Ohio University to host 6th annual Music Industry Summit including keynote artists Jason Isbell and Earl Sweatshirt

Ohio University announces the return of its highly anticipated Music Industry Summit. The 6th annual event is scheduled for April 9-10, 2024. The conference will take place in Athens, Ohio on the campus of Ohio University. A virtual attendance option is also available. Registration is open now and is free of charge, thanks to sponsor and donor support.

Promising an unparalleled experience for industry professionals, students, music enthusiasts and aspiring talents alike, this year's Summit boasts an impressive lineup of artists and nearly 50 industry leaders and creatives. Keynote artists for the conference include Grammy-award winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter Jason Isbell and acclaimed hip hop artist Earl Sweatshirt. Isbell will close the conference with a special concert at Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday, April 10.

In addition to the keynote artists, in-depth interviews and panel discussions will be hosted over the two days covering a diverse range of artistic and business topics in the music industry. The conversations will be hosted by a roster of esteemed industry professionals, including:

• Craig Finn, singer/songwriter and frontman for The Hold Steady
• Ambar Lucid, rising artist
• Mary Jo Braun, VP of Music Clearance, Paramount Pictures
• Miriam O’Shea, Partner Manager—Major Labels, YouTube Music
• John Williamson, CEO/Founder, SongFinch
• Angela Ramos, Manager of Global Sync, Meta
• Deborah Mannis-Gardner, President/Owner, DMG Clearances
• Rebecca Shapiro, Sr. VP of Publicity, Shore Fire Media
• Mike Joseph, Director of Label Management, The Orchard
• Dre Slater, Head of Artist Discovery, The Digilogue
• Alex Malcolm, Global Sync Manager, Warner Music Group
• Macy Gilbert, Artist Manager, Grandview Music
• Britnee Foreman, Head of Data Strategy & Digital Operations, Exceleration Music
• Jon Zellner, President of Programming Operations & Digital Music, iHeart Media

"Our team is excited to present the 6th year of the Music Industry Summit. We’ll again be welcoming leading artists and industry experts to campus for two days of events focused on education, networking, and entertainment," said Josh Antonuccio, director of the Music Industry Summit and director of Ohio University’s School of Media Arts and Studies. "The conference has become an epicenter for the next generation of creative professionals to engage with the industries they are passionate about. Not only are we offering our most diverse range of programming options to-date, we are also anticipating our highest attendance.”

The Summit will also offer small group programming including breakout sessions, workshops, and mentoring roundtables which will provide attendees with a more intimate glimpse into the inner workings of various areas of the music industry. Breakout sessions and workshops will include sessions by Kevin Rutherford of Billboard on preparing music for charts, Chillwave artist Brothertiger in a music technology masterclass sponsored by Roland, a session on music supervision for films and television by Rachael LaCava, presented by the Guild of Music Supervisors, an AI Music Production workshop presented by Kevin Breuner of BandLab Technologies, Andrew Morgan of Wasserman Music discussing how artists work with booking agents, and a session on music royalties with Cameryn Conner of the Mechanical Licensing Collective.

“We have curated a lineup of business leaders and artists at the forefront of innovation and creativity in the music industry," said Paul Benedict, director of Ohio University’s Center for Entrepreneurship. "We’re offering the world’s best music industry networking and learning opportunities that will always be free to students.”

Mentoring roundtables, which were added to the offerings in 2023 and were a highlight for attendees, will return. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to participate in these small group conversations, fostering intimate and meaningful conversations with industry experts. Nearly 40 artists and professionals will host these conversations, including notable alumni Faith Galloway of Bauer Entertainment Marketing, Universal Music Publishing Group artist Jaron Takach, Sarah Kloboves of Chartmetric, Brian Muehlenkamp of Ticketmaster, and other industry professionals such as New York Times journalist Marcus J. Moore, BandLab Technologies’ Head of Communications and Creator Insights/ Recording Academy Chicago Governor Dani Deahl, and immersive experience expert David De Cristofaro who recently worked with U2 on their residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

Two evening events will be held at Stuart’s Opera House in nearby Nelsonville, OH. In partnership with OHIO Live and the Music Industry Summit, Stuart’s will host performances by indie rock veterans Bully and Craig Finn on Monday, April 8, at the historic venue. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Stuart’s Opera House’s arts education programs. Tickets are on sale now starting at $25.

Stuart’s Opera House will also host the Opening Night Party, presented by sponsor 10K Humans, on Tuesday, April 9. This party will feature a DJ set by J Rawls. Summit registrants and the general public are invited to enjoy this free networking opportunity and entertainment. A separate registration is required to attend.

At the conclusion of the day programming on Wednesday, April 10, StewMac, an Athens-based company specializing in the production of luthier tools, guitar parts, and supplies, will open the doors to their historical building for a Happy Hour and Jam Session. This is also a free event but requires a separate registration.

Following the Happy Hour, Isbell will perform the Closing Night Concert at Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium with opening act Peter One. This show is sold out. 

"We couldn't be more excited to bring an artist of Jason Isbell's extraordinary level of talent to Athens,” said Drew Holzapfel, executive director of OHIO Performing Arts and Concert Series. “His presence elevates the caliber of our event, and we look forward to the insights and inspiration that he will share about his storied career during his keynote, followed by enjoying his sure-to-be captivating sold out performance.”

The official after party will be held at The Union Bar following the concert. Partners Midnight Music and Blackout Booking have scheduled five regional artists to perform at the party: Loljack, Vonoski, Weongo, Cano & J Tolb, and Auburn Hill. Doors open at 9 p.m. and an $8 cover will be required for entry.

The OHIO Music Industry Summit has become the largest music industry conference in the Midwest and was named one of the “7 Essential Music Conferences” by Soundfly, along with conferences, such as South by Southwest and Canadian Music Week. Last year’s conference was attended by nearly 1,100 registrants, in-person and online, from 15 states and 15 countries.

All day programming will be held in the Baker University Center. Virtual attendees will have access to day programming through the dedicated Music Industry Summit app which also provides additional networking opportunities.

Registration is open to anyone and is free of charge thanks in large part to through the support of nearly 50 campus and industry sponsors includingHaden DeRoberts Foundation, Revada Foundation, Shure, Myxt, and the Ohio Arts Council.

The Music Industry Summit is produced by Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication and The School of Media Arts and Studies, College of Fine Arts’ Performing Arts and Concert Series and the Center for Entrepreneurship, in partnership with the College of Business, TechGrowth Ohio, and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service.

For more information on registering, the full schedule of events, speaker biographies and more, please visit https://www.ohio.edu/music-industry-summit.