It won’t be long until today’s students, who are already building community and redefining culture, take their place as tomorrow’s thought leaders. Our #NEXTGEN_U virtual summit gathers tomorrow’s thought leaders to go beyond the classroom, gain insight from their future peers, and experience real-world opportunities that exist in every facet of the music industry.
See below for most recent #NEXTGEN_U event schedule. Check back soon for more info on our next summit!
5 – 5:05 PM ET
Welcome
Speakers
5:05 – 5:45 PM ET
Opening Keynote Panel: Real Talk With Young Professionals
What better way to open #NEXTGEN_U other than a panel of young execs from all facets of the business who won’t hold back when telling it straight to the next generation who will come after them. This interactive session will set the tone for the summit as students will be able to ask their most burning questions to the panel in hopes to spark some inspiration and innovation.
Moderator
Speakers
5:45 – 6 PM ET
Speed Story – Influencer Marketing
Join two young execs from Songfluencer as they talk about their unconventional career paths that ultimately led to the world of influencer marketing through TikTok and other social media platforms.
Speakers
Interviewer
6 – 6:15 PM ET
Break
6:15 – 6:55 PM ET
Mix Marketing & Data To Stand Out as a Student
Marketing is such a hot topic when it comes to the music business and it’s often one of the first career paths students begin to think about as it truly can be applied to all areas of the industry. Everyone entering this business should understand marketing to a certain extent, but what if we told you that you could take marketing one step further by learning about different types of data that help drive the choices the business makes behind its music. Whether it’s used in a research paper, a report on an artist, or a mock marketing campaign at your internship, you can use various platforms and statistics to stand out as a student – and ultimately in your career path. Join this panel of pros to learn real-life ways you can “wow” in the world of data.
Moderator
Speakers
6:55 – 7:10 PM ET
Speed Story – Brand Partnerships
Brand partnerships are a crucial part of the music business, yet often aren’t talked about as much as they should. As revenue streams for artists diversify, this chat will be more important than ever.
Speaker
Interviewer
7:10 – 7:25 PM ET
Break
7:25 – 8 PM ET
Breakouts
During this segment of #NEXTGEN_U, attendees will get to choose between two programs running simultaneously. Don’t worry if both seem interesting to you, they’ll be recorded so you can essentially be in two places at one time!
Breakout Session #1: What’s It Like to Be a Label College Marketing Rep
These programs at record labels are highly competitive and highly rewarding. We’ve done a great job here at #NEXTGEN_U highlighting these various programs and the execs that run them, but now we’d like to shine a light on students currently in these programs. We’ll aim to answer one simple question – what should you expect as a college marketing rep should you be given the opportunity?
Moderator
Panelists
Breakout Session #2: What to Know When Wanting to Work With Artists
Artist managers and those who sit on artist management teams have the privilege of holding the closest relationship to an artist as they get to be the dream team in helping creatives see their vision through. They interface with all aspects of the artist’s career and often are glorified because they do so. While this is no doubt an important career and role within the music business, there are definitely things you need to know before heading into this realm of the industry. Therefore, we’ve assembled a panel of managers in all areas of the business to do just that!
Moderator
Speakers
5 – 5:05 PM ET
Welcome & Sponsor Remarks
5:05 – 5:35 PM ET
The Classroom of the Future for Music Creatives
How do we show young aspiring creatives that a career in the arts is attainable? That is the challenge that Marcelo HD, Miles Weddle, and Rapper IDK tackled when they founded No Label Academy, a ten day BIPOC-tailored music business course at Harvard University in 2021 that featured instructors such as Virgil Abloh and TDE’s Punch. Having raised half a million dollars from Nike, Air Jordan, Converse, Logitech and Guess to create the state of the art learning environment, the founders will discuss how their new approach to education inspires a level of student engagement and success never seen before. They will also explore how providing resources in financial literacy, tech, and mental health is crucial to building an equitable music industry. The duo are set to take this chat to SXSW in Austin in March, but will first stop by #NEXTGEN_U to give us a sneak peek.
Interviewees
Interviewer
5:35 – 5:50 PM ET
Speed Story – Music Videos & Content
Content, content content – the music business can’t stop talking about content. And rightfully so! More than ever, this word means so much to our industry. As one of the original pioneers in premium content, join Parul Chokshi as she quickly gives an overview of her career and what’s trending with music videos and content today.
Speaker
Interviewer
5:50 – 6:05 PM ET
Break
6:05 – 6:45 PM ET
The Past, Current, and Future of Digital Marketing
In today’s day and age, digital marketing seems synonymous with every facet of an artist release, their image, their fans, and even integral in every way they get their music to the masses. What should every student that wants to enter the music business know about digital marketing – even if they don’t want to pursue a career specifically in that field? How can students get involved in digital projects without official internships? How are digital roles evolving throughout the business from where they came from? And finally – what do artists think the word “digital marketing” means and how can this help you craft future narratives of the medium?
Moderator
Speakers
6:45 – 7 PM ET
Speed Story – Curation
Ever wonder what goes into the science behind curation? This unique speed story will detail Dario’s journey from musician and ethnomusicologist to curator where he tailors playlists and experiences for music listeners – especially on fitness platforms.
Speaker
Interviewer
7 – 7:15 PM ET
Break
7:15 – 8 PM ET
Breakouts
Breakout Session #1: Distribution: What Is It? (& Why Is It An Important Career Path)
There are more ways than ever for artists to distribute their music – and therefore there are more opportunities for students to get involved. Come learn about what’s currently going on music distribution, what the future holds, and why you should be paying attention.
Moderator
Speakers
Breakout Session #2: Live Music: What Superskills Do You Need to Work In This Sector?
The world of touring, festivals, and live entertainment is perhaps one of the coolest aspects of music and often the catalyst for catapulting people into the business. What’s better than working a concert or somewhere artists get to perform live, right? Well, while it may seem fun, it’s definitely hard and ultra-competitive. Therefore, we’re bringing together this panel of people from all areas of the live biz to give you some insight on the skills you’ll need to set yourself apart from the rest in “live.”
Moderator
Speakers
5 – 5:05 PM ET
Welcome & Sponsor Remarks
5:05 – 5:45 PM ET
Creator Culture: How The Next Gen of Leaders Can Help
Everyone’s talking about “creator culture” and how the power in the music business is shifting back to the artists that create the music we love and listen to. As more and more creators are empowered to create and own their art, how can students help in the process? What services are needed for these artists and where does the world of academia play a role since these young future execs are so early on in their careers? In this panel, we’ll talk about everything from financial literacy to publishing admin to positive mindset and most importantly changing the narrative for the better.
Moderator
Speakers
5:45 – 6 PM ET
Speed Story – Media
You’re in for a special treat as we talk to TikTok personality @adamtheflop who grew his social following to almost 1 million talking all things music facts, charts, and artist careers.
Speaker
Interviewer
6 – 6:15 PM ET
Break
6:15 – 6:55 PM ET
Harnessing Fandom Into Professional Skills
Gone are the days where music fans are simply seen as such and welcome the new generation where they can be important parts of an artist’s career – and embraced for it. There are many ways fans can turn their love of music and artists into a professional and these panelists are here to give you tangible ways to do so. Come ready with your questions for this session specifically.
Moderator
Speakers
6:55 – 7:15 PM ET
The Artist’s Perspective: A Conversation with Singer/Songwriter Brittney Spencer
Brittney Spencer is paving her own path in the country music genre and making major waves in the process. A PEOPLE Magazine One to Watch, 2021 Spotify Hot Country Artist to Watch, Pandora 2021 Artist to Watch and member of CMT’s Next Women of Country, the Baltimore-turned-Nashville resident is known for her free spirit and standout ability to mold life, truth and wild imagination into songs. Her latest single, “Sober & Skinny,” has garnered praise from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and more. Lauded as one of “12 Black Artists Shaping Country Music’s Future” by USA Today and named one of “5 Black Artists Rewriting Country Music” by The Recording Academy, Spencer has grown a robust fan base on the road and is set to release additional new music in the coming months.
In 2017, she graduated from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) with a degree in Public Relations with a concentration on Music Business through MTSU’s Recording Industry Department. During this fireside chat, we’ll explore her journey of learning about the music business in an academic setting vs. real-life, navigating Nashville, the importance of networking around the city as an artist, and how she built her career to where it is today.
Speaker
Interviewer
7:15 – 7:30 PM ET
Break
7:30 – 8 PM ET
Finale Keynote: YOU
In this “keynote”, we’ll switch it up and invite some of the most active students from #NEXTGEN_U to be featured speakers! Here, they’ll speak their mind and ask each other important questions about working together to form the future of the music business. You won’t want to miss this exciting opportunity to have your voice heard.
