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Category: C.A.N. Events Calendar
Date: Thursday, September 8, 2011 - 7:00 PM

Future of Music Symposium - Featuring international digital music keynote speaker, David Kusek

The City’s Music Division will host a Future of Music Symposium. The event will feature David Kusek, international digital music keynote speaker and one of the first to capitalize on the commercial potential of computers and music. The symposium will take place at the City Hall Council Chambers, Rm 1001, 301 West 2nd Street.

“This is a great opportunity for the music community to hear first hand from a world renowned digital music expert how Austin’s talent can better compete in the digital economy,” said Mayor Lee Leffingwell.

Participants can expect to learn the issues important to the future of music and uncover its opportunities and challenges. The symposium hopes to inspire artists and music business owners to take advantage of this next platform. The event is free, open to the public and will include a Q&A session.

“The possibilities are endless when you consider the potential economic impact the new business models for music can create,” said Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office Director, Kevin Johns, “it’s very exciting.”

David Kusek is the VP of Berklee Media, CEO of Berkleemusic, a digital music pioneer, author and entrepreneur. Kusek will speak on behalf of his 2005 best selling music business book, "The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution." Kusek has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, MTV, CNBC, Billboard, Wired, The Boston Globe, The Christian Science Monitor, Associated Press and The Financial Times. He is also a frequent speaker on NPR, NBC-TV, and the BBC among several others.

Don Pitts, Manager for the City’s Music Division said future music speaker series are in the works. “This will be the first in a series of guest speakers we'll invite to share their professional perspective with the Austin music community,” said Pitts. “Each of these speakers will bring a specific area of expertise to the table that will provide solutions and inspiration to our local music community” he said.

The City of Austin Music Division along with the Austin Music Foundation also recently announced the launch of a Creative Media Center (1901 East 51st Street) in July which offers innovative career development and music-business education programs for musicians.

Contact: Don Pitts with the City of Austin at 974-7821.