meshkin, CEO/Founder, Bopaboo
Ziv Navoth, SVP, Marketing & Bus. Dev., Bebo / AOL's People Networks
David Oxenford, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP
Massimiliano Pellegrini, CEO, Dada Entertainment
Matthew Perpetua, Founder, Fluxblog.org
Michael Petricone, SVP, Government Affairs, Consumer Electronics Association
Chris Phenner, EVP, Business Development, Thumbplay
Jonathan Potter, Executive Director, Digital Media Association
Kelli Richards, President & CEO, The All Access Group
Frank Rose, Contributing Editor, Wired Magazine
Jay Rosenthal, General Counsel, NMPA
Maurice Russell, VP, Business Affairs & Licensing, Harry Fox Agency
Greg Scholl, CEO, The Orchard
Syd Schwartz, SVP, Digital Strategy, EMI North America
Matt Schwartz, Manager, Music Programming & Business Development, Verizon
George Searle, CEO, LimeWire
Ned Sherman, Co-Founder, CEO & Publisher, Digital Media Wire
Ralph Simon, Chairman Emiritus, Mobile Forum Entertainment Americas
Michael Spiegelmann, Head of Music, Yahoo! Music
Patrick Sullivan, President & CEO, Rightsflow
Ann Sweeney, EVP, Warner/Chappell Music
Mike Tunnicliffe, Partner, Tuna Music LLC / The Sheppard LLC
Amaechi Uzoigwe, Co-Founder, Definitive Jux
Eliot Van Buskirk, Editor, Listening Post, Wired.com
Tony van Veen, CEO & President, Audio & Video Labs, Inc.
Anthony Volodkin, Founder/CEO, The Hype Machine
Pete Watson, Head of Business Development, Research in Motion
Jeremy Welt, SVP, New Media, Warner Bros. Records
Tim Westergren, Chief Strategy Officer & Founder, Pandora
Event sponsors and media partners include Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, Loeb & Loeb LLP, AMG Macrovision, Dada Entertainment, Fish & Richardson, DCIA, Davis Wright Tremaine, Consulate General of Sweden, Filter Magazine, KCRW, A2IM, UCLA Anderson School of Management, Music Connection, NVPR, TAG Strategic, Parks Associates, Midem, Women in Music, Billboard Publicity Wire, NARIP, SoundExchange, NY:MIEG, and EMF.
For complete agenda, registration and event details please visit: http://www.digitalmusicforum.com/east.
Other prominent Digital Media Wire events include the LA Games Conference; NY Games Conference; Future of Television East; Future of Television West; Digital Music Forum West; and Digital Media Conference.
About Digital Media Wire, Inc:
Digital Media Wire is an events, news, and publishing company serving the digital entertainment & media industry since May 2000. Digital Media Wire produces executive forums featuring the leading executives in digital media and entertainment. Digital Media Wire also publishes an authoritative daily email newsletter and industry directory. For more information, please visit www.dmwmedia.com.
Contact:
Hal Bringman
NVPR
323-851-6877
OR
Ellen Gildersleeve
Digital Media Wire, Inc.
310-855-0033 ext. 705
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