So based on a combination of finanacial, personal and just needing change reasons I am [edit2: MAYBE] getting out of the Rock Garden. I will shutting down after this weekend most likely. Although I am hoping to find someone to continue to operate the space as a jam space, a potential offer may keep me around a bit longer but I need out. [EDIT1: I actually already have one meeting lined up, so fingers crossed].

EDIT3: The space is 100% not shutting down. I just have no idea what my future role in it will be. The above was a little dramatic. I don’t recall but I am hoping I was drunk when I wrote that!  Drama is not my style. I was sad and bitter and not liking recent events but…c’est la vie.  Currently I am trying to make arrangements to replace the investor I lost yet work less. Once that plan has definitely failed I have been contacted by a number of great people that could continue operating the space as an hourly rental space. I hope to rule out my preferred options ASAP and then move forward with talks with others. Will update as things develop one way or the other.

Pretty much from day one things were behind. So the space has never been quite where I wanted it. I have basically built a life-style business – for a lifestyle I can’t sustain. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavricks, wrote: I’m also a big believer that financial debt is the ultimate dream killer. Now I wouldn’t say debt killed my dreams, but it sure made sleeping difficult sometimes.

That’s the crux of my decision. For the amount of hours I spend at the space compared to the returns, I know I could be doing better. Of course, when things are good, they’re good. But when they slow down, there are still payments to be made. Now the days are rare when no one is here, but I still sit here for a longer than average work day and think – well I just made no money to put on my debt. And the good times have balanced it all out to date [the space was profitable the last 4 years, just not profitable enough for me], but the uncertainty – and no guarantee that the next month WILL be better – has made it difficult to agrressively tackle my debt. And that has been weighing heavy on me. A lower but consistent income now would better suit where I am in life versus the highs and lows that come with running a small business. If someone ever wants to make a deal for a personal investment contract, so game [because of its focus on debt].

To make things work even close to the way I want them to will require more money put into the space. And that in turn requires a committment of another 1-2 years here myself for sure. And that is something else I don’t think I can do. I barely see my wife. She works days and is in bed by the time I get home. To varying degrees, that has been the last 5 years. Hands down the shittest part of my job.

I had an investor earlier this year who due to problems with his existing business partner had to bail. That derailed a lot of plans and put me in a tighter position than I had been previously. So the “required money” noted above was gone and that got me questioning all the other points laid out here.

I will miss being surrounded by music on a daily basis and hearing new bands before everyone else. But I will also enjoy seeing the sun more than I have over the last 5 years. If future business ventures are successful I would love to do jam spaces again but would now know how to do them right from day one [and would be ideally debt free].

And I am not totally giving up on business or the music biz yet. It is probably easier to consider winding down the Rock Garden as a new opportunity starts. Ryan Cooper, one of the partners in the space, is also a partner in a new donation/pay-what-you-want/crowdfunding service for musicians called IOUmusic. So that will be quietly entering public beta this week or next. The personal bonus there is that it will not require 12 hour days and even if it did I can certainly work it around my wife’s schedule.

So going forward my three main focuses for the next bit will be:
1) my wife
2) eliminating debt
3) IOUmusic.com

I took on partners last year, and I thought they were amazing then. I don’t even know how they could talk to me right now. Not only could they, their understanding is off the charts.

So to my wife Joi, partners Ryan and Joy Suttle and to all the bands who have graced the space over the past 5 years, thank you for your patience, understanding and support.

It has been the most amazing 5 years of my life [I just fear a 6th or 7th may have ruined it all!].

All the best, or as my friend Andrew Gillis signs off, in music,
Rock Garden Rob MacArthur

Cupcakes to kick cancer’s ass with!? Sounds good no? Come enjoy all things cupcake, meet some new friends, raise some money for a great organization!

Any money raised will be going to the Canadian Cancer Society.  I have worked and volunteered for the CCS. I can tell you first hand they have many programs where money raised directly impacts the lives of of people fighting cancer. From helping supplement the cost of drugs patients need to providing them a place to stay when they need to travel to Halifax for treatments. The services they provide make a world of difference to the people they help.

For those interested in baking cupcakes, you can sign up until this Friday. There will be prizes awarded the best cupcakes including some swag from Johnny Cupcakes.

For those that just like to eat cupcakes, there is already a pretty good list of bakers signed up with most contributing multiple kinds of cupcakes. So take a walk this Sunday coming and stop in for some sweet lil’cakes!

Kudos to fellow sponsors for their support. The Hub is the venue for Cupcake Camp. While photographer Chelle Wootten will be snapping shots of all the edible goodness for the bakers and then folks enjoying their hard work during the event. Chelle also took pics for the poster and it was put together by one Isaac Hansen.

In case you cannot read the text on the poster, it says:

If you are looking to get in touch with anyone about the event you’ll be contacting Johanna Gerrits.

Hope to see you there!

So Sundays use to be the busiest day of the week at the Rock Garden. Since the New Year though they have been pretty hit or miss. No real clue why….I am kind of blaming Isaac…..though he really didn’t do anything…. But to try and get folks back in on Sundays, every hour booked on a Sunday in May counts as one entry in a draw for free jams to the end of the year [6 months of 1 free weekly 2h jam - free jams do not have to be used on Sundays].

All you have to do is book time on Sunday, make sure to use your full name or band name and you are entered. We will post the winner of the random draw the first week of June.

Saturdays have never been super busy, so we may start offering some deals on Saturdays as well too. Right now this is all an experiment so we will see what happens….. [many of you using Foursquare?]

Bookings can be made:

• In person at 2304 Hunter St.
• By phoning 404-7007
• Or emailing bookings@rockgardenjamspaces.com

We will reopen on Sunday May 2nd.

If you are booking for Sunday May 2nd or after, leave a message or email us and we will be checking for messages periodically.

If you are looking for time while we are closed we apologize for any inconvenience.
We had to close due to a TV show filming in the hall above us.

Our hours and if we are closing for anything like this can be seen on our website at http://www.rockgardenjamspaces.com or on our Twitter feed at http://www.twitter.com/therockgarden [which also shows up on our website].

Thanks
Rob

Has the music industry really learned anything in the past ten years? Is it any further along to addressing the issues of torrents and freely available music?

I say not a sweet chance!

Facing the (Free) Music
March 12, 2010
For 10 years, music execs have waged a war against digital file sharing — and software like Napster and websites like The Pirate Bay — which have decimated the industry’s profits. But recently, there are signs from Europe that the battle over free music may be changing.

Or you can read the transcript

A range of emotions upon realizing I have been in a basement for 5 years now!

Sometime next week I am going to post a long threatened list of things not to do in running a business. Consider it a gift for anyone else that wants to run a business one day. For the moment I need to give thanks though.

And there are probably too many people to thank – so if I forget you – please accept my apologie now. In 5 years I made a ton of mistakes, but I also had just as much if not more help from too many people to count – here’s hoping I did not miss you you:

First off – the bands. If no bands used the space there would be no space. Simple as that. You have tolerated a lot over the years and I can not share how much it means to see people that used the space the first year I opened continue to make use of the space [frequently or not, doesn't matter].  It is always great to see new faces that have no idea I have been here for this long either wonder how they never knew [well I didn't advertise so...we could start there - that's the one mistake to be shared today]. I have made many friends with musicians from said bands and it is great to be able to walk through Halifax and see familiar faces everywhere I go. Get Wrecked, Bloodbath, Rockstorm, Journalist Wolf, No Flyers Please will get specific mention simply for playing a fundraiser for the space one year. Thank’s to Get Wrecked for organizing – still blows my mind.

Thanks also to all the artists who have used the space for art shows over the years. Each show shocked me at both the talent in this city and the interest/crowds we were able to get out every time.  Tip of the hat to Stoo Metz and the whole UAG Collective for their role in handling the majority of shows here in the past year or so.

To all bands and musicians that have passed through the space: You have made me happier than I have ever been, being able to work for myself, surrounded by music. I owe all of you the deepest graitiude and thanks for making everything else I have done or been part of since opening the Rock Garden even possible. Thank you all so so much.

And a hat’s off to the owners of all the other spaces in town: Mike  & Matt at Canvasland, Mingus at C.O.D. and Rob & Terry at Soundmarket. We must be all “special”.

Shawn Cunningham, Nicole Smith and the rest of the staff at CEED made this all possible early on. If you have ever considered opening a business you owe it to yourself to go speak with someone at CEED. They are passionate about helping people achieve the dream of opening a business and they make that passion contagious. I would have nothing if not for CEED and their assistance to date.

Before there was an actual jam space I had to get the space. It has been an interesting experience having a church as your landlord but I owe many thanks to the Lawens with whom I initially dealt with in negotiating the lease for the opportunity as well as the reminder of the St. Antonios Church council for their support. Particularly I must thank Ramzi El-Tawil for dealing with me over the past two years in a manner that fair and supportive doesn’t even begin to describe.

Then came month’s of renovations. Fun times. My future father-in-law was a life saver. Showed me how to frame a wall. Don’t know what the plan would have been if you hadn’t been around James [mind you that was also terrifying as I had never spent time alone with him and well, it worked out all fine in the end but whoa nerves....]. I should also thank James and the rest of Johanna’s family for understanding my all too frequent abseneces from – well pretty much every occassion with a few exceptions. Their undertsnading and support has meant a great deal.

Building the space was a great weird experience. Strangers started showing up eventually to help. People put in long hours and never used the space. Randoms showed up helped for an hour and were never seen again. I drank a LOT of Schooner. Jeremy Stewart another life saver. Put more time in than anyone, asked for nothing, took even less. Chris McNutt I still owe a debt to. Liam, Andrew and anyone else  that ever came by to help thank you for making it happen – because it wouldn’t have otherwise.

Getting gear was the next hurdle and over the years the staff at Musicstop/Long & McQuade have helped clear a few more from time to time. I have to say all the guys who have passed through rentals over the years have been a huge help on adaily basis to the operation of the space and probably have earned fav status for it [maybe tied with Dave and Tim for their patiance in understanding my issues with drummers!!]. Kevin and Amanda and the rest of the finance department – too good to me.
As manager, Mr. Parker has also been too kind – addressing problems for me in any way that would benefit me and dealing with it on his end however was required. I owe you all a good party here some night.

My bankers are amazing people. Inova Credit Union [referred there by CEED!]. Business owners would do themselves a benefit to speak with staff there and explor etheir business needs and see if they can be of assistance. CIBC wouldn’t give me $500 in overdraft 6months to a year into business. Went to Inova, they took care of me in fine style. Gerry Latta probably saved the space on more than one occasion. Then probably got tired of doing so and passed me off! Wayne Thorpe has been amazing since then. The rest of the staff I deal with Eva, Angie and Nick – all great people, super patient with me and always pleasant. I can’t see me ever banking elsewhere.

There are so many music people that have given me their time over the years I am definitely scared of missing someone here – so I will cheat a bit: anyone who has ever worked at Music Nova Scotia – thank you. I hope you always see the value in what you do in helping musicians make music. Waye Mason, Heather Frantsi – two people that have been very kind to me. Young upstarts like Josh Hogan – hate ‘em. [How does he do it!?]. Matt Charlton, Andrew Watt, Andrew Gillis, SWC! vs. SWAC, Chr!s Sm!th, Crowley, Adam+Chelle – so many great people I have come to know because of this space. I KNOW I am missing people here so I am sorry but I must continue [thankfully I can edit this later! ].

A slight detour but tied to the Rock Garden too: The Rock Garden has given me many other fortunate opportunities. I have served on the Halifax Pop Explosion board.  Started a record label with my wife. Thanks to all the bands who have been part of that: Myles Deck and the Fuzz, Glory Glory Man United, Dreamsploitation and Bloodsport. I was able to be part of the opening an an amazing space called the Hub. Tracy, Jo and Sera gave me more credit than I deserved but I thank them all the same for the opportunity to meet and work with them – it was experience I am proud to have shared with you.

From that I have met a whole new assortment of people that excite me in their own efforts to do their own thing. This includes Chris Weisenburger, now my lawyer, who quit a firm position to start his own practice out of the Hub.  A wonderful person. Another wonderful person tied to the Hub via Jo is her partner Ezra. Like the new stairs at the space? Thank him. But he did plenty more to help beyond that – and does it in a manner where he makes it seem like it is no big deal at all. It so is. Thank you all.

Last year saw the space take on two partners: Joy Suttle and Ryan Cooper. The changes I want to make to the space would be impossible without them. Ryan = lifesaver. I thank them both for seeing the value in my vision for the space.

While no one will [hopefully] ever have to match the hours I have been underground in this basement – I have been fortunate to have a group of guys I can call on at times – like my wedding – when I cannot afford to shut down but obviously cannot be here. Gavin MacLean, Fabian Bennett, Issac Hansen and Adrian Bruhm  are likely the reason I have maintained some semblance of sanity.  It would have been impossible to do this without you.

I think that pretty much leaves my family. There are two people on my side that I owe the most thanks to: my sister Velma and brother-in-law George.  Really don’t like to think what my entire life would have turned out like had the two of you not been there – let alone the Rock Garden. Your support, encouragement and financial help when needed has gone above and beyond. I cannot express how lucky I was to end up with both of you in my life.

I’d thank my lil’bro but he’s in Ontario and well didn’t really do much. Guess he’ll just have to move here and help out somehow in the next 5 years….   Thankfully I know he is there for me anytime I do need him and cherish him for it.

So that’s pretty much it I’d say. Oh wait……………

Johanna Gerrits. My wife. My Joi. She’s suffered dearly for loving me. That’s no joke. I subscribe to Inc. magazine and they started a column from the perspective of an entrepreneur’s wife. I initially considered removing it – Joi reads the mag too -as I didn’t need her to realize what she had become part of – like she didn’t already know. Instead I found myself seeing even more so how hard it must be on her to have to deal with the stress, uncertainty, long hours of work – and ths equally long hours alone without your so called partner. She could leave me today and tomorrow if I became a millionaire [or three years later] she’d never have to worry again about money. Someday Joi I promise you’ll see it was all worth it – no matter what – xo
You are the very definition of a best friend and that will never change.

I’m living a life my high school self dreamed of. I hope you can appreciate what that means to someone – and especially a music lover to be surrounded by music every day – and know how truly grateful I am for the role YOU ALL played in making it possible.

Love & thanks,
Rob

FYI: There IS a catch [or two], but we’ll get to that in a moment

So a couple years ago I read a post online that asked:

What if there was a place online where you could go and *easily* donate money to musicians? Think about it, you illegally BitTorrent the latest “Death Cab for Cutie” album. You think it kicks ass and decide that you would like to reward the band by giving them $5.
March 31st 2006 http://ask.metafilter.com/35482/BitTorrent-Donations-Viva-la-revolution

And I couldn’t shake it as an idea worth pursuing. It took a couple failed attempts but finally with the help of Ryan Cooper and Dmitri Dolguikh, it has been finished. Our take on such a site, IOUmusic.com, will be launching next month.

Before that happens we are looking to have a few fans and artists in to kick the tires of the very first version. You can literally only donate to artists thus far. We need to make sure that is working and solicit feedback on where to take it from here.

WHAT
The catch, as it is a donation site, is you will need to make a donation using a Visa, Mastercard or Amerrican Express credit card. The minimum donation for the service is $5. That $5 can be shared amongst as many bands as you wish.

As thanks for your time/help, we will match any donation amounts up to $25 per tester [we'll ask bands members to donate to more than just their own bands too please].

WHEN
When depends on testers availability. That said preferred times for us are Saturday (13th) afternoon and Monday evening [though Sunday, Wed and Thurs are possible dates as well].

WHERE
The other catch is that we want these initial tests to happen in person.
We will be hosting these at the Hub – 1673 Barrington St – 2nd Floor
We will also have food and drinks at the time(s) selected.

Any musicians partaking may also be asked to work with us in refining the verification and paying out processes as well but such involvement will not be required.

If interested:
EMAIL: betatesting@ioumusic.com
Include Name + phone number + Dates available + band or fan

We will follow up ASAP and let folks know if times offered will work.

Thanks,
Rob MacArthur

Additional Info:
IOUmusic was founded by Rob MacArthur, Ryan Cooper and Dmitri Dolguikh

Rob has operated the Rock Garden jam spaces in Halifax for the last 5 years, released albums by Myles Deck and the Fuzz, Dreamsploitation, Glory Glory Man United and Bloodsport under his label From Here To There Records and now manages the Fuzz.

Ryan is a programmer and a drummer. He’s been playing the drums off and on in various bands since getting a kit for Christmas in 1995 and he’s been coding since his family bought a Commodore 64 back in the late 80s. Ryan lives in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and now runs his own software company, Empirica Software Services. He’s also a partner in the Rock Garden jam space.

Comrade Dmitri originally hails from Moscow, Russia, although he’s been living and working in the Halifax area since the late 90s. He’s got 2 Master’s degrees and is generally a really smart guy. Unfortunately, he went to Moscow for a visit and left us to write his Bio, so you’ll have to take our word for it.

He also encouraged folks to take any email that you come across and put it on your band’s mailing list and followed that up with “Let them decide that they don’t want to be on my list.”
- Discmakers Product Specialist Sydney Alston

One of my pet peeves as of late has been the number of band newsletters – and mailings from music publicists – I have had my email addresses added to unwillingly. For whatever reasons, since the summer there has been a noticeable increase in such happenings. Now I know the majority of those folks were not at the conference referenced below but they appear to be following a similar train of thought.

The following is from Bob Lefsetz’s email newsletter. You can find his archives online but not everything makes it there. It is worth signing up for the newsletter directly [and that's the only way you'll ever receive it, as it should be]. There are plenty of emails and responses that do not get posted to his blog that make the emails worthwhile, since this is one of those responses I have posted an email response in full from a reader of his regarding some very disappointing advice staff at Disc Makers is spreading.

The email below represents what not to do in growing an email list. For advice on what to do check out Seth Godin’s blog. He coined the term Permission Marketing: “delivering anticipated, personal and relevant messages to people who actually want to get them…It realizes that treating people with respect is the best way to earn their attention”. If you have never read anything by Seth Godin and are responsible for marketing your band or someone else’s you should plan to spend sometime reviewing his ideas.

The Emails

Subject:        Re: NewsChannel 5 Investigates

Great article Bob, per usual.  It’s the age of accountability and you’re doing your part.

I had an interesting thing at the TAXI Music Convention this weekend in Los Angeles and I thought you might enjoy it.  I’ll tell you the quick story and then tag on what I sent to TAXI’s forum about it – still waiting for a response.  Now first up – TAXI does wonderful things for independent artists but one seminar I went to was too much.  Briefly:

Class was “Acheiving Success with your Music” by Sydney Alston.
Sydney has numerous credits including being a Product Specialist for Discmakers and formerly of the band “Joyride”
He encouraged sharing email lists with other bands to grow your own and then use that to work corporate sponsorships by selling your email list.
He also said that Discmakers were the only company worth making cds with
He also encouraged folks to take any email that you come across and put it on your band’s mailing list and followed that up with “Let them decide that they don’t want to be on my list.”

That’s the gist of it but below is what I sent to TAXI.

Thanks for listening Bob – you are one of the beacons of hope in this “industry”.  I’ve learned so much from your newsletters that it has really helped me in my career.  Trying to figure out how to say – you’ve created a sense of concience and a moral code that I believed in before I even read a word you wrote.

I would love to know your thoughts on this.

–
Bobbo
www.thefallenstars.com

To TAXI:

I really struggled with whether or not to post this but I think it’s important. While I got so much out of all the classes I went to this weekend, I had some significant concerns about the Achieving Success with Your Music seminar with Sydney Alston. It wasn’t the fact that the session was a Discmakers “infomercial” disguised as a class, though that was certainly irritating. It wasn’t even the fact that Sydney clearly stated he didn’t write his own presentation, but rather it was supplied to him by the president of Discmakers, which was pretty surprising considering the general high caliber of TAXI presenters.

No, what bothered me was that I believe some of the information provided was misleading at best and downright unethical and possibly illegal at worst, and this is not the type of behavior that should be recommended as a best practice by the TAXI or any music community.

Sydney was talking about his time in his band Joyride and how he and other bands “shared” their email list with each other. This got him over 40,000 names on his email list. With this list he was able to secure endorsement deals with Jagermeister, Trojan Condoms and record companies’ interest – in return for giving these companies access to his compiled email list. He also said that he would add any email address that he came across, in any context – band-related or not – to his email list and “Let them decide that they don’t want to be on my list.” This sounds suspiciously close to email harvesting and spamming to me.

I treat my mailing list like family. I don’t share it with anyone else – I’ve been offered endorsement deals where they have asked for our mailing list and I have turned them down. I use an opt-in subscription based system to manage my list. Each email specifies that folks are receiving the email because they signed up with our band’s mailing list and provides an “Unsubscribe” option if they so choose.

After doing some research today into the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, I was surprised to discover that email harvesting is only illegal if the website provider has explicitly stated that they will not make that information available to other parties. As of today I will also be adding the following statement to my website and mailing list tools, “We will not give, sell, or otherwise transfer your email address to anyone else. Ever.”

It’s important to me that our fans know we value their privacy and believe that any violation of that privacy is a gross misuse of the trust they placed in us.

In summary bands: DO NOT DO THIS!!

We are finding songs for the CTV Olympic telecast in February, 2010 (Olympic Games) and are thrilled to be sending out this email.

One song will be featured every day of the broadcast (16 days), in PrimeTime, at the end of the day’s telecast (and additional times – see below).
The song will be played overtop a 1-2 minute highlight reel capturing that day’s events/emotions.

We think it’s an amazing opportunity to showcase Canadian songs. Expected PrimeTime CTV audience alone is 2M – 3M people each day.

CTV has created a special project for the music portion of the Games: MUSIC OF THE NATION (MOTN)

There will be a dedicated part of CTV Olympic website for MOTN featuring the highlight reels, 30 seconds of song (with a ‘buy song’ button close by), a spotlight section for the artist’s whose songs are featured, artist website link, a link to an online store to purchase the artist’s music, etc.
Expected CTV Olympic page views – 150M +.

The promotion for MOTN is unprecedented.

The online promotion for MOTN will start December 15th, 2009 with the launch listing the artists etc.

We will choose approximately 30 songs but most likely use 23 songs (French + English).
We are looking for 16 English and 7 French songs.

The other 7 songs may be used on the broadcast but will be used online as part of another highlight package etc.

In addition, a 7-10 second chiron (a ’super’) will appear at the beginning and end of the 1-2 minute highlight pieces
listing song title, artist, label.

We are looking for CANADIAN ARTIST songs ONLY.
Iconic, classic, modern, contemporary, classical, pop, rock, r ‘n b, dance, etc.

We are looking for the best songs to suit our needs.
The songs will be given to the Production Team who will use one per day.

We are looking for songs that elicit emotions/feelings/styles such as:

Thrill of victory, heroism, agony of defeat, empowerment, uplifting,
sad, happy, exciting, rockin’, introspective, athletic

Here is the deal that seems to be working for everyone:

Term/Medium: CTV & Canada’s Broadcast Consortium ‘networks’ (TSN, Sportsnet, etc., ‘all forms of TV’). One original use in PrimeTime on CTV and 2 days with multiple plays on the Consortium ‘networks’

Use: In highlight reel for 1-2 minutes with following uses:

1. CTV Primetime (original use)
2. Multiple plays on Consortium networks over the following 2 days after original PrimeTime use
3. On VOD for TV and Bell/Rogers mobility (stream only) up until March 31st.
4. Online use on CTV Olmpics site for 6 months

5. Non-highlight reel use potential for approx. 10-20 seconds for ’spontaneous’ use during ‘Games’ broadcast

Promotional value:  See attached proposal.  It is well-thought and is unprecedented promotion for music for an Olympic games

DVD Buyout: Highlight reels will be included on the commemorative “2010 Olympics”
DVD for sale to the public

Fee: $ 400.00 CDN. for Master (100%)
$ 400.00 CDN. for Sync. (100%)

Please submit a COMPILATION CD ONLY to us via mail or courier no later than
FRIDAY, OCTOBER  23rd at 5 pm.  No MP3’s or links are accepted. Please label the package:

instinct entertainment
“Olympic 2010 Pitch”
96 Spadina Avenue, Suite 310
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 2J6
Attention:  Michael Perlmutter

We are pitching songs to CTV on November 5th.

****  I ask that you pre-clear the songs/recordings with your artists/co-writers/co-publishers etc. before pitching to us.
Once we get our final list of songs to be used (November 13th), we will have under 3 weeks to provide CTV with information about the artists, the proper music files and much more information.   ****

The understanding is that when you pitch songs you AGREE to the above terms, fees etc.

Let the Games begin…

Two afternoons of panels, workshops and speakers, just $35.00 for Music Nova Scotia members.

The Halifax Pop Explosion is proud to announce the details of this year’s Music Matters Conference. Taking place from Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 at The Citadel Hotel; the conference will feature workshops, panels and speakers discussing all aspects of music industry.

“The Music Matters Conference focuses on ‘facing the digital music,’” says Halifax Pop Explosion executive director, Waye Mason. “In two short days experts discuss the future of music, creating digital communities, the threats and opportunities created by proposed copyright reform and finding the balance between the needs of industry and protecting our societies freedom.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Walter F. McDonough. One of the founders of the Future of Music Coalition, McDonough has taught copyright law at Suffolk University Law School, and serves as a board member on the American performing rights society Sound Exchange and the Alliance of Artists and Recording Companies. He will be discussing the migration of distribution from the physical to how the digital has had a profound and disruptive impact on the entertainment industry.

The 2009 Music Matters featured speaker is Ian Heath. Heath is a marketing manager at Sony Music Canada and runs the musician-focused website Intrsctn.com [music+interactivity]. His speech will focus on giving attendees concrete advice on effective promotion tactics, how to take an interactive approach to nurturing their band-fan relationships, how to communicate effectively with their audience, tips on collecting fan info, building customer databases and how to create many options for monetization.

The conference will also offer several panels and workshops. Panels taking place will focus on topics such as merchandising, publicity, social networks, copyrights and more. Each will feature industry experts discussing the various aspects of their field.

The workshops taking place include a song demo evaluation with industry experts such as Steve Himmelfarb (Billions) and Paul Gagnon (VideoFACT), a youth involvement workshop with Eric Warner (We Are Busy Bodies) and Jon Asher (Asher Media Relations), and finally a workshop on focusing on the ins and outs of international touring with Steven Himmelfarb.

For a The 2009 Music Matters Conference schedule and further information on all events taking place, visit: http://halifaxpopexplosion.com/conference/music-matters/ or pick up a copy of our program guide.

Passes are on-sale now at all Ticketpro outlets, at 888 311 9090 and online at: http://ww3.ticketpro.ca/event.php?event_id=914

Registration is limited.

To register for a panel, please purchase a conference pass and then RSVP to MMC Coordinator Julia Sheldon – julia@halifaxpopexplosion.com