February 11 symposium in DC / Future of Music Coalition

[Kevin Amos]

Wednesday, February 11 , 2009

TIME DESCRIPTION

9:15 AM - 10:45 AM Adjust Your Dial: Radio for the 21st Century
In recent years, terrestrial radio has seen its fair share of challenges: competing technologies, shifting demographics, and a stuttering economy. But radio is still a vital technology that draws huge audiences and serves an essential purpose, acting as a conduit for community news and information and potentially supporting local culture and music.

With the new administration in place, panelists will discuss the status of some of the key radio-related issues facing the FCC and Congress: media ownership rules, ongoing efforts to improve localism, the expansion of low power licenses, public performance royalties, indie label market share and the effect of the 2007 payola settlement on airplay. What would radio look like in a perfect world, and how could it best serve musicians, record labels, arts organizations and the public?

Bryan Calhoun Vice President, New Media & External Affairs, SoundExchange
Parul Desai Associate Director, Media Access Project
Peter Gordon President, Thirsty Ear Recordings
Randy Hawke Operations Manager, Mid-West Family Broadcasting
Frannie Wellings Legislative Assistant, Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
Brian Austin Whitney Founder, Just Plain Folks
Michael Bracy Policy Director, Future of Music Coalition (moderator)

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Broad-band: Internet and Spectrum Policy and the Creative Class
For years, Congress and the FCC have worked on a series of initiatives designed to revise the telecommunications regulatory framework, including everything from broadband deployment and network neutrality to spectrum reform. It's clear that these issues are a top priority for the Obama administration, but which will be tackled first? How will proposed revisions impact musicians, tech entrepreneurs and the public? How does broadband policy intersect with concerns about protecting intellectual property? What would a pro-musician Telecom Act look like?

Sascha Meinrath Research Director, Wireless Future Program, New America Foundation
Michael Petricone Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Consumer Electronics Association
Ben Scott Policy Director, Free Press
Hank Shocklee Music Industry Producer, Founder of Public Enemy, President of Shocklee Entertainment
Brian Zisk Technologies Director, Future of Music Coalition (moderator)



2:00 PM - 2:20 PM Keynote Address: Michael J. Copps Acting Chairman, Federal Communications Commission

2:20 PM - 3:50 PM Win-Win When? Copyright and Innovation in the Digital Age The Obama administration has made it clear that intellectual property and copyright are core issues, stating in its transition documents that it intends to "update and reform our copyright and patent systems to promote civic discourse, innovation, and investment while ensuring that intellectual property owners are fairly treated." Will we see a renewed focus on copyright reform, orphan works, sampling, the length of term, or creators' right to exploit? Will the administration revisit the DMCA? And what will be the role of the proposed "Copyright Czar"? Leading voices from the music, technology and policy communities will discuss how to craft and implement dynamic, forward thinking policies that will ensure artist compensation.

Rick Carnes President, Songwriters Guild of America
David Carson General Counsel, US Copyright Office
Zahavah Levine Chief Counsel, YouTube
Steve Marks Executive VP and General Counsel, RIAA
Hal Ponder Director of Government Relations, American Federation of Musicians
Gigi Sohn President, Public Knowledge
Walter McDonough General Counsel, Future of Music Coalition (moderator)

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Fair Trade Music: Toward a Legitimate Digital Music Marketplace
Thanks to the internet, there are now a mind-boggling array of legal tools and services that help musicians promote, distribute and sell their music while offering fans unprecedented avenues of discovery and interaction. Tech entrepreneurs have devised many brilliant and beloved applications for the legal distribution or streaming of music, but new models often struggle to succeed working within the constraints of existing copyright law, licensing fees and telecommunications policies. Using the Policy Day’s discussion as a starting point, leading entrepreneurs and artist representatives will discuss how technology is changing the music marketplace, and what changes in broadband, broadcast or IP policy are the most important to address to ensure creators are compensated and innovation can flourish. What laws are hindering the development of these new business models? Do any laws need to change to encourage new innovative models?

David Beal President, National Geographic Entertainment
Peter Jenner President Emeritus, IMMF
Alec Ounsworth Musician, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Justin Ouellette CEO & Founder, Muxtape
Derek Sivers Founder, CD Baby (moderator)

For more info go to:

http://www.futureofmusic.org/

Kevin