OpenPlay Launches CoLab, A Digital Sandbox Giving Access To Vibe Coding For All, At Music Biz 2026
Atlanta, April 27th, 2026 — The 2026 edition of the Music Biz Conference will introduce OpenPlay CoLab, a hands-on innovation experience taking place on May 12th, where anyone in the music industry can turn ideas into real, working solutions.
Hosted by OpenPlay, the music industry’s leading asset, data and rights management platform, CoLab is a new digital sandbox that will allow participants to collaborate on solving some of the industry’s most persistent challenges, regardless of their technical background.
At the heart of CoLab is the use of AI tools and “vibe coding,” a new, accessible way for users to create functional prototypes simply by describing what they want.
Artists, managers, labels, publishers, tech companies, entrepreneurs, investors and students alike, have an equal opportunity to experiment and look for fixes for messy metadata and disconnected tools for improving fan engagement and monetization.
Throughout the day, participants will work alongside other attendees to develop solutions, present their ideas and compete for prizes. Teams will get access to OpenPlay’s APIs and tools from leading tech partners, with guidance from industry and technology experts.
By removing technical barriers, CoLab democratizes innovation and creates opportunities for a broader range of voices to shape the future of music, aligned with OpenPlay’s idea of promoting collaboration and interoperability across the industry.
“At OpenPlay, we believe the next wave of innovation will come from new thinkers, builders and entrepreneurs willing to challenge the way the industry works,” said Edward Ginis, Co-Founder of OpenPlay. “The real bottleneck in innovation isn’t the lack of ideas – it’s access to the tools needed to bring those ideas to life. With AI lowering those barriers, we are focused on creating opportunities for collaboration, where industry knowledge and creativity matter just as much as technical expertise.”
OpenPlay CoLab builds on the success of last year’s OpenPlay Hackathon, which brought together 40 participants, who tested their creativity and problem-solving skills across four industry tracks: Social Impact, DSPs, Distributors and Sync.
“Music Biz is proud to once again partner with OpenPlay in promoting innovation across music tech for the benefit of the industry and especially the new generations,” said Nicole Hennessey, Vice President and Director of Communications, Music Business Association. “OpenPlay CoLab creates a space where ideas can be tested, collaboration can happen and new solutions can emerge in real time.”
One of last years’ winners, music industry professor and expert Serona Elton, proved how AI is allowing non-technical professionals to successfully create tech solutions for the industry. She placed second at last year’s hackathon, despite having no technical background. Her project Samplify, built using Lovable, a low-code / no-code platform, helps identify sampled elements in songs and facilitates its attribution to streamline licensing.
“The hackathon was both fun and educational,” said Serona Elton. “I was surprised by how accessible vibe coding is, even without a technical background. It has real potential to help turn ideas into working solutions quickly, and I’d encourage anyone with curiosity about vibe coding to participate.”
Jake Handy, who placed third at last year’s hackathon, created Field Notes, a smart note-taking app that helps A&Rs, music supervisors and label executives organize and contextualize feedback during meetings and sessions.
“In a space like Music Biz, vibe coding creates an interesting opportunity. Many music industry experts have decades of knowledge about the problems we face, and AI tools enable these folks to spin up fully functional prototypes,” said Jake Handy. “As these tools continue to mature and the lines between industry experts and engineers blur, I think we will see an explosion in novel, working solutions to age old problems.”
OpenPlay CoLab “Break the Silos. Build the Future” will take place on Tuesday, May 12th from 10 AM to 5 PM ET, as an official event of the Music Biz Conference in Atlanta.
Register here: https://events.bizzabo.com/843933
About OpenPlay
OpenPlay is transforming the $65 billion music industry by serving as the essential business engine for rights and asset management. Trusted by more than 3,500 music companies globally, OpenPlay replaces fragmented legacy systems with a unified platform that acts as the single source of truth for catalogs of every size. The company’s suite — Music (recorded music management), Reach (multi-channel delivery), Connect App Exchange (B2B marketplace), InTune (revenue analytics), and Flow (workflow management) — enables seamless management and monetization of music assets while strengthening existing commercial relationships. By eliminating technical friction and delivering enterprise-grade tools through an intuitive interface, OpenPlay empowers rightsholders to take control of their future without disrupting their present partnerships. For more information, visit www.openplay.co.
About Music Biz 2026
Music Biz 2026 will take place May 11th — 14th at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly. This marks the event’s second edition in Atlanta, building on the momentum of last year’s gathering of more than 2,100 global music professionals in this beloved music city. Attendees can expect industry-defining conversations and networking opportunities aimed at shaping the future of the music industry. This year’s program will feature all-new panel blocks such as “Advancing the Business of Music: Emerging Strategies for 2026 & Beyond” and “Harmony At Work: Best Practices for Inclusion, Support & Productivity,” joining new editions of attendee-favorite tracks like Music & Money, Let’s Talk Physical, the Trust & Safety Symposium, and the Music Biz Roadshow. Visit musicbiz2026.com for an up-to-date conference agenda, event registration, lodging & flight discount info, and more.
About The Music Business Association
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) is a not-for-profit membership organization that advances, promotes, and invests in the future of the music business by providing a trusted forum where ideas and cooperation flourish. Through events, education, and engagement, the Association brings together the full breadth of the industry for unparalleled access to networking, resources, and thought leadership.
