Miami - GRAMMY GPS: A Roadmap For Today's Music Biz

GRAMMY GPS: A Road Map For Today’s Music Biz
In this day-long seminar, key industry professionals explore the ever-changing industry and provide tools for success.  Also meet and mingle with creative and technical music professionals and music industry executives through the day.

Location: Gibson Miami Showroom, 2751 North Miami Avenue, Suite 8, Miami FL

Admission: FREE to Recording Academy/GRAMMY U members, $100 non members. Not a member? JOIN The Recording Academy in advance for $100 or $25 for students ($50 until you graduate) thru June 2013 and attend for FREE!  RSVP MANDATORY to 305.672.9597 or florida@grammy.com. LIMITED CAPACITY SO RSVP NOW.

11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Check-in

11:30am. – 1 p.m. – New Income Streams For Songwriters
While songwriters continue to provide creative lifeblood for artist projects, new avenues for use of their material have exploded in recent years.  Synchronization license opportunities continue to expand in film, television and Internet projects and many new opportunities related to social media and mobile technology continue to develop.  Join Jon McHugh, who spent many years at Jive Records and who now runs his own music, film and TV entertainment company Song Stew, as he, L.A.-based songwriter Ruwanga Samath, who has both major artist and major motion picture credits, Miami entertainment attorney Leslie Zigel, who works extensively in licensing, and Miami-area songwriter Cris Zalles, who has penned tunes for many Latin artists, discuss new opportunities for songwriters.  The group will discuss how the deals are structured, ways to find opportunities in these new areas, and future perspectives for songwriters  and licensing.

Jon McHugh, President/CEO Song Stew, Moderator
Jonathan McHugh has spent over 25 years in the music, film & TV business producing TV, film, mobile and digital content. He has music supervised over 25 films, co-produced many gold and platinum soundtracks and been both a film and music executive at companies like New Line Cinema, Jive/Sony, where he co-produced the Britney Spears film “Crossrroads” and most recently Island /Def Jam where he co-produced the Justin Bieber film “Never Say Never” and Morgan Spurlock “Greatest Movie Ever Sold” film.  http://www.songstewent.com/about.html

Luana Pagani, Artist Manager, Seitrack
After holding several top positions at Sony Music (Sr.Vp Marketing Latam + USL/ Sr Vp Global Marketing – Latin) where she had an key role in the international career of Latin icons such as Shakira, Ricardo Arjona, Ricky Martin, Alejandro Fernandez as well as the development in Latam of Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Train etc, she decided to depart from the corporate world and partnered with Ocesa Seitrack from Mexico to manage in the US their roster that includes Alejandra Guzman, Belinda, Zoe and Paty Cantu among others. 

Ruwanga Samath, songwriter (Beyonce, Ke$ha, Saw IV)
Since starting the Bird Call Productions in 2003 Ru has done songs for various major artists including BeyonceKnowles’ “Ring the Alarm” remix, Britney Spears’ “Break the ice” remix, Kelly Rowland’s “Work” remix, The Virgins' "Rich Girls" remix, Flo Rida, Ke$ha, and Girlicious.
His work has also been featured in television shows such as Discovery channel's Battleground Earth: Ludacris Vs. Tommy Lee, and movies such as Saw IV. The song “Just another day”, from Saw IV’s digital soundtrack earned Ru an L.A. Music Award for best rocksong in a film. The highly anticipated Sony Video Game “The Agency” features another one of Ru’s song which was just nominated for a Hollywood Music Award. Ru also composed and produced the compelling hip hop soundtrack for the 2007 indie documentary “Doubletime”.  http://thebirdcall.com/

Marc Stollman, Esq., Stollman Law PA
Marc Stollman has recently re-opened his full service entertainment law practice after three years as “in-house” General Counsel for an important multi-platform entertainment company S2BN Entertainment Corporation. Marc has practiced transactional entertainment law for nearly 20 years, representing television studios and networks, record companies, music and television producers, recording artists, writers, music publishers, promoters, music video producers, internet companies, radio stations, managers, executives, athletes, etc.  Among other, smaller clients, Marc’s television and production related clients have also included Sony Entertainment Television, for whom he handled or managed legal, contractual, clearance and business affairs matters for the successful television series “Fusion A2” and MEGA TV, the television arm of SBS.

Cris Zalles, songwriter/producer (Chayanne, Luis Fonsi)
With over 20 years in the music business, Cris has credits as Producer, Songwriter, Artist, Vocalist, Arranger and Sound Engineer. Warner/Chappell Music Publishing staff writer since 1996. Over 60 songs released around the world by artists like; Ricky Martin, Chayanne, David Bisbal, Luis Fonsi, Ednita Nazario, Olga Tañón, Alejandra Guzmán, Nito Mestre, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Tito Nieves, and many others. ASCAP Latin Songwriter of the year 2005 (pop/latin ballad) for “Cuidarte El Alma”, by Chayanne. Produced and wrote main songs for hit latin musical movie, “Rojo La Película”. Recently worked as vocal producer for Ednita Nazario's 2008 GRAMMY nominated album, "Real" and her latest album, "SOY". Cris, currently runs his own recording studio out of Miami.  http://www.zallesmusic.com/

1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Food Trucks

Gastropod - gastropodmiami.com

Mac'n - macnfoodtruck.com

Bocaditos - www.bocaditostruck.com

1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – In The Box with the Pros

Working “in the box” or fully inside digital audio workstation platforms has become the standard for much audio work today.  This panel will discuss the ways that work in different genres and formats is being done today.  Producer/engineer Tom Morris will moderate the panel, exploring the perspectives of dance/electronic producer/remixer Greg “Stryke” Chin, GRAMMY/Latin GRAMMY/Emmy-winning multi-genre engineer Eric Schilling, and GRAMMY-winning rock/pop engineer David Thoener.  The group will discuss working in the box from each of their own genre and format perspectives, including viewpoints from rock, pop, Latin, electronic, dance and other genres.  The event will also feature a particularly unique angle as Schilling will discuss his work as a music mixer for this year’s 54^th Annual GRAMMY Awards.  He will talk about and play back samples from the master live recording of Adele’s hallmark performance of “Rolling In The Deep” from the telecast.

Tom Morris, producer/engineer (Destiny's Child, The Dixie Dregs), Moderator
Producer/Engineer and co-owner of Morrisound Recording since 1981. Morris has engineered or produced dozens of top acts including The Dixie Dregs, Seven Mary Three, Saigon Kick, Destiny’s Child, John Travolta and Phoenix Mourning.  Morris has previously served as Chapter Governor, Vice President, President and Trustee. http://morrisound.com/ 

Greg “Stryke” Chin, DJ/remixer/engineer (Depeche Mode, Murk)
From his early beginnings, studying classical piano, Stryke has become one of electronic music's brightest artists.  From Billboard chart success with his own productions and remixes of artists like Depeche Mode, Murk, and others, to his constant touring, Stryke is quickly becoming one of the most in demand electronic artists today.  He has been the official DJ for the MTV Music Awards in Miami and has taken on a very close relationship with Digidesign, the maker of the industry standard, award winning, Pro Tools.  Giving back to the community, via fundraising and charity work is this artist’s other passion.

Eric Schilling, GRAMMY/Latin GRAMMY/Emmy-winning engineer/producer (Madonna, Shakira)
After starting his career as a mixer for radio broadcast in high school, at 19 years of age Eric became an assistant engineer at the Record Plant Recording Studios in Sausalito, CA. After relocating to Florida via the San Francisco Bay Area to become an engineer at Bayshore Recording Studios, Eric met and began mixing for Gloria Estefan in 1982. In 1990, he built Crescent Moons studios for the Estefans, which he managed through 1996. His engineering and mixing projects have included Madonna, Babyface, Natalie Cole, Ricky Martin, Jon Secada, Shakira, Frank Sinatra, Cachao, and more. Schilling is a four-time GRAMMY winner and an eleven-time Latin GRAMMY winner.  http://www.ericschilling.com/

David Thoener, GRAMMY-winning producer/engineer (Matchbox Twenty, Bruce Springsteen)
David began engineering and mixing records in 1976, and since then has enjoyed a thirty year run of hit records including classic records for AC/DC ("For Those About To Rock") , John Mellencamp (including "Little Pink Houses"), John Waite (including the smash "Missing You"), J. Geils Band (all of their hits), Matchbox 20 and many others.
In 2000, David won two Grammys -- Record of the Year and Album of the Year -- for recording and mixing "Smooth" by Santana featuring Rob Thomas. In 2005, David mixed hit records for Rob Thomas "Lonely No More", Jason Mraz "Wordplay", Canadian rock band, Idol Sons, in 2006 country artist Faith Hill's "Fireflies" and several hits on Sugarlands new "Enjoy The Ride" CD. Just finished a new New York rock band called Article A and currently working on rock band from South Africa, Civil Twilight.  http://www.davidthoener.com/

3 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. – Break

3:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Independent and Making It Work
Independent artists, marketers and retailers in today’s music industry environment have artistic freedoms combined with advantages and opportunities never seen before.  Broad access to the market and resources via the Internet and big changes in consumer buying habits have contributed to these opportunities.  However, going it alone also contains its share of challenges.  Our panel, which consists of leaders of Florida-based Afrobeta, The Lee Boys and Spam Allstars, all of whom are artists that have achieved success by going the independent route, along with artist manager and former major label staffer Melanie Masterson, and retail and promotion specialists Lolo Reskin (Sweat Records) and Michael Ramirez (Radio Active Records) will discuss the topic.  The group will explore making it work from all angles including marketing and distribution of recordings, touring, merchandising, promotions, use of social media, interfacing with the industry, and also the perspective of independent retailers and other professionals working on an independent basis.

Melanie Masterson, Artist Manager, Eleven:11  Entertainment, Inc., Moderator
Melanie Masterson owns Eleven:11 Entertainment, Inc., a boutique artist management company. Eleven:11's clients include Spam Allstars, ArtOfficial, and studio projects from Pop Garage.  Melanie's background includes business development roles at EMI Latin America, El Sitio/Claxson, and MTV Latin America.  Previously she held marketing & artist development positions for an independent record label (Silva America), and formed her first management company which specialized in management of songwriters and producers (Mainline Management). Melanie started her career as an agent (Famous Artists Agency & SL Feldman & Associates) in 1989.  http://www.eleven-11.net/

Smurphio Amador of Afrobeta
Miami’s avant-dance duo Afrobeta have been tearing up dancefloors in their hometown since 2006 with Miami New Times even naming them Best Band in 2010. After the success of their 2010 debut EP, Do You Party?, the band released their debut album "Under The Streets."
Cuci Amador and Smurphio formed Afrobeta in 2006 as a means to attain an ultimate form of artistic self-expression. Their mutual love...  https://www.facebook.com/afrobetafan/info

DJ Le Spam of Spam Allstars, artist/producer
Miami based Spam Allstars blend improvisational electronic elements and turntables with latin, funk, hip hop and dub to create what they call an electronic descarga. Formed by Andrew Yeomanson, a/k/a DJ Le Spam, the band perform 200+ shows each year and host weekly and monthly residencies in Little Havana and Miami.  They have five independent releases on their own label - Spamusica Records.    DJ Le Spam also runs City of Progress studio in N. Miami, FL.  He has composed/produced film and theatrical scores (Rakantour Film’s Square Grouper, Teo Castellallanos Fat Boy),  has developed music for commercial clients (Pollo Tropical, Volkswagen, WLRN’s Under the Sun, Miami Heat, Nike), as well as recorded several  artists (Apostle of Hustle, Soulphonics, Big Fun 3, The Resolvers,  Yo Mamas Big Fat Booty Band, Fusik, Cleveland Jones).  "Often credited as pioneering the new Miami-fusion sound, a synthesis of electronic music with Latin beats from Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, and other countries whose musicians have migrated to Miami, the Spam Allstars combine live and improvised electronic music and turntables in a vigorous rhythmic celebration that defies categorization." - Boston Globe
http://www.spamallstars.com/about-us.html

Alvin Lee of The Lee Boys
The Lee Boys are one of America's finest African-American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Here they underwent a rigorous course of training in a variety of musical instruments, including lap and pedal steel guitars. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself.  http://www.leeboys.com/

Michael Ramirez, Manager, Radio Active Records - http://radio-active-records.tumblr.com/

Lolo Reskin, CEO, Sweat Records
Lauren "Lolo" Reskin is a Miami native who has been promoting independent music and culture in South Florida for over a decade.  She owns and operates music store/event space/coffee shop Sweat Records, which was awarded a Knight Arts Challenge grant to further serve the local music community.  Lolo also DJs at and hosts the popular weekly Fridays at The Vagabond party, books concerts, and serves on the City of Miami Arts & Entertainment Council.  http://sweatrecordsmiami.com/

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