2021 SESSIONS

STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES! 
Vinyls & Vinyasa - By Mary and Dj Chalant
We believe that musicians can better thrive in business and life if they strengthen their mind and body connection and make wellness a priority! Get your zen with instructor, Mary Mbaba (@mary2thegame. Mary will lead yogis thru a chill vinyasa flow with classical vinyl collection from DJ Chalant (@DJchalant).
Mary Mbaba, MPH, MA, (@mary2thegame) is a doctoral candidate in GWU’s Applied Social Psychology program under academic advisor, Dr. Lisa Bowleg. Mary studies theory driven psychological processes (e.g., stereotypes, identity, social norms) underlying the social structural determinants (e.g. racism, the criminal justice system) of Black peoples’ health and wellness while utilizing an intersectionality framework. Her current line of research investigates the prevention and treatment of depression and other mental health issues, substance use (e.g., opioids, marijuana), and HIV in Black communities. Originally from Stone Mountain, GA, Mary is also a photographer, a yoga instructor - 12-year practitioner - and event host of Vinyl and Vinyasa (@vinylandvinyasa) in the D.C. area who believes yoga and mindfulness are powerful tools for individual and community mental health. ​
Deonte Keitt (@DJChalant) is a well-known D.C. native and DJ in the DMV area. DJ Chalant is a Music Enthusiast, DJ, Producer, Writer, Entrepreneur, and also a sports fanatic and a fan of 90s sitcoms. He previously worked at CBS radio and as a sound engineer and promotional marketeer at WPGC.
 Welcoming the Day - Guided Meditation - By Cecily
Set the tone for this wonderful day of community and learning with this guided meditation. Using embodiment and affirmations, this meditation assists in cultivating joy, peace, diligence, curiosity, awareness, gratitude & love. ​
Bio: DC-based vocalist and songwriter Cecily, (pronounced ses-suh-lee), is known for her agile soprano and
honest lyrics. Her sound, as soothing as it is rich, is rooted in a deep appreciation for mid-century soul
and jazz, 90’s R&B, and re-imagined folk music.
In her songs you’ll hear the influence of growing up surrounded by her parents' vast record collection.
Her father, a lover of Miles Davis, and her mother, a Smokey Robinson fan, filled their home with soulful
sounds that captivated their daughter, and which she has channeled into her own work. This influence
gives her work a unique sensuality that informs not only her vocal approach, but also her self-reflecting
lyrics, grappling with self-acceptance, vulnerability, and rebirth. Soulbounce says that Cecily creates
“music that pulls from the past but looks toward the future.
The Power Is Yours! - Evolving into the Ultimate Entertainment Professional
- By Jarreau Williams 
In this session, attendees learn the basics about forming a band and successfully managing a corporate event, keeping track of expenses, preparation tactics, performance tips, and the interpersonal intangibles to becoming a more competitive professional in the field. The interactive discussion, which includes space for dialogue and engagement, will provide creatives with strategies on channeling the successes and failures across their careers for their benefit. Attendees will learn how to assess their creative arsenal as it relates to their goals in order to stay ready mid- and post-pandemic – and the importance of developing an entrepreneurial mindset.​

Bio: Magic with a message. Around the DMV, Jarreau (juh-ROW) Williams is known as “the man with the golden pipes.” Expect high energy, soul, and charisma at any of his performances. His smooth, powerhouse vocals fused with electronic 80s-90s modern R&B grooves, beatbox, and nostalgic lyrical innuendo leaves listeners enthused with messages of unity, perseverance, positive vibes and self-love. Jarreau's professional credits include backing 4-time Grammy Award winner Michael Bublé, praise and worship with President Barack Obama and The First Family, and performing the National Anthem for the city's major league sports franchises. He is the recipient of three 2021 Wammie Awards: Best R&B Song, Best Soul Artist, and Best Pop Song. 
The Musician's Guide to Creative Wellness - By Emily Hall
Are you interested in deepening your relationship with authentic creative expression? Do you enjoy connecting with other artists, musicians, and visionaries? This interactive workshop explores what creative well-being looks like in our daily lives in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The workshop includes interactive icebreakers, a discussion of the definition of creative wellbeing, reflections on daily practices that foster creative flow, and a hands-on activity of creating a personal “creative expression mission statement.” The workshop will provide an opportunity to network with other musicians, artists, and visionaries and discuss practical activities and practices for fostering creative wellness in daily life. Attendees will leave the session with a creative wellness toolkit and new ideas and strategies to nurture artistic expression. 

Bio: Emily Hall is a dynamic DC-based singer-songwriter who embodies the mission of songwriting as medicine for the modern world. Her ethereal vocals and intriguing lyrics draw listeners deep, captivating audiences everywhere she performs through her mesmerizing charm and magnetic stage presence. As a skilled workshop facilitator and certified teacher, Emily has received multiple grants and awards to train educators in Tanzania, Cambodia, Nepal, and the United States on the benefits of integrating creative expression into daily classroom activities. Currently, Emily works at Georgetown University’s Center for Intercultural Education and Development in addition to being an active independent musician and creativity coach. 
Tools & Programs to Empower Youth During the Pandemic - Shanay Miles 
Designed specifically for art education institutes, nonprofits, and young artists, this session covers the process of establishing an effective artist development music program that attracts teens and young adults and provides resources and tips on delivering impactful online programming. The discussion will provide a multi-perspective conversation on creating innovative youth music programs, including insights from Project Create DC’s Programs Manager, Teaching Artist, and students. Participants will discuss the overall impact of youth programming and how to build and gain momentum during the pandemic. 

Bio: Shanay Miles, CEO and founder of Smiles Productions, is an enthusiastic professional in the digital media world. Her professional roles include audio-visual specialist with multiple government agencies, media team lead at Faith City Church, and project-based work producing film with GNI International, ArtsGroup, and Nischan Productions. Shanay’s passion for the arts started when she was young and developed an interest in making beats and rapping. As she started to grow in her writing and audio production skills, Shanay discovered she also had an interest in other digital media disciplines, including photography, videography, and graphic design. As a Studio Programs Manager at Project Create, Shanay dedicates her time to developing high-quality educational programs for youth in underserved communities. 
The Business of Getting a Major Label Quality Mix For Artists (and Mix Engineers) 
- By Chris Carter
Everything artists and mix engineers need to know about how to work together to make a major label quality record while avoiding the pitfalls that can compromise and sabotage the results. 
Artists and the mix engineers will acquire information and tools needed to navigate the hiring and compensation process, the creative working process, and the delivery process. In these discussions there will be ample overview of expected business practices so that everyone knows what to expect in a professional situation in order to maximize the results of the project, as well as how to avoid the pitfalls that often compromise, or completely sabotage, the end result.

Bio: Chris ‘Von Pimpenstein’ Carter is a major label mix engineer and record producer with several #1 hit radio singles and numerous top 40 charting records. Chris’s body of work ranges from GRAMMY nominated artists and those on major labels like Universal and Sony, to as small as the local independent artist. Some of the artists Chris has worked with include j. Monty, Jasmine Trias, Backstreet Boys, Adrian Marcel, Rozzi, Christabelle, Natalise, and more.
How Does Fashion Contribute to Your Music Persona - By Ting Lin
Online presence becomes increasingly important during the era of virtual connection, and fashion plays a critical role in helping musicians elevate their image and create content that stands out. This session connects fashion to music and shows how one influences the other. Most musicians agree that what they wear and how they present themselves matter – but very few have the knowledge and resources to do it right. Fashion does not replace good music. It is simply a tool to enhance good music, as it provides a visual dimension. During this interactive session, attendees learn basic style tips for musicians applicable to any genre via a live demonstration and have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A to get all of their style questions answered. ​

Bio: Ting Lin is a creative entrepreneur and small business owner in the DMV area. She is a stylist, designer, and model for Ting Lin Fashion – and also a singer, songwriter, and performer for Ting Lin Music. She is founder of The Ting Times, an organization and community that supports other creatives.
Project Management: How to Steer Your Passion Project from Mission to Execution By Kemi Adegoroye
There are many skills needed to build a career in the arts, such as the studying of one's craft, marketing and promotion, networking, the ability to develop a creative idea, presentation, and performance. Some of the most important and often overlooked skills, however, are those related to project management. It is one thing to come up with an idea and another thing to figure out and follow the necessary steps to bring that idea to fruition. Whether it’s time management, budgeting, keeping track of tasks, team building, or developing a project plan to start with, there are many skills that an artist must have an understanding of to produce any number of passion projects and advance their career. This session dives deep into the various stages of project development that artists, specifically musicians, can encounter. Attendees will also learn some of the pitfalls or hurdles to be aware of when developing a project, such as overreaching goals, poor team management, and lack of preparation – and also how to craft and execute a project plan that works specifically for them. Participants will leave empowered to not only conceive exciting ideas, but to advance those ideas forward into reality.​

Bio: Kemi Adegoroye is a singer-songwriter, actress, and producer. Her artistic career spans multiple disciplines and genres, from jazz and soul to musical theatre and pop. She performs regularly as a solo artist and as the frontwoman of DC-based jazz and soul band Terra Firma. On Valentine's Day 2020, Kemi released her first original single, The Man Who Stole the Moon, inspired by the 2010 movie Despicable Me, starring Steve Carell. Her recently released debut EP, For the Record, features original songs inspired by her lifelong love of Motown, jazz standards, and Broadway-style storytelling. She also serves as the co-founder and creative director of Alveo Creative, a digital arts platform that provides original content, resources, and a community for independent artists in different disciplines around the world.
Letter to a Nation: Music and Social Justice in the Wake of COVID-19
​- By Garrett Jackson
This session takes attendees on a guided journey through the music creation process, allowing them to develop their own anthem that speaks to the extraordinary times in our country. Through a conviction to writing a piece about the then-emerging COVID-19 virus and its effects on Black communities, to then including a requiem confronting the senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Aubrey and Breonna Taylor, Garrett Jackson calls America to consciousness and asks listeners to explore issues through a social justice lens. The session covers the unique methods artists can use to capture this moment and time with art that speaks to the culture and the country. Attendees will leave with tools and strategies to optimize their brand through deep discovery of self and greater awareness of self and others. 

Bio: Garrett “GP” Jackson is a veteran singer-songwriter from Mitchellville, MD. Through music, Garrett has found a way to advocate for the less fortunate and the left out, performing for and encouraging students in low-income neighborhoods in the DC area to pursue their dreams. He provides a unique lens of leadership and guidance with his business background by serving on the board of the nonprofit organization Music to Life. He holds a bachelor of arts in voice from Morgan State University and a master’s in public policy from George Washington University.
Independent Physical Music - By Joe Lapan
This informative session covers everything artists need to know on how to produce and promote physical music, including vinyl, CDs, and cassettes, in lieu of live shows. In the wake of the proliferation of music streaming, physical music continues to experience a resurgence. Learn about the latest trends in physical music, including how and where to promote and why the increase in physical music is driven by much more than nostalgia, including a discussion of the top reasons physical music is making a comeback. 


Bio: Joe Lapan is the co-owner and marketing director for Songbyrd Music House & Record Cafe and Byrdland Records. Songbyrd Music House is a 200-person live music venue and vinyl record shop and cafe in DC’s Adams Morgan neighborhood. Joe focuses on building Songbyrd's programming and brand to meet the mission of providing a music discovery and celebration platform that provides value to music lovers of all varieties. Joe runs Classic Album Sundays D.C., the local outpost of London-based, worldwide classic album listening and celebration organization “Classic Album Sundays.”
The Journey through The Nightlife: Exploring the Creative Process Beyond the Music - By Stephen Wilkes
Channel your creativity to expand your brand. Together, we’ll take a journey through the creative process after a project is completed. The session includes a discussion of the creative process around promotion, merchandising, and content creation, which helped to elevate my brand, in the hopes it will elevate yours. We will discuss social media strategy, content creation, graphic design, cross-promotion, promotion on streaming platforms, merchandising, and innovation during COVID-19 – including all of the steps and missteps in between. Attendees will leave with best practices on how to ensure their next project receives the success it deserves far beyond its debut. 

Bio: Stephen "Night Train 357" Wilkes is a creative emcee who enjoys infusing wordplay with subject matter not often touched upon in the hip-hop community. He has performed with the likes of Black Sheep, Nonchalant, Logic, Salt (from Salt-N-Pepa), Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, Slick Rick, Ethan Spalding, Edword Asis, NuChoyce, and Biz Markie, as well as a long list of DJs, emcees, singers, and musicians.
History of Music Publishing - By Canute Ireland
This session covers the history of music publishing, types of music publishers, the difference between music publishers and record labels, the role of music publishers, and types of music publishing royalties. The session will allow attendees to gain a better understanding of how to work with music publishers in the future. 
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Bio: Canute Ireland aka Rosebud Ireland is a DC-based songwriter, composer, and performer. An ambitious musician who knows music is his passion and identity, Canute Ireland’s main instruments are voice, piano, and guitar. After overcoming early learning challenges related to dyslexia in school, which helped him improve his reading and writing skills tremendously, he now understands the importance of finding strength in perceived vulnerability. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Virginia College at Wise. 
DEV: Three Keys for Success in Your Creative Career - By Daniel Warren Hill
Much of the world considers art to be from the heart, and business to form in the brain. These seemingly disparate worlds create friction for the creative individual hoping to generate income from their artistic endeavors. Guided by a discussion of the forthcoming book by Daniel Warren Hill, DEV: 3 Keys For Success In Your Creative Career, the session takes readers on a journey to identify their purpose and achieve individual success through the principles of discipline, enthusiasm, and vulnerability (or DEV). Attendees will learn how to establish intentions, invest in developing lifelong relationships, and make plans with measurable results. Regardless of your artistic endeavor, this interactive, empowering session will provide you with clear takeaways on how to focus on what's really important to you – your happiness, health, and wellbeing – while spending time doing what you love with measurable growth and results. 
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Bio: Daniel Warren Hill is an American musician, media developer, and entrepreneur. He is best known as the frontman for Washington DC area Alternative Rock band YellowTieGuy; owner of music news and entertainment outlet Alchemical Records; and co-founder of the diverse and inclusive musician empowerment organization, Capitol Groove Collective. Daniel’s lifelong vision has been to set an example of how to achieve creative, financial, and spiritual success by tapping into the value of your own creative outlets and artistic endeavors.
Creativity with no coins: Is there such thing as “High Quality” on a budget? - By Kiana LeCounte
This session is an interactive guide to learning how to create the opportunities you want without breaking the bank. Attendees will learn how to maneuver and capitalize on the opportunities they want by using different methods like the “barter” system, how to negotiate with venues and business owners to get the outcomes you want, and how to use the things around you to create new opportunities. Session topics include how to create events, income, content, and a following by using available resources. Prepare to be empowered and learn how perceived financial deprivations are not finite when it comes to creativity. 
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Bio: Singer-songwriter and DC native K'la Soul is here to bring the vibes and empowerment to the people. K'la Soul embodies the essence of R&B and jazz, with a touch of pop and a dab of trap. K'la brings years of classical voice, musical theater experience, fused with hip hop vibes and DC culture and has been performing since age 5. A graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, K’la performed classical music with the Howard University Chapel Choir, broadcasting every Sunday morning on WHUR-FM 96.3. During her time with Howard University, the choir was invited to perform at the White House (Obama) three times, with K’la as a featured soloist. K’la has also performed for the National Black Caucus, NAACP, Former South African President Jacob Zuma, and Daughters of the Revolution. She also traveled with Rapper “Le’Asha” to Paisley Park to compete in their first ever Battle of the Bands. In 2017, K’la toured Europe with the “La Bella Voce” ensemble. While in Florence, Italy, she received the “Angel Medallion Award,” commissioned by John Pope II and awarded by The Vatican. 
Access Granted: How To Protect Your Money & Your Mind in the Music Business - By Jessica Teachey
This session will expose and dive into the various communication methods artists and creatives use to manage their art and business affairs, including phone, website, social media, in-person meetings. For many, these activities become one in the same…blurring the work-life balance barriers that are easily defined by those with a 9-5 structured job. Instead, artists and creatives are expected to be “on call” and always available to EVERYONE: whether it's personal, professional, or even a fan reaching out! This session teaches artists and creatives how to build effective communications systems, barriers, and access points for the various activities and people in their life. Attendees will leave the session with at least two new "Barriers of Entry" they will implement into their communication methods and styles in order to reduce stress, anxiety, confusion, and misunderstanding while producing more clarity, professionalism, and socially appropriate contact with the outside world as they attempt to grow their platform and reach.
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Bio: Jessica F. Teachey, Director of Community Engagement, is a graduate of Howard University’s School of Business with a degree in hospitality management. As the Director of Community Engagement, she plans, oversees, and executes our most public-facing events, including The Wammie Awards and The Funk Parade. Entering her fifth year with The MusicianShip, Jessica focuses on increasing music education awareness with regional musicians, preserving music history and cultural community experiences, and growing global program visibility for The MusicianShip. For the past seventeen years, Jessica has been immersed in youth development work with various nonprofits across the country. Her love of Jazz, Go-Go, Hip-Hop, and Pop led her to become a student of the music business and industry, eventually landing her a career in music event logistics and community project planning with The MusicianShip.
Music with a Message Masterclass - By Emma G 
As an Empowerment through Music and Songwriting coach [specifically for teenagers], Emma G presents a Masterclass on Songwriting - specifically for those who are wanting to dive deeper into artivism and making music with a message. This workshop covers word dumping, songwriting tips and structure, digging deeper, show don't tell, marrying lyrics and music, and getting raw and real. Every participant will walk away with a fully completed chorus and ready-to-use strategies for unblocking writer’s block. 

Bio: Saving the world one song at a time, Emma G is an award-winning Musician, Youth Empowerment Coach, Artivist [Artistic Activity], Hydrocephalus Survivor and Thriver [10 brain surgeries!], Hug Dealer, Mentor, Speaker and Edu-tainer, Author, and Podcaster. Through her music and service, she leads by example, teaching others how to turn struggles, traumas, fears, and overwhelm into empowering songs that change the world. Emma G has been featured on CBC, CBS, RNZ, The Daily Show, WUSA9, DASH, Washingtonian, On Tap, and Stuff.co.nz.
Creative Entrepreneurship in a Post-COVID World: How to (Re)build Your Business as an Independent Artist - By Stephanie Mathis
This session explores important legal considerations and business formation strategies in order to best position independent artists (and entities who work with independent artists) for monetization in the post-COVID music business landscape. Attendees will learn how to navigate the balance between artistry and the necessary business skills required to succeed in a music industry that has changed significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an increased reliance on content in the digital space, including strategies for protecting their online content. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable guidance in fortifying their business and brand within the constraints of the pandemic.


Bio: Stephanie Mathis, Esq., is an attorney and owner of DMV-based law firm, SKTLegal, a law practice focusing on entertainment law, copyright and trademark Law, nonprofit law, and business law. SKTLegal was established in 2015 from Stephanie’s desire to provide affordable, accessible, competent, and comprehensive legal services to entertainers and entrepreneurs. Notably, Stephanie has a passion for equipping independent artists with foundational legal literacy as it relates to intellectual property rights in the global music economy. Stephanie is also an independent singer, songwriter, pianist, attorney, and producer performing as SAINT T. Her 2013 EP, The Hour, was nominated for Best Urban EP for the 2015 Independent Music Awards. Her single “IDK” won the 2019 WAMMIE Award for Best Soul Song. In 2020, she released a follow up single, “Don’t,” and a new project is slated for release later this year. 
Clave - The Orphan Roots of American Culture - By Jean-Francis Varre 
This interactive session sheds light on the Black African aesthetic of rhythmic structure commonly dubbed “syncopation” by western musicologists but better explained by the Afro-Cuban concept of the “Clave.” Through a combination of short verbal histories of various “claves” and live demonstrations of the musical styles on guitar, vocals, and dance, attendees will learn how the Clave influenced western concepts of musical meter, how the Clave remains at the core of nearly all modern music, and how musicians can apply the Clave to composition. Discussion topics include the evolution and cross-pollination of African rhythms in the Americas since the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, how the Clave influenced African American music despite the prohibition of African drumming in the U.S., polyrhythm and orchestration, and more. Participants will enhance their knowledge of the Clave through guided clapping and drumming exercises and experience the physical and psychological healing properties of rhythm and communal drum and dance. ​

Bio: Jean-Francis Varre is a first-generation Washington, DC native. His parents are Senegalese of Serrer, Wolof, French, and Cape Verdien descent, and he traveled often between Senegal and the U.S. in his youth. The experience, particularly the relationship between Africa and its Diaspora, eventually attracted him to music and sociology, with a focus on post-colonial studies. A world traveler to countries including Cuba, Brazil, and Senegal, Jean-Francis expands his perspectives and understanding of the African Diaspora with each place he visits, frequently performing and conducting workshops to uplift communities. His original fusion project “Sahel” is slated for release later this year. 
Audio 101 For Songwriters - From Creating a Basic Demo to Preparing for a First Recording Studio Session - By Howard Rabach
Attendees learn how to set up and produce a decent quality demo recording in their own home with inexpensive purchases or with gear they might already own. Additionally, they learn how to set up a space to record, even in the most challenging of environments – and how to prepare for recording studio session s to maximize their work time and get the results they want. Attendees will leave with clear strategies on selecting the best engineer/producer to work with based on their needs and what to expect as a result of the partnership. The interactive session is geared toward newer and up-and-coming musicians who are taking the first steps to producing a project to showcase their work. Session topics include recording on devices ranging from a smart phone to a computer interface, selecting the best mic for your project and budget, and more. Participants will receive guided direction and participate in live demonstrations during the interactive session, which will take some of the mystique out of the recording process. ​

Bio: Howard Rabach is a highly trained veteran musician, producer, and session bassist with over 25 years of performing and recording experience. Originally born and raised in and around New York City, he moved to the DC metro area in 1993. Throughout his career, he has had the pleasure of working with a range of artists, including as The Smithereens, The Grey A, Ubiquity Machine, Andy Trice, Chai Notes Band, Fat Chance, and Kevin Dudley. Overall, as a musician, producer, and arranger, his primary goal is to consistently serve the song. Howard is endorsed by GAMMA Custom Basses and holds master’s degrees in audio engineering and secondary education. He is married to a wonderfully supportive spouse, and has, so far, survived parenting twin teenage boys. 
Finetuning the Business Side of Your Craft for Success - By Charles Motte
 This interactive panel will discuss the business side of music and the importance of making your business works for you including properly registering your business, protecting your intellectual property and, making sure your operations supports you and your craft.  The experienced panelists, who have worked with hundreds of small businesses, will provide valued tips and recommendations to allow you to focus on your craft.

Bio: Over 30 years in technical and management consulting with large and small firms. Has led, managed and participated on varied business and technical projects and has provided business and technical counseling to numerous small business clients. Management experience on Federal, State and Local pursuits that includes writing, editing, theme creation, team selection and development, bid and pricing strategy, content, aesthetics, and review coordination. Familiarity with procurement processes, terminology and contract types. Developed and edited various marketing and information collateral for hardcopy, softcopy and web dissemination. Knowledgeable on Microsoft Offices Suites 2013, 2010 and 2007 and other business productivity software.
Don’t Stop The Feeling: A Care for Creatives Community Conversation - By Maryann Lombardi
During this session, attendees learn how to maintain their resilience, shift their routine while minimizing stress and anxiety, and tackle questions and concerns sourced from the community. Care for Creatives is a partnership between the DC Creative Affairs Office and the George Washington University, Community Counseling Services Center (CCSC), which provides pay-what-you-can mental health services to area creatives. In the height of the pandemic, the program expanded to include the Care for Creatives Community Conversations, an on-demand series of conversations focused on supporting the mental health of district creatives and entrepreneurs. Attendees will be equipped with clear, applicable takeaways on protecting their mental health during interactive conversations with Maryann Lombardi (CAO), a licensed professional therapist, and a DC-based musician.

Bio:
The DC Creative Affairs Office (CAO) showcases and preserves the District of Columbia’s rich creative communities throughout all 8 Wards. CAO builds sustainability in the creative community through policy, programming, and education, which further expands the pathway to the middle class for the creative workforce. CAO coordinates public, private, and community partners to accomplish all goals and create equitable and inclusive opportunities for the district’s creatives.
"Maximizing Your Artist Brand: A Panel On Creating Unique Digital Marketing Strategies - By Women in Music DC with Morgan Kaylor and Matthew Limones
Tune in to this year’s virtual DC Music Summit as Women in Music’s (WIM) DC Chapter presents the panel, “Maximizing Your Artist Brand: A Panel On Creating Unique Digital Marketing Strategies,” featuring Morgan Kaylor, WIM DC’s Chapter Chair, and Matthew Limones, Marketing Director at Universal Music Group. It’s been a rough year for artists, any type of creative really, due to COVID-19 preventing live, in-person concerts and events—artists have had to adapt and get creative about the ways with which they promote themselves during this time. So let’s talk about digital marketing techniques that artists can use to promote themselves/ their brand in these times of quarantine, while trying to break through the fast-paced, highly saturated music industry market itself. This panel covers how artists can produce unique, effective digital marketing content strategies, which platforms to utilize in order to maximize visibility, and a host of other digital marketing tips.
Rethinking How Your Music Builds a Fan Base and Your Bank Account in 2021 and Beyond - By Kristyn Marrott and Maria Roberts
In 2020, 75% of venues and gigs and 25% for other mainstream revenue streams were lost due to the pandemic ($9 million dollars). Per BMI, synch licensing and virtual gigging saw an increase of 2.2% from June to August 2020 equal to $1.283 billion dollars. “If on March 1st I opened up my QuickBooks and ran a profit and loss [statement] from any year over the last ten years, basically about 85% of my revenue came from live performances, and I’m a guy who has a mortgage and two kids under the age of three…and I’m pretty much assuming that my business doesn’t come back on the road until fall 2021 at the earliest, so that leaves me optimistically with 18 months to fill this huge 85% hole. – Joe Pug, Forbes magazine. What can we do about it? This session, which includes an interactive Q&A, covers musicians’ unique ways of continuing to make and share music, diversifying revenue and fan base building streams, and the short and long-term future of music.
Bio:
Kristyn Marrott is the lead singer of Queens over Kings (Q.O.K.) and manages artist development for Blank Tape Studios in Sterling, VA. She shares her expertise from over 10 years of touring, recording, and songwriting to help artists better understand the business side of music. She is the winner of WMATA Poetry on Glass (her poems to be etched on 2 Silver Station platforms), and her band has won several local and national awards.

Maria Roberts is the band manager for several bands in the Northern VA area. Her first band being Queens over Kings. She has over 25 years of experience in business development and uses these acquired skills to propel her bands to national exposure. She specializes in music licensing and teaching business acumen at Blank Tape Studios. One of her more newer artist’s country song hit 35,000 downloads in its first month of distribution.

PANEL - Women Administrators in the Music Business 

Ariel Davis (arts consultant), and Sterlyn Termine (BlackGirlMusic) co-host a conversation with arts administrators and musicians, with a focus on how they have navigated the music world and jump started their careers. This session is especially geared to recent college grads, and to those seeking to transition toward administration and music business.

Ariel Davis

Sterlyn Termine
Ariel has a robust background working to support arts organizations that uplift cultural expression across diverse communities. She is the Program Manager for the Social Impact department at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where she has helped to manage large scale projects geared towards amplifying the work of artists throughout the performing arts sector on local and national levels. When she’s not at The Kennedy Center, she spends time supporting The HBCU Jazz Education Initiative as a founding member and Consulting Director. She is also a part time member of the Knowledge and Strategy team for The Lewis Prize for Music, an organization that provides financial support for Creative Youth Development music leaders and organizations across the country, where she leads in their communications efforts. Additionally, she is the co-founder and a current board member of The Arts Administrators of Color Network, an organization she helped establish in 2016.
Sterlyn Termine is musician and recent Howard University graduate from Brockton, MA. She is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and founder of BlackGirlMusic, a digital platform dedicated to recognizing and elevating black women in music. As a musician in the DMV area, she has served as musical director for local artists, premiered classical works for piano and chamber ensembles, and performed at venues such as the Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and The Bethesda House of Blues. After her studies, she hopes to continue performing, creating art and uplifting others through music.

Guitar Gabby

Gabriella “Guitar Gabby” Logan is an Atlanta Native and proud graduate of Spelman College and Vermont Law School. Her background in environmental and music law fueled her desire to start and manage the international Black female touring collective, Guitar Gabby & The TxLips Band, LLC. Logan believes it is important for artists to be well-rounded and versed in many areas of the music business, thus inspiring women worldwide to be an unstoppable force. She is a writer for Guitar World Magazine, the Diversity Editor for Guitar Girl Magazine, and the Board Chair of Girls Rock Asheville

Stacey Williams

Stacey Williams is the proprietress of Jazz Cat Herder, LLC (JCH). Jazz Cat Herder’s primary focus is on arts organization management and the ongoing development of financial literacy and business acumen in new and established talent. Jazz Cat Herder has taken the lead in providing an introduction to the business side of the entertainment industry to middle- and high-school aged artists and their parents, empowering them to make more educated and profitable business decisions. ​
Judy Klein
Judy Klein has extensive experience launching new Brands, Online Services, Artists, Talent, and Entertainment properties to market, but the one thing she is most proud of is her lifelong love of music. 

Klein was instrumental in the development of the first legal B2B digital music distribution service Music Tabs in 1997; launching the platform in 1998 with music from Jill Scott, D'Angelo, Beanie Man, The Cars, and dozens of other artists from EMI, Warner Music, and others. Working with another digital music provider, her marketing and online advertising savvy led to The Beastie Boys receiving the first RIAA certified Gold Album for digital sales. 

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We Act Radio Panel: The Past, Present and Future of Music

Post Pandemic Discussion of where we've been, where we are and where we're going from here. Everything has changed. How has this crisis created opportunities for a more equitable world of music?
MODERATOR 

Kymone Freeman​

Co-founder We Act Radio (Email: freeman@weactradio.com) Kymone Freeman, artist / activist and co-founder of We Act Radio, DC’s independent progressive radio and TV studio. Freeman is also an award winning playwright.
His most recent stage production "The Night Michael Jackson Died" was the first theatrical performance ever held at the Hamilton Live in downtown DC & appeared in NYC at the historic SOB's.

Michelle Blackwell

Go-Go Artist / Author mysimbamusic@aol.com One of the biggest lady's of Go-Go has appeared with platinum record selling producer Chucky Thompson on multiple projects including DC Rapper Non-Chalant's single which was featured on the soundtrack for the movie "Bullet Proof" starring Damon Wayans and Adam Sandler.

Ignatius Mason

Musician / Studio Owner infantis@aol.com
Vocalist, Drummer, Producer, Sound Engineer, Production Manager. Any of these could be a separate career, but, these are the titles that make up the whole. Ignatius Mason has worked with Kook and the Gang, Roy Ayers, Gil Scott Heron, Chuck Brown and Experience Unlimited among many others over his 40 year career in music.

Darryl Brooks

Deborah Bond
DC's Legendary Music Promoter darryllbrooks@aol.com 
From Go-Go Live at the Capital Centre to the Summer Spirit Festival, from Human Kindness day with Stevie Wonder to every single Prince performance in DC, Darryl Brooks has been the most prolific independent music promoter in DC for over 40 years!
Launching from her longtime home-base of Washington, D.C. and taking flight to the rest of the world, Debórah Bond has become an integral part of the fabric of the worldwide indie-soul scene. Launching from her longtime home-base of Washington, D.C. and taking flight to the rest of the world, Debórah Bond has become an integral part of the fabric of the worldwide indie-soul scene.

Be part of a team that’s greater than yourself.