Nashville New Music Conference Kicks Off at BMI

The first Nashville New Music Conference (10/10-14), designed to provide support and empowerment to independent artists and independent music industry professionals, kicked off its activities with a BMI-hosted gathering, attended by showcasing artists and bands, media, conference staff and industry personnel. The party celebrated the beginning of five nights and four days of events that included panels, mentor sessions, a trade show, nightly networking parties and demo listening/pitch sessions. Panels covered topics such as Download/Distribution Technology: Ethics and Legality, Film/TV Licensing, and Music Copyright & Publishing. Also, winners from last year's NSAI songwriting contest were announced. The Nashville New Music Conference partially evolved from NSAI's "Play for Pay" conference held last year.

NSAI's Jeff Meltesen, 2000 NSAI song contest winner Connie Howard, contest runner-up Dave Stewart, BMI's Paul Corbin, contest runner-up Mary Beth Stone, contest runner-up Cheryl Ason

Connie Howard with BMI's Paul Corbin

Greg Seneff (Nashville New Music Conference Board of Directors) and conference staffers: Michael Herring, David Hooper, Jenni Leeds, Mia Adams and Jim Stamper