October 5-7, 2006
McGill University's Schulich School of Music, Montreal, Canada
in conjunction with Pop Montreal

WASHINGTON - Top names in music, technology, law, academia and policy will convene in Montreal, Canada from October 5-7, 2006 to discuss crucial issues facing musicians and the music industry. Presented in partnership with McGill University's Schulich School of Music and Pop Montreal, the Policy Summit will provide musicians, students, attorneys, advocates and policymakers with opportunity to examine the critical issues facing the international music community through a robust debate.

By convening this Summit in Montreal, Canada, FMC will broaden the scope of its annual educational program to address the variety of issues that are affecting musicians and music communities in the US, Canada, and worldwide as production, promotion and sales increasingly moves to a global digital platform. The Policy Summit will be held in conjunction with the fifth annual Pop Montreal International Music Festival (October 4-8, 2006), a five day festival of independent music, film, art, and ideas.

FMC has convened and hosted five Policy Summits in Washington, DC since 2000, each bringing hundreds of musicians, policymakers, advocates, attorneys, and technologists together for engaging discussions about emerging music/technology issues.

Widely praised by advocates and industry alike, FMC's Policy Summit has built a reputation as "a kind of Geneva where all sides in any number of contentious music industry fights can get together and play nice for a few days." Even more importantly, the Policy Summits offer policymakers "a rare opportunity to hear musicians articulate their concerns in person instead of relying on competing lobbying groups that claim to espouse their interests" (Washington Post, May 6, 2004).

"We are thrilled with the opportunity to take the Policy Summit to a new level this year, " said FMC executive director, Jenny Toomey. "McGill University's Schulich School of Music provides a perfect setting, with its vast resources and unparalleled prominence in the Canadian music and academic communities. Plus, programming the Summit in conjunction with Pop Montreal provides the event with an excellent context and the opportunity to bring many new independent and creative voices into the discussions."

About the Future of Music Coalition

The Future of Music Coalition is a national nonprofit education, research and advocacy organization that identifies, examines, interprets and translates the challenging issues at the intersection of music, law, technology and policy. FMC achieves this through continuous interaction with its primary constituency - musicians - and in collaboration with other creator/citizen groups.

About McGill University's Schulich School of Music

With over 800 students, McGill has developed into Canada's artistic and academic leader for professional training and research in music. At McGill's Schulich School of Music, the art of music making and the science of music research work in tandem for the advancement of learning through musical experience. Building on these combined strengths, McGill's goal is to develop musicians who are as comfortable in the recording studio and research lab as they are on the performing stage, and scientific researchers in music who are as sensitive to artistic complexity as they are to scientific outcomes.

About Pop Montreal

Launched by friends and colleagues in 2002, Pop Montreal is an annual not-for-profit curated cultural event that champions independence in the arts by presenting emerging and celebrated artistic talents from Quebec, Canada and around the world. Set in a multi-lingual environment, each year this 5-day festival presents more than 400 artistic talents to over 37,000 fans, delivering a bold cross-section of art forms and events including symposium discussions, artisan and visual art exhibitions, and special immersive performances, providing a dynamic introduction to the next generation of musical talent and independent art forms.

In order to make sure that musicians are not left out of the music/technology debate, we have created artist scholarships for this event. This way, many of the audience participants are those who have the biggest stake in the policy debate -- musicians themselves.

In the past, thanks to some generous contributions from foundations, technology companies, sponsors, and musician advocacy groups, 200 musicians have been able to attend the Policy Summit for free. We hope to achieve the same level of support this year and offer a similar number of scholarships for our 2006 Policy Summit in Montreal.

Go here to apply
http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit06/scholarships.cfm

If you're interested in applying for a scholarship this year, it's simple. http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit06/scholarships.cfm Just fill out this online application, giving us a paragraph or two that describes your musician background and explains why you're interested in receiving a scholarship.

After you hit "submit", your info will be sent to us (you'll get a copy in your inbox as well), where it will be reviewed by our musician scholarship coordinator. He will then promptly inform you via email about the status of your application.

Note that the scholarship only waives your registration fees. FMC cannot cover travel or lodging expenses.

Help us help more musicians!

You can help us to have as diverse and enthusiastic audience as possible by letting other musicians, label mates, and songwriters know about the Policy Summit and the scholarship opportunities.

FMC welcomes media representatives from print, web, radio and TV and bloggers to cover the Policy Summit. If you are interested in requesting press credentials, http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit06/press.cfm please fill out this short form. Our media representative will review the request and get back to you promptly.

In advance of the event, we are happy to chat with you about the event's goals and programming, or arrange pre-interviews with speakers or panelists. Just contact:

Media Relations/Press Credentialing/Press Requests
Email Chhaya Kapadia: chhaya@futureofmusic.org
Tel (202) 518-4117

Read press blurbs from prior Summits 2001-2005 :
http://www.futureofmusic.org/images/pressblurbs.Summit01-05.pdf Three-page PDF
Read Summit 05 press clips http://www.futureofmusic.org/images/pressclips.Summit05.pdf 18-page PDF

FMC offers a range of affordable registration options for Summit participants, including a Superpass that also gives you access to dozens of Pop Montreal shows. Limited quantities available!

The process is simple. Just go here to https://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit/regform.cfm and fill out the form. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted and charged over our secure server. We can also handle checks and Paypal payments.

Registration prices are based on US currency, so if you are using a Canadian, EU or UK credit card, actual amount billed will be based on exchange rate on date of transaction. Prices listed are based on an exchange rate of 1 CAN = 0.891 USD and are for your information only.

Prices include GST/PST.

Superpass: $215 US ($241 CAN)
This pass will give you access to all Summit panels, workshops and Summit-related parties, as well as access to all paid Pop Montreal events including shows, Film Pop and Art Pop. FMC can only sell 50 of these special passes so reserve yours today!

Regular Summit Registration: $150 USD ($168 CAN)
This three-day pass gives you access to all Summit panels, workshops and Summit-related parties.

Summit Day Registration: $60 USD ($67 CAN)
A single-day pass gives you access to all Summit panels, workshops and Summit-related parties held on that day.

Discounts for Students

Student Registration: $75 USD ($84 CAN)
Includes access to all Summit panels, workshops and cocktail parties. Students must present student ID to pick up their badge.

Student Day Registration: $30 USD ($34 CAN)
Student rates for a single day of programming.

Workshops

Workshop pass: price TBD but under $20
Attend two workshops of your choosing for a low, low price.

Don't Forget: Musician Scholarships

FMC has a limited number of scholarships available for working musicians. The scholarship waives the registration fees, but we cannot cover lodging or travel expenses. Apply for a scholarship here: http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit06/scholarships.cfm.

Expect more details about programming and our first batch of panelist confirmations very soon!

We're hard at work sorting through dozens of ideas and hundreds of potential panelists to take part in this year's Policy Summit. Programming this event is both challenging and fascinating -- it gives us an opportunity to learn about the Canadian music community, and also dip our collective toes in the the big lake of international copyright law and global licensing issues. Expect panels that explore the new challenges as the production and distribution of music increasingly move to a global platform.

One of the benefits of programming this Summit at McGill University's Schulich School of Music is access to some of the finest venues you could imagine. The bigger panels will be held in Pollack Hall, a superbly designed concert hall that seats 600. We will also be using Tanna Hall, capacity 200, for some special sessions. Tanna was built specifically for film scoring work, and is particularly suited to sessions related to audio fidelity, production values, and issues at the intersection of music and film. In addition, we have access to a number of classrooms and special purpose rooms for workshops that will accommodate 50-100 people each. With so many venue options, we're working on an array of programming that far surpasses prior Summits. Take a look-see at what we're planning:

Panel discussions in Pollack Hall will bring together some of the brightest minds in the music/technology space for engaging, thought-provoking discussions. Actual panel topics will be announced in late July but will cover:

• The state of the Canadian music industry
• International copyright and licensing issues
• How orchestras are navigating change
• Digital rights management
• Emerging technologies and business models for the music community
• The effect of government support for the arts on musicians, songwriters and composers

Panels will be interspersed with keynotes and one-on-one interviews with high-profile musicians, policymakers, academics and business leaders. We're working on our invites for 2006 right now but past keynote speakers have included: US Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Norm Coleman (R-MN); US Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Rick Boucher (D-VA), John Conyers (D-MI), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Mark Foley (R-FL); CA State Senator Kevin Murray; FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein; Business Leaders Konrad Hilbers CEO, Napster, Rob Glaser CEO, RealNetworks, Michael Robertson, MP3.com; Stanford Law Professor Lawrence Lessig and musicians George Clinton and Hank Shocklee (Public Enemy).

FMC will be using Tanna Hall, located in the New Music Building, for special sessions that focus on particular topics including:

• Tradeoffs between audio fidelity and the compression that facilitates the rapid digital dissemination of music
• The changing definition of "indie" as musicians are increasingly participating in TV, ads, marketing campaigns
• Preservation and storage issues. Which platform will be best for preservation of culture?
• Music marketing via Second Life/virtual reality/gaming
• The future of musical instruments. May include a tour of McGill's Music Labs
• Touring and international visas

FMC is also working with Pop Montreal to program practical, skill-building workshops designed to meet the needs of the independent music community including topics like:

• Podcasting and alternative media content
• Publishing 101
• How to sell your music online
• How artists can participate in the policymaking process

* all subject to change *

More event details are forthcoming, including a schedule and a list of our early confirmed panelists. Stay tuned.

Panelist and speaker invites are well underway. We have about 35 panelists confirmed now, including David Byrne!. As of August 15:

Kevin Arnold Founder/CEO, IODA
David Basskin President, Canadian Music Reproduction Rights Agency
Laura Brownell Symphonic Services Division, AFM
David Byrne
Shannon Coulter Magnatune
Matthew Dunn CEO, MusicIP
Edward Felten Professor of Computer Science and Public Affairs Director, Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University
Ken Freedman Station Manger, WFMU-FM
Michael Geist Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, University of Ottawa
Sandra Gibson President, Association of Performing Arts Presenters
Erik Gilbert VP Content Acquisition, IODA
Jim Griffin CEO, Onehouse
Graham Henderson President, Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA)
Dick Huey CEO, Toolshed Inc.
Peter Jenner Manager, Sincere Management/Secretary General, IMMF
Darren Jukes VP, Marketing, Audiobaba
Jerry Leibowitz Manager, Programs and Applications, Radio Starmaker Fund
Benjamin Masse President/Founder, Double V3
Kent Nagano Music Director, Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Sandy Pearlman Professor, McGill University, Producer Blue Oyster Cult and the Clash
Tim Quirk GM, Music Content and Programming, RealNetworks
Jeff Remedios Arts and Crafts Records
Nan Rubin Preserving Digital Public Television
Ryan Schreiber Editor and Founder, Pitchfork
Derek Sivers President and Programmer, CD Baby
Steve Skrzyniarz CEO, Soundflavor
Paul Spurgeon Vice President, Legal Services and General Counsel, SOCAN
Jessica Thompson Mastering Engineer, Peerless Mastering
Frank Yang Editor/Writer, Chromewaves Blog

* all subject to change

More confirmed panelists are added to this list almost every day. Remember that secure online registration is open at https://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit06/regform.cfm