Now more than ever, students have a voice that can change the trajectory of the music business. The first #NEXTGEN_U virtual summit presented an exclusive opportunity to blend academia with action by uniting students, faculty, and the greater music community before the pivotal 2020 school year began.
3 – 3:10 pm
Opening + Sponsor Remarks
Speakers
3:10 – 4:10 pm
Keynote Super Panel: The Industry’s Elite Drop Gems
Join us for an open, honest, and inspiring conversation with top music business execs as they set the scene for #NEXTGEN_U. We’ll tackle all the themes and conversations set to take place over the conference’s three days from a no sugar-coating, been-there done-that perspective. You’re in for an intense (but energizing) conversation – now let’s go to school.
Moderator
Panelists
4:20 – 5:05 pm
Who Are You?: Why Building Your Brand Is Step #1
“How do I stand out among the rest?” is a constant question in the minds of students looking to get into the business. The answer lies within you and only you. Sometimes it may seem like getting out there and meeting a ton of people is the first step, but most times it’s figuring out who you are, what you want, and how you are going to get it. This panel will detail how important it is to self-reflect, learn, and build your brand before trying to insert yourself into someone else’s.
Moderator
Panelists
5:10 – 6 pm
Who’s In Your Corner: Networking Up, Down & Around
Networking with executives is always top of mind when students ask for insight on making it in the music business. What if we told you the most meaningful networking takes flight with a tiered approach – one that encompasses building a tribe of your peers who are just as hungry as you are? This session will cover why it’s important to network up (with power players), down (with students and those even younger than you), and around (with classmates and fellow interns).
Moderator
Panelists
3 – 3:05 pm
Opening
3:05 – 3:55 pm
Keynote Panel: Academia + Industry Action
The intersection of academia and real-world experience is a constant hot topic for students. What’s more important: getting an A on your publishing split sheet project or making yourself available to intern an extra day a week? How do students effectively balance their workload while not missing out on the opportunities that await them outside the classroom? How important are these opportunities? What are professors doing to bring these experiences back into the classroom? Guest speakers are cool, but what else is academia doing to keep students engaged, learning, and thriving in the competitive music business ecosystem? And lastly, what opportunities exist, outside of internships, where brands and music companies are embedding students and their next-gen ideas into their business plans?
Moderator
Panelists
4 – 4:50 pm
How To Play The Long Game & Turn Internships Into Offers
Scoring multiple internships is always awesome, but understanding how those internships will play into one another and into the rest of your life is what’s really important. Quality over quantity is key when playing the long game, one that favors the idea that you own your resume and your resume doesn’t own you. Wouldn’t you rather be an internship connector as opposed to an internship collector? During this session, you’ll join the panelists for an insightful conversation on how to make the most out of your internship experience(s) – learning from them, finding a potential mentor within the company, networking with other interns, and how to use all that when moving on to the next gig.
Moderator
Panelists
5 – 6 PM
Breakouts
1) Why College Marketing & Student Brand Ambassadors Are More Essential Than Ever
Young people are driving music consumption into unchartered territories with college marketing teams being a key factor. Looking to work at a label or agency one day? Then, it’s imperative that you understand the importance of getting involved with a college marketing program or student brand ambassador group so that you can actually have a hand in real marketing campaigns even as a student. Join us as we explore what it means to be a College Market Representative and Brand Ambassador and how it could impact your future.
Moderator
Panelists
2) Get Involved With Industry Organizations & Grow A Global Network
Joining clubs on campus is a great way to get involved and stay active within your community, but did you know that you can also join national and international organizations as a student? Join us for this important discussion about how getting involved in trade associations like Music Biz and organizations like Women In Music can help you meet like-minded individuals and propel your global footprint.
Moderator
Panelists
3 – 3:05 pm
Introduction
3:05 – 4:00 pm
What Matters Most: Mental Health, Mindset, Mentorship + More
Feeling a bit overwhelmed with how many times you’ve been told this week that you need to work super hard to make it? You’re not alone, and you never will be. There’s a paradigm shift within today’s music business and its executive leadership where acknowledging mental health is celebrated and not silenced. Join us for this panel — arguably the most important of the series — where we will talk about how critical it is to keep your mind healthy and how mentors can help you do so.
Moderator
Panelists
4:10 – 4:55 pm
The Real Deal On Resume Writing for the Music Industry
“How to write a resume” is a different Google search than “How to write a resume for the music business.” We work in one of the most creative industries there is, and some may argue that one’s resume should be a reflection of that. During this panel, we’ll bring together industry execs, HR reps, professors and more to see where each other stand when looking at and helping others prepare resumes.
Moderator
Panelists
5 – 6 pm
Random One-On-Ones
