Journal: News & Comment

Music Tech Summit in Seattle November 11, 2006

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The recording industry isn't known for its progressive attitude about new music distribution technologies. That's putting it mildly. But I was encouraged to receive an invitation to the MusicTech 06 Summit this upcoming November 11 at the Experience Music Project in Seattle. It's run by the Recording Academy, the organization that runs the Grammy awards. (They write it "GRAMMY," in all caps, but I refuse to follow along.)

I booked a ticket right away. The website blurb describes it as...

...a day long gathering that will focus on the intersection of music and technology with an emphasis on how the changing landscape can empower artists and further their careers. The day will consist of a keynote address, three informative panels, interactive demonstrations during lunch and a closing address.

There's a risk that it could have been an event full of dinosaurs talking about how to shade themselves from the Internet asteroid, but the speaker lineup belies that: J Allard and Christina Calio of Microsoft's Zune project (Allard also helmed the Xbox team), Kevin Cole of KEXP, Dave Dederer of the Presidents of the USA, Jason Fiber of Cordless, Ryan Schreiber of Pitchfork, John Simson of SoundExchange, Derek Silvers of CD Baby, Jessica Stoner of Pandora, Tim Quirk of Rhapsody, and Bill Valenti of Melodeo. Those people, for the most part, Get It. So maybe the risk is too much preaching to (or from) the choir instead.

I expect a lively discussion, and I'll blog and podcast as much as I can of it. The event is open to anyone with $40 USD, so come along yourself if you like.

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