Music Industry Conference Addresses ‘State of the Music Industry’
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2000
Joe Wills
530-898-4143
Paul Friedlander, Music Industry Program Director
530-898-5243
Music Industry Conference Addresses ‘State of the Music Industry’
California State University, Chico’s music industry program — the nation’s fifth largest — will host the Music and Entertainment Industry Educator’s Association (MEIEA) International Conference Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, in the university’s Performing Arts Center.
The conference will include as part of its activities CSU, Chico’s popular Music Industry 2000 Symposium, now in its third year.
The MEIEA conference and symposium will attract 200 music industry faculty and students from approximately 60 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. Guest speakers will include music industry leaders and Web-based company founders and designers.
On Friday, March 31, music industry students will be able to attend the MEIEA Career Faire. Industry representatives from Dolby Labs, DigiDesign, Fender, Roland, Yamaha, Apple, George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch, Liquid Audio and Riffage.com are scheduled to attend. The representatives from record labels, e-commerce companies, publishing companies, retail stores, recording studios, film companies and other industry businesses will also conduct panels and mentor sessions for participants.
Perhaps the best known Career Faire participant is Chris Stone, founder of one of the country’s most famous recording studios, The Record Plant. Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles and Bruce Springsteen are some of the artists who have recorded at Stone’s studio.
Friday will also feature panel discussions on music industry careers. Speakers will include David Porter, CEO of Music Annex Studios and Post Production; Allan Foster, editor of “Songwriter’s Monthly”; Diane Rapaport, author of “How to Make and Sell Your Own Record”; and Tim Sweeney, former A&R head of MCA Records and author of “Guide to Releasing Independent Records.”
On Saturday, April 1, symposium speakers will be addressing the question, “How is Internet and digital technology changing the way artists, the music industry and consumers conduct their business?” After presentations in the Performing Arts Center’s Ruth Rowland Taylor Theatre, attendees will be able to ask questions of the speakers.
“The music industry is in complete turmoil,” said CSU, Chico music professor Paul Friedlander. “Digital technology, e-commerce and mega-mergers have de-stabilized the way of life, and when the dust settles, the picture may look very different. We have invited people to speak who can see through the storm.”
Friedlander is director of CSU, Chico’s music industry program and secretary of MEIEA.
MEIEA Conference
MEIEA International Conference and Music Industry 2000 Symposium attendees will have ample opportunity to hear live music. For the second year, Chico will host the “indie” music showcase festival Nowhere X Nowhere. The festival will feature 150 bands from the West Coast, Australia and Canada at seven Chico clubs over three nights to coincide with the conference.
For further information, call Friedlander at (530) 898-5243, send e-mail to pfriedlander@csuchico.edu or go to Web site www.csuchico.edu/mi2000.
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