Mississippi is the cradle from which many American music forms have grown to maturity and become an indelible part of the nation’s cultural identity. Beginning with the blues, the bedrock of nearly all American popular music, Mississippi has also provided the sounds and styles, the artists and history, behind numerous other music forms, including gospel, rhythm & blues, rock & roll, soul, country and even hip-hop. Jimmie Rodgers, Elvis
Presley, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King are just some of the American music legends that were born in Mississippi and began their careers there. This panel will explore the roots of these music forms and those artists and contextualize their place in the American music treasury. It will also look at how Mississippi continues to inform popular music and how the state has made its music legacy an important part of cultural tourism.
You know the GRAMMYs, music’s biggest night. But do you know how the Recording Academy engages the music community year-round? From advocacy at the state and federal level on behalf of creators, to professional development programs, to the music education, archiving and preservation programs of the GRAMMY Foundation, to the human service activities of MusiCares, to the remarkable curatorial and public programs series at the GRAMMY Museum, the mission of the Recording Academy goes well beyond awards. We invite you to hear the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Jeff Hanna in conversation with: Christine Albert, Chair of the Recording Academy Board of Trustees, Debbie Carroll, Executive Director of MusiCares, Lynne Sheridan, Director of Public Programs at the GRAMMY Museum, and Scott Goldman, Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares. They’ll discuss the work of an organization committed to the betterment of our music community.
It’s a big world out there, with opportunities in surprising places. Why, when and how should you take your music and music business global? This panel of international experts will discuss artist development, touring, festivals, logistics and negotiating diverse cultures. And who knows? You might have some adventures while opening up new markets.
In October, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will be honoring The Everly Brothers in the annual Music Masters Series. This panel, a discussion between coproducers Lauren Onkey and Jason Hanley and Music Director Rodney Crowell, will explore the impact and legacy of the Everlys who were inducted in the Rock Hall’s inaugural class in 1986 on rock and roll history and Americana music. They will share archival performance clips and discuss the brothers’ unique sound, which made them so essential to the development of rock and roll.
A radio programmer receives hundreds of CDs each week and has limited time to listen. How do you get your music heard and subsequently PLAYED on his or her station? This annual favorite, The Call Day Etiquette panel, will show you the ins and outs, dos and don’ts of Radio Call Days. Featuring the best of the best of Americana radio promoters and programmers, you will hear actual calls and learn the secrets of success to get YOUR record on the TOP of the listening pile.
This popular session allows attendees to participate in a simulated Music Meeting where we’ll listen to a dozen great, mostly yet-to-be-released new songs that the room will score and discuss in detail. Find out why programmers (radio, TV, internet, music bloggers) make the choices they do and how we all hear music in different ways. It’s always fun, informative, good natured and packed, so get there early!
You’ve probably noticed a surge of articles and books in recent years about music and the brain. Emerging research shows that music perception, appreciation, and practice affect the mind. Music can influence learning, memory, stress and emotion. Why does music help us learn our ABC’s? Why do we have that one song that can bring us joy or make us weep? These are questions that researchers are currently investigating. In addition, music may be used as therapy for treatment of a range of brain disorders from PTSD to Alzheimer’s. The panel will survey the current understanding of the connection between music and the mind and foster communication between musicians, clinicians and neuroscientists to help this fascinating and exciting new field reach its full potential.
Eight years in, the success of Record Store Day has been felt by over 2000 record stores internationally and has spilled over to impact artists, management and all aspects of physical music production. Hear about this impact from all sides, and learn how Americana Music Association members can get further involved with this celebration of the culture of the indie record store.
First in Los Angeles in the 1980s and later in Nashville, Billy Block galvanized a community of free-thinking but like-minded, country-rooted, songwriter-oriented musicians and became a central figure in scenes that helped create what we now recognize as Americana music. Lucinda Williams, Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale,
Rodney Crowell, Robbie Fulks, Duane Jarvis, Walter Hyatt, Allison Moorer, Kenny Vaughan and hundreds of others played Block’s stages, performing to rooms full of peers, industry shakers, and fans. Block was Americana’s first impresario, bringing the music to new ears with his radio shows and with his “Western Beat” television program, which aired nationally on CMT. Without Block, the story of Americana would be a different one. This is an invaluable chance to hear Block’s thoughts on Americana’s past, present and future, and to hear him uncover hidden history.
Who are Americana music fans? How do they discover new music? Do they go to live shows? Have they ever bought your merchandise? Are they listening to radio or paying for online services? Who are their favorite artists? Are they even in town this week? Jason Samuel surveyed 1,500 people as part of the most comprehensive study ever conducted on Americana music fans. He will answer these questions and share demographic and psychographic data of the Americana music fan base.
Join us for morning coffee and pastries followed by our annual Americana Music Association membership meeting.
