Since 2001, FMC has organized six annual Policy Summits to address the critical issues at the intersection of music, law, technology and policy. After a stellar event last October in Montreal, we’re bringing it back to Washington, DC for our 7th Annual Policy Summit, which will take place at George Washington University’s Betts Theatre from September 17-18.
The Program
The Summit is always programmed to react quickly to issues emerging from Congress, the courts, the Copyright Office, and from the international stage. Over the course of two days, we will focus on the critical issues that are affecting musicians and music communities as production, promotion and sales increasingly move to a global, digital platform such as:
- Performance royalties
- Copyright and licensing reform
- How changes to broadband and telecom policy would affect artists
- The state of retail
- The explosion of niche market genres
- Technologies that are bringing artists and fans closer together
- The effect of new wireless and streaming technologies that will make music more portable
We’ll also do some special sessions on:
- What the FCC’s "rules of engagement" on payola really mean for musicians
- Health insurance for musicians
- The sample clearance licensing process
- A review of major label contracts in the digital age
- The technical and legal challenges with cultural preservation
Check out the developing program details here
Registration is Open, but Space is Limited
We’re using a smaller theater this year that only seats 325. Considering all our past Summits have had more than 550 attendees, this means you’ll need to act now to guarantee your space.
Early Bird Rates: these expire August 15, 2007
Regular Registration: $149 USD
Student Registration: $89 USD
Click here for secure online registration
See all the registration options and student rates here
Scholarships for Working Musicians
Every year, FMC offers scholarships to make sure that musicians are not left out of the music/technology debate. Thanks to some generous contributions from foundations, technology companies, sponsors, and musician advocacy groups, 80 musicians are able to attend this Policy Summit for free. Musicians: go here to apply.
More on the website
Programming overview
Suggested hotels
Sponsorship opportunities
Press credentialing
Praise for the Policy Summits
"…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, it offers pinstriped Washingtonians 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, 2004
"…the coalition’s organizers are due a great deal of credit for representing a constituency that is often invoked by others but not represented."
Washington Post, 2004
"As independent artists develop and discover shortcuts to get their music out in spite of an inequitable and often corrupt industry, conferences like the FMC’s go a long way toward providing them a map." Village Voice, 2005
"You know the time between when a record leaves the artist’s hands and before it gets to listener’s ears? The Summit covers everything that happens in between."
Pitchfork, 2005
Please plan to join us us this year for another spectacular event!
"The Future of Music Coalition’s annual policy summits are where chain links meet cuff links as musicians and songwriters press the issues — and the flesh — with the political powerbrokers who help determine their future." Washington Post, 2004
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Past Keynotes
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)
Mike Doyle (D-PA)
FCC Commissioners
Michael Copps
Jonathan Adelstein
Musicians
David Byrne
Maestro Kent Nagano
George Clinton
Producers
Bob Ezrin
Don DeVito
Sandy Pearlman
Hank Shocklee, Public Enemy
Business Leaders
Konrad Hilbers CEO, Napster
Rob Glaser CEO, RealNetworks
Michael Robertson, MP3.com
Gary Shapiro, CEO, Consumer Electronics Association
Academics
Lawrence Lessig, Stanford Law
Terry Fisher, Harvard Law
Policymakers
David Carson, US Copyright Office
Thanks as always, folks!
Jenny Toomey
Michael Bracy
Walter McDonough
Brian Zisk
Kristin Thomson
Jean Cook
Justin Jouvenal
Chhaya Kapadia
Alex Maiolo
Courtney Bennett
Donate to the Future of Music Coalition!