You didn’t think we’d pass on the chance to recap all the awesome that was Policy Summit 2011, did you?

We’d like to thank each and every one of you who attended the Future of Music Policy Summit 2011 or watched the live webcast. You truly helped make this our best event to date. Next round’s on us.

For those who weren’t there, you missed one hell of a smart (and good) time. Musicians, managers, policymakers, artist advocates, media gurus, legal experts, industry honchos, tech wizards and more invaded Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. to share their ideas and perspectives for what’s (not) working in the current music economy and what we need for a brighter future.

Here are just some of the highlights (we’ll be posting more soon):

Keynotes from Maria A. Pallante (Register of Copyrights and Director, U.S. Copyright Office) and Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) shone light on how the nation’s top public officials approach policymaking for the cultural sector. A special tribute featuring remarks from Free Press, Media Access Project, Public Knowledge and FMC honoring outgoing FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps preceded his keynote address (the full text of which can be found here - definitely required reading).
 
Other highlights included a conversation between Rick Nielsen, guitarist and songwriter for Cheap Trick, and Dave Frey, the band’s manager. In between flicking guitar picks at audience members, the duo shared their experiences with a temporary stage collapse at the Ottawa Bluesfest (and their current lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill for increased regulations) and international touring and recording.
 
Erin McKeown helped anchor the audience favorite panel of product demos, alongside singer/songwriter Erin Barra, musician Zach Rogue, Stu Smith of Red Light Management and Whitesmith Entertainment’s Emily White. The panel offered critiques, questions and plaudits to up-start musicians services Creative Allies, TrackTrack.it, RootMusic and Thinglink. Erin has joined the venerable Peter Jenner as perennial Policy Summit faves, mostly because she’s kickass, whip smart and stands up for the independent creator.

DC-based Bluebrain premiered a new documentary on the making of their latest location-aware album “Listen to the Light” (now available on iTunes). 

Raul Pacheco and Ulises Bella, members of the celebrated culture-mashers Ozomatli, closed out the Summit with a unique conversation about their experiences touring the world as Cultural Ambassadors for the U.S. State Department, the role of artists as activists and the creative collaborative process.

This highlights don’t even begin to touch on the in-the-trenches policy conversations on mobile and music, blanket licensing, remixing and compensation online, federal and local level creative community building and the potential for a global music database. Oh, and that killer Money from Music survey we’re running through the end of the month.

We know we’re missing, like, a hundred mentions. The full list of presenters and panelists can be seen here. And why not leave YOUR favorite Summit11 memories in the comments?

Video of Future of Music Policy Summit 2011 will archived online very soon!
 
Select press:
Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune I, II, III
Sarah Godfrey, Billboard.biz I, II, III

Thanks again for making this such a spectacular event and big ups to Georgetown for having us!