Uptown Unveiled

Entertainment Lineup
June 18, 2009 from 5-10 p.m.
Uptown Oakland, CA
Free Admission

Uptown Stage Telegraph Avenue (near 20th Street)
Sponsored by The Uptown Apartments
5:00 – 5:20 Youth Movement Records (Various Genres)
5:20 – 5:40 Nu Dekades (Hip Hop)
5:40 – 6:00 Do Dat (Hip Hop)
6:05 – 6:25 Jimmie Reign Featuring the Live Band Z-Ro (R&B)
6:30 – 6:40 Ericka Nelani (Singer/Songwriter YMR)
6:50 – 7:35 Sekhou Senegal (World/African)
7:35 – 7:55 Ro Sham Bo (a cappella)
7:55 – 8:15 Los Rakas (Latin Hip Hop)
8:15 – 9:05 Fito Reinoso y Ritmo y Armonia (World/Cuban)
9:15 – 10:00 The Kev Choice Ensemble (R&B/Jazz/Hip Hop) with Special Guest Appearance by Zumbi of Zion I

Van Kleef Stage Telegraph Avenue (near 16th Street)
Sponsored by Oaksterdam University
5:00 – 5:40 Annie Sampson (Blues)
5:50 – 6:30 Blue Bone Express (New Orleans Jazz)
6:50 – 7:15 Damon & The Heathens (Oakland Punk/Soul)
7:20 – 7:35 Fogo Na Roupa (Brazilian Carnival Drum and Dance)
7:35 – 8:00 Damon & The Heathens (Oakland Punk/Soul)
8:20 – 8:35 Hot Pink Feathers Parade Core and The All-Star Marching
Band (World Cabaret/Samba Burlesque)
8:35 – 9:05 The Funkanauts (Oakland Funk)
9:15 – 10:00 Materialized featuring Steve Adams and Dan Lebowitz
of ALO (Rock)

Fox Square Stage 19th Street (between Telegraph and San Pablo avenues)
Sponsored by the Friends of the Oakland Fox/California Capital Group
5:30 – 5:45 Destiny Arts
5:55 – 6:15 Oakland Public Conservatory of Music
6:20 – 6:45 Pop Lyfe
6:55 – 7:15 Miko Marks
7:20 – 7:50 Birth of the Cool
8:00 – 9:00 John Santos

::THE KEV CHOICE ENSEMBLE HEADLINES THE UPTOWN STAGE::
::Performing at Uptown Stage Telegraph Avenue (near 20th Street)::
::Set Time 9:15-10 pm::

Kev Choice - The Hip Hop Pianist

Pianist-emcee Kev Choice leads his 10-pc. outfit — the Kev Choice Ensemble – through the aural equivalent of a master class in African American music. This enormously talented unit lays down symphonic slap, furious funk, sweet soul, jumpin’ jazz, and hype hip-hop (with a conscious lyrical twist). Covering a wide stylistic base with finesse, flair, and serious chops, the KCE gives you more music than you’re used to getting, but not more than you deserve.

A Taste of Uptown

Oakland Poetry Slam - Battle of the Bay Edition

Gershoni Sound is proud to present the live webcast of The Kev Choice Ensemble performing live from Ruby Skye SF on June 11th 2009 at 10pm PST.  If your too tired to go out or if your not intown, Please join us for this special live webcast online – click this link -  www.gershonisound.com/GMG/Listen.html  
-  For more live webcasts follow us on twitter @gershonisound.

OAKLAND, Calif. (June 9, 2009) – Uptown Unveiled! organizers announced the exciting musical lineup that packs 15 bands on three stages, all within a six block radius in downtown Oakland’s new arts and entertainment area – The Uptown District. Some of the headliners include John Santos, The Kev Choice Ensemble, Miko Marks and Damon & The Heathens. From Latin Jazz to eclectic Rock to Carnival-flavored Latin music, revelers will have a plethora of live musical entertainment during Uptown Unveiled!, a free street fair on Thursday, June 18, 2009, from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. Uptown Unveiled! is the perfect way for foodies, families, fun-seekers and urban dwellers of all ages to celebrate the start of summer!

Jazz musician John Santos will headline on the Fox Square Stage, conveniently located on 19th Street between Telegraph and San Pablo avenues. Along with Santos, the Fox Square Stage welcomes African American country singer Miko Marks, the talented youth dancers from Destiny Arts Center, Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ Birth of the Cool ensemble directed by Khalil Shaheed and the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music (OPCM) under the musical direction of famed jazz trombonist Angela Wellman. All of the artists performing on the Fox stage are from Oakland.

A couple blocks away on Telegraph Avenue at 20th Street, the Uptown Stage features Oakland’s own The Kev Choice Ensemble. The stage will also jump with the scorching rhythms of Cuban timba new-wave by Fito Reinoso y Su Ritmo y Armonia and energetic West African song and dance by Sehkou Senegal.

The third stage, dubbed the Van Kleef Stage, will feature an eclectic Rock lineup. Damon & The Heathens mix it up with thrashes of punk rock while Annie Sampson delights with her rich voice and warm stage presence. The stage is part of a block party taking place on Telegraph Avenue near 16th Street hosted by Café Van Kleef.

Throughout the festival streets, guests can glimpse the colorful high jinks of Fogo Na Roupa, Blue Bone Express and Hot Pink Feathers Parade Core and All-Star Marching Band. Roaming entertainment will include Prescott Circus performers and members of the Vau de Vire Society. Youth Movement Records’ Erica Nelani and a cappella group Roshambo will perform as well.

Event participants are encouraged to explore the district’s many restaurants, bars, clubs, galleries and shops that stretch along the Telegraph and Broadway corridors from City Center to north of Grand Avenue. Participating restaurants will provide special offers for Uptown Unveiled! guests throughout the evening. Reservations are strongly encouraged at area restaurants, including Pican, Mua, Vo’s, Ozumo, Luka’s, Franklin Square Wine Bar and Flora. Throughout the evening, drink specials will be offered by clubs and nightspots such as Café Van Kleef, Somar, 2022 and The Den at The Fox. Several venues will also host special after-hours events.

A “Fashion Meets Photography” fashion show will be hosted by VJ London Studios, a fine art photography and multimedia gallery celebrating its grand opening on Telegraph Avenue. The Uptown Apartments’ RAW Art Gallery will open its doors from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Thomas Berkeley Way. The gallery’s exhibition will include artwork that complements a skateboarding contest near 18th Street and draws pieces from nearby Somar bar’s “Hood” art.

A Battle of the Bay Poetry Slam featuring teams from Oakland, San Jose, Berkeley and San Francisco will be hosted at 8:30 p.m. by Youth Movement Records in the Oakland School for the Arts’ Black Box 19th Street Theater.

Just steps away from the 19th Street BART station, Uptown Unveiled! is easily reached by several AC Transit lines. Parking is available in adjacent and nearby lots and garages. There will be free valet bike parking onsite.

Produced by the City of Oakland in association with the Lake Merritt/Uptown Association and Downtown Oakland Association, Uptown Unveiled! is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Oakland Fox, Oaksterdam University, East Bay Express, Oakland Ice Center, Fox Court Residences, The Uptown Apartments, Another Planet Entertainment, Bank of America, Fusicology, Lake Merritt/Uptown Association, Downtown Oakland Association and the City’s Cultural Arts & Marketing Department.

Admission to Uptown Unveiled! is free. For more information, visit MeetDowntownOAK.com.

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Uptown Unveiled!

Discover Oakland’s New Arts, Entertainment District during Uptown Unveiled!

Street Fair in Uptown District Offers Food, Art, Music, Family Fun

OAKLAND, Calif. (May 27, 2009) – The Uptown District is home to some of Oakland’s grand cultural venues as well as a hot new dining, nightlife and arts scene. Uptown Unveiled!, a free street fair on Thursday, June 18, 2009, will offer a glimpse into the hip, happening downtown neighborhood. Running from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. centered in and round Telegraph Avenue from 16th Street to West Grand/Broadway, the event will encompass and feature live music on three stages, activities at the famed Fox Oakland Theater, Oakland School for the Arts, Oakland Ice Center and the new Fox Square mini-park in addition to area art galleries, restaurants, shops and nightspots. Also the launch event for Oakland’s two new greater downtown community benefit districts, Uptown Unveiled! is the perfect way for foodies, families, fun-seekers and urban dwellers of all ages to celebrate the start of summer!

Uptown Unveiled! is a great opportunity to visit the recently restored Fox Oakland Theater. Free tours will highlight the lavish interior that blends Indian, Moorish, Medieval and Baghdadian elements into a fantasy setting. Built in 1926, the restored movie palace is now a live performance venue and, along with the Paramount Theatre of the Arts, a major cultural anchor in the Uptown District. Free 30-minute guided walking tours will begin at the Fox at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 and highlight Uptown’s landmarks and vivid architecture before arriving at the Paramount.

Wrapped around the Fox Oakland is the new home for the acclaimed Oakland School for the Arts. A Battle of the Bay Poetry Slam will be hosted at 8:30 p.m. by Youth Movement Records in the school’s Black Box Theater.

The Oakland Ice Center, located just across 18th Street from the school, will host free public skating and lessons at this state-of-the-art facility. Strap on some skates and glide across the ice with free skating instruction from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. and a special public skating session from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Their full-service food court will also be open to fuel your skating antics.

In front of the new Fox Court Residences on 19th Street, you will find a variety of kid-centric activities including a bounce house, face painting, hands-on craft making and roaming clowns.

The nearby Fox Square mini-park, located in front of Forest City’s beautiful new 667-unit Uptown Apartments, and adjacent street (19th Street will be closed between Telegraph and San Pablo) will serve as the event hub featuring a live music stage, one-of-a-kind art installations, civic presentations and a display showcasing Mario Chiodo’s “Remember Them” Champions for Humanity. Ringing the park will be food booths featuring eclectic cuisine from area restaurants, art displays from local artists, and local business, event and arts booths.

From the park, unique illuminated artworks and media projections by local artists will be a first taste of Luminous Oakland, an innovative and eclectic program of light- and media-based public art in the Uptown District that will be rolled out over the next two years by the City of Oakland Public Art Program. Art installations by NIMBY and The Crucible will add to the festive environment and further highlight the tremendous artistic talent found in Oakland.

A fashion show will be hosted by VJ London Studios, a fine art photography and multimedia gallery that recently opened on Telegraph Avenue. Nearby, watch skaters thrill the crowds with jumps, spins and tricks during a skateboarding contest near the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and 18th Street.

The installations and street performers throughout the event’s footprint will encourage event participants to explore the district’s many restaurants, bars, clubs, galleries and shops that stretch along the Telegraph and Broadway corridors from City Center to north of Grand Avenue. Several of the District’s restaurants and nightspots will feature specials throughout the evening.

A music stage featuring eclectic Rock will be located in front of Café Van Kleef on Telegraph Avenue near 16th Street. Two blocks away on 18th Street near San Pablo Avenue, performers on the third music stage will have revelers swaying to Carnival-flavored Latin music.

In conjunction with Uptown Unveiled!, the newly formed Downtown Oakland Association and Lake Merritt/Uptown Association are hosting their launch party, “Taste of Uptown,” to introduce the community benefit districts to the community and media. Sponsored free to the public by Bank of America, the event will offer guests samples from local restaurants, live music and cocktails hosted by Era, a new art bar opening in July.

The community benefit districts were formed in December 2008 by area property owners to offer beautification, security and organizational services for businesses in the downtown Oakland and Lake Merritt/Uptown neighborhoods. The districts provide roving “ambassadors” who can help visitors with directions and provide security support in Oakland’s downtown core.

Sponsored by Oaksterdam University, the community benefit districts will operate pedi-cabs that will join other modes of transport to shuttle visitors around to check out all of the Uptown businesses and attractions participating in Uptown Unveiled! The shuttles will loop from Fox Square mini-park up Telegraph Avenue and down Broadway to connect the many participating venues, including the “Taste of Uptown” launch party and nearby art galleries.

Just steps away from the 19th Street BART station, Uptown Unveiled! is also easily reached by several AC Transit lines. Parking is available in adjacent and nearby lots and garages. There will be free valet bike parking onsite. Signage, maps, guided tours and shuttles will lead transit riders and drivers to the event’s main activity areas centered in an around Telegraph Avenue from 16th Street to West Grand/Broadway.

Produced by the City of Oakland in association with the Lake Merritt/Uptown Association and Downtown Oakland Association, Uptown Unveiled! is made possible through the generous support of the East Bay Express, Oakland Ice Center, Fox Oakland Theater, Fox Court Residences, The Uptown Apartments, Another Planet Entertainment, Bank of America, Oaksterdam University, California Capital Group, Fusicology, Lake Merritt/Uptown Association, Downtown Oakland Association and the City’s Cultural Arts & Marketing Department.

Admission to Uptown Unveiled! is free. For more information, visit MeetDowntownOAK.com.

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Zsa-Zsa Rensch, Jean Cook and Phat Man Dee

Representing at this year’s San Fran Music Tech Summit were the jazzy vocalist Phat Man Dee and Future of Music Coalition’s Jean Cook – FOMC’s Deputy Director and panellist at this year’s Summit. FOMC does some amazing work and their website alone is a wealth of information that includes articles, interviews and policy reviews that cover issues at the intersection of music, law, technology and policy. Amongst these are two articles – “The Effects of Media Consolidation on Urban Radio”  and “Net Neutrality and Urban Music” – both written by Oakland, CA based journalist, Eric K. Arnold. The “Net Neutrality” article includes commentary by Fusicology Founder Asya Shein. Subscribe to FOMC’s (very) informative newsletter, which is archived for your reading pleasure.

Review:  SanFran Music Tech Summit ’09

Music+Tech+Crumbling Industry=We’re not sure yet, but it’s gonna be cool!
By Kwan Booth

Right now the music biz is living somewhere between the Blade Runner future and the Kitty Hawk past. On one side we’re at the dawn of a new tech age and battles to determine the shape of what’s to come are being waged on all levels-from the indie foot soldiers pushing singles out the digitrunk (aka Myspace Music) to teams of academics, activists and lawyers bitch slapping congress to make sensible policy decisions. To paraphrase Mobb Deep – ”There’s a war going on out there, no band’s safe from…”

On the other side we’re pulling a Wright Brothers – we know a new model is possible, we can taste it. But for all the planning and plotting, designing and discussion, we still can’t get this sonuvabitch to fly for more than a few feet. As for making that big jump off the “this is the new business model” cliff? Well, you leap first. We’ll watch and take notes.

Granted, this might be simplified just a bit and hyperbolized all to hell, this blend of optimism and tension was one of the the major things I took away from yesterday’s SanFran Music Tech Summit. That and the realization that Justin Timberlake’s new Tennmen label really does not suck. And I think I have a soft spot for folk singing bears with guitars.

Broken down into 18 sessions, the daylong meeting of musicians, mavens and media was the brainchild of husband and wife dynamos Brian and Shoshanna Zisk. Now in it’s second year, Team Zisk flexed both sure hand and deep Rolodex to bring together an impressive list of industry insiders who paneled-it-out on everything from how to use social media to monetizing your web presence to brokering big time sponsorship deals without selling out (is this even an issue anymore?)

Panelists included: Dave Allen – Nemo Design /Gang of Four, Tom Conrad – Pandora, CTO/Head of Product, Jean Cook – Future of Music Coalition, Rick Farman – Superfly Presents, Layne Fox – DJ, 40 Thieves, Kurt Hanson – RAIN Radio and David Ring – Universal Music Group Executive VP.

One of the surprises of the day was Matt Morris, the first artist off Justin Timberlake’s new label. Now this showcase came right before lunch-strike 1, and began before I could sneak out for a quick smoke-strike 2. So on top of my usual journo snark, I was hungry and craving nicotine -not a good place to start a review. But I have to admit that Morris – with his bushy beard, Tracy Chapmanish song style and onstage wit – had me sangin’ like girl by set’s end. And when I found out later that he and his husband were one of 1800 LGBT couples married in SF last year, I promised myself I’d buy his 1st album. Or at least rip it from a friend who bought it.

Of course, there were some disagreements and mixed messages. Social media was a point of contention with beef between the “it’s great! Be everywhere your fans are” crew and the “it’s okay, manage a few key networks and don’t put too much stock in it” mob. Word is these two gangs were set to rumble in the back alley of the Kabuki Hotel after the cocktail party.

The issue of free music was also a hot topic with music organizations and tech companies pulling a Red Hot Chilli Peppers – give it away, give it away, give it away now, while small labels and musicians adopted more of a Common philosophy – Got a clip for these cats on the net, selling my shit. Let’s just say you Ramone and I’m Spit.  During the last panel on monetization things came to a head when the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Fred Von Lohmann and Universal elabs’ David Ring squared off on the issue. 

The symposium attendees were also noticeably light skinded and testosterone heavy (gotta work on that one for next year).  While there were a few women in the audience, the representation onstage still had a ways to go (even though the ladies rocked the Q&A portion of the “Future of the Music Industry” panel.) And the People of Color contingent was also kinda anemic, although I did spot Oakland’s Sean Kennedy and reps from Thizz Ent. working the rooms and I got to chill with promoter extraordinaire Zsa-Zsa from the Fusicology events network.

All in all the day was informative and the best Monday I’ve had in a minute. And as techie as it was of course there were way more than 12 tweeters tweeting so there are notes all over the intersphere this morning, and you can get a sense of the discussion over at the #sfmusictech search page and from my own manic live tweets.
 
Great Points:
–Terrestrial radio is on the way out, but while it’s here, it’s still the champ, with 97% of listeners still tuning into the ol’ sqawk box.  However, the next 18 months are going to change the game dramatically.
–Owning music is over, people just need to have access to it when they want it.  Screw content. CONTEXT is key.
–Giving away things for free can be a good way to gain fans/followers but there must be a strategy behind it to make money. Giving it away out just out of the kindness of your heart is a sure way to end up in the unemployed artist soup line.
–Social networking can be an effective tool, but it’s not the Holy Grail. You should have a plan before going in and be active with your network – respond to fans, answer questions, interact and be fun! On the flipside, more and more bands and brands are hiring “community managers” to manage their online presence.
–Bands can’t depend on the technology, the labels or anyone to control their careers, they have to take control themselves.  It’s a scary prospect for a lot of creative folks, but with the industry the way it is, not knowing your audience and your business model = yes, the soupline.
–For an emerging band, the “superfan” – someone willing to be your band’s advocate, pushing and promoting your work – are like gold. When you find them cherish them, value them, give them free shit, and the love will flow like honey.
– Interns are your friends.  Treat them right.  See “superfan” above.
–Bands need to have control over their online presence. This means having your own band website and an in house database of fans and followers. Having a presence on a social network and hosted site is fine, but what happens when the site goes belly up?
–The new industry will likely be sleeker and more slimmed down than the old behemoth, with several smaller companies forming networks to serve artists directly.
–By taking control of their careers many more musicians will be able to eat and live comfortably off their music, but we’ll likely see a decline in super mega ultra obnoxiously rich rock stars. While there’ll always be a few Madonna’s and Fiddy’s, the new scale is more mid-sized sedans and business class, less stretch hummers and private jets.
–In several cases large brands actually prefer working with more local bands, especially if your sound can be compared to someone who’s hot at the moment. Smaller bands present less hoops to jump through and usually charge fair rates to license their songs.  And if you sound even remotely like Coldplay you’ll be friggin rich.
   
Here are a few nuggets I took away – tools, websites and publications to check for:

http://www.wiretapmusic.com

http://www.festivalpreview.com

http://www.bigtakeover.com/

http://www.wentevineyards.com/discover/

http://www.futureofmusic.org/

http://evolvingmusic.wordpress.com

http://www.blinkeractive.com/

http://www.tennmanrecords.com/

http://www.mattmorris.net/

http://www.soundexchange.com/

http://www.ilike.com/

http://www.abbrecords.com/

http://www.sponsorpitch.com

http://www.blinkeractive.com/

About the author  Kwan Booth is a writer, editor and cultural curator in Oakland California. He’s an online editor at The Oakbook Magazine and founder of the Otherside Media collective. He is also the former Associate Editor of the Oakland Post newspaper and has held editorial positions at Festivalpreview.com, NotforTourists.com and10best.com. Booth has completed citizen journalism and social networking contracts for several organizations and spends much of his time working on projects that use media and technology as ways to reach and empower under served communities. He is interested in how communities communicate and the roles that arts, media and technology play in facilitating these conversations. His most recent project is Say I’m Different-a multimedia investigation into avant garde culture throughout the African diaspora.

Saturday, April 4, 2009
Paramount Theatre
2nd Floor, Mezzanine Level
5:00pm – 7:00pm

2009 Distinguished Inspired Artist Awardees
Join us to celebrate the achievements of African-Americans who provide
positive images to the African American experience

Ajuana Black
Singer / Actress / Publisher

Barbara Taylor
Community Activist / Organizer

Darrell Robinson
Owner, Linen Life Gallery

Isle Lyfe
Poet / Recording Artist / Community Activist

Jan Flemons
Cultural Arts advocate

James Moore
Event Producer / Arts Activist

Ron Muhammad
Community Activist / Entrepreneur

Ron Smith
Visual Artist & Educator

Siri Brown, PhD
African American Studies Professor @ Merritt College

Tarika Lewis
Violinist & Community Activist

Award Presentation Emcee:
Bob Bulter (President, Bay Area Black Journalist Association & previous ISA honoree)

Music by Keyboardist Adam Ivey * Art Exhibition by Ron Smith *
Stepping Demonstration hosted by Ron Brown

Meet upcoming Author Cheo Tyehimba for autograph signing “Like Loving Backwards”(Buy your book in advance at Marcus Bookstore)

No Host Bar * Awards Presentation * Spoken Word Performances
* Champagne * Appetizers

Tickets pricing includes VIP Awards Reception and
Final Competition Round
$55 Per Person | $100 for Two (limited)

RSVP by March 20th via email:
lajones@lajonesmedia.com or call 510.568.5899.

The Bay Area Black Comedy Competition & Festival’s Inspired Artist Awards were established to celebrate the achievements of individuals and organizations that demonstrate excellence in their chosen field of endeavor, thereby providing positive images of the African American experience.

Proceeds from the ISA help support the Full Vision Arts Foundation (FVAF), an Oakland/East Bay based non-profit organization. FVAF helps at-risk youth reach their full potential by involving them first-hand in real-life arts and entertainment productions.

CLICK HERE to visit FVAV online

CLICK HERE for more infomation on the BABCCF’s Final Competition Round

The National Association of Record Industry Professionals presents
Music In Advertising:
Selling In, Not Selling Out

Thursday, March 12, 2009
San Francisco State University
Downtown Center

Using music to boost advertising and marketing can have enormous positive results for brands and bands. In fact, matching bands with brands is one of the hottest and fastest growing areas of the business today.

Once taboo, brand associations and advertising are embraced by today’s savvy recording artists and their reps to increase exposure to their music and advance their careers. Such recent associations include Madonna with The Gap, Feist with Apple, Goldfrapp with Target, Prince with Verizon and Rihanna with Cover Girl.

Increasingly, advertising, brand and marketing executives need to know how to create win-win deals.

NARIP Presents “Music In Advertising”

That’s why NARIP has assembled a panel of experts and deal architects to discuss how to pair music and artists with brands. They will guide attendees through the opportunities available and provide insight into how to use brand association for new and established acts. They will also address how to create win-win deals and give a glimpse into what the future of music-in-advertising may hold.

How can artists and their reps access billion dollar brands? How can brands access appropriate talent? NARIP’s program will focus on how these deals are done, who does them, how they work and what they cost.

Deals done right and deals gone wrong will be examined in detail with case studies, checklists and proven templates. Attendees will receive information to identify and secure the right match.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet two top Bay Area music-brand executives who can help take your campaign to the next level.

You will learn:
–How brands identify and secure an artist to “headline” (or be an integral part of) an ad campaign.
–How to “A&R” a brand and connect consumers to brands through the emotional power of music
–Case studies: what worked, what didn’t and why (Adidas with Madonna)
–Make the Pitch: How to prepare a brief and package ideas to attract and secure a brand
–How artists and their reps can add value to an ad campaign
–Deal points: money, splits, budgets, fee ranges, negotiation tactics
–How to broker the best deal
–Things to avoid
–When art meets commerce: accommodations artists and brands must make and how to increase the impact and marketability of music

Some benefits you will receive:
–Direct access to top Bay Area music-brand executives with track record of success
–Demystify deal-making: learn which rights you need to proceed
–Hear world-class music-brand strategies
–Form alliances and partnerships for your music or brand, expand your Rolodex

Connect with specialists who set music strategy for brands and design big creative concepts

Don’t miss this insider’s peek at the music-in-advertising realities. Most importantly, this program gives you practical information you can apply immediately to make better pitches and work with ad agencies and brands NOW.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Record & Music Publishing Executives
Producers, Artist Managers and Artist Reps
Advertising Executives & Creative Directors
Brand Marketing & Creative Executives

SPEAKERS
Jeff Daniel, President, Rock River Music
Jason Zada, Director at Tool, former Executive Creative Director and Founder of EVB
Tess Taylor, President, National Association of Record Industry Professionals (moderator)

WHEN
Thursday, March 12, 2009
6:30 p.m. – Registration opens
7:00 p.m. – Program begins
9:30 p.m. – Program ends

WHERE
San Francisco State University
Downtown Center
835 Market Street (above Bloomingdales)
Room 626
San Francisco, CA 94103

COST
$25: NARIP Members Walk-Up ($35 after 3/10 and on site)
$40: Non-Members Walk-Up ($50 after 3/10 and on site)

BONUS
For an extra $20, receive an MP3 recording of the session to download and listen to at your leisure. See Premium Ticket option below.

CLICK HERE to register, for detailed guest speaker profiles and additional information.

CLICK HERE to learn about San Francisco State University’s Music/Recording Industry (MRI) Program.

Speakers subject to change. No refunds. Thank you for your cooperation.

The National Association of Record Industry Professionals
promotes career advancement, education and good will among record executives.

Medicine for Melancholy

“Part mood piece, part awkward love story, and part sociological exposé, San Francisco writer-director Barry Jenkins’ debut feature is some kind of wonderful. This is the rare film that is as thoughtful as it is sensual, as attuned to personal epiphanies as it is to social injustice. ”
-Michael Fox, SF Weekly

“In the face of an impending cultural extinction and the potential loss of SF’s soul, this excellent movie is part of a necessary discussion.”
-D. Scot Miller, San Francisco Bay Guardian

About the Film

Medicine for Melancholy is a love story about a one-night stand told through two African American twenty-somethings dealing with issues of class, identity, and the evolving conundrum of being a minority in rapidly gentrifying San Francisco – a city with the smallest proportional black population of any other major American City. When Micah (Wyatt Cenac) and Jo’ (Tracey Heggins) stumble into the brightness of a sunny San Francisco day after a hook-up, Jo’ can’t wait to escape the uncomfortable silence, but a shared cab ride and a lost wallet soon bring a well intentioned Micah to her front door. As caution turns to curiosity, the young couple sets off on a romantic ramble through eclectic neighborhoods and their own lives as they swap views on everything from the meaning of blackness to letting go of heartbreak.

Filmed entirely in San Francisco, Medicine for Melancholy stars Wyatt Cenac as Micah and Tracey Heggins as Jo’. Cenac is an accomplished writer and actor whose credits include the classic television comedy series King of the Hill. Currently, he appears as a correspondent on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show. Heggins has appeared in several television shows and series throughout her acting career and Medicine for Melancholy marks her first leading role in a feature film.

Medicine for Melancholy runs at Landmark Theatre’s Embarcadero Center Cinema from Fri, Mar 6, 2009 – Sat, Mar 21, 2009.

Starts Friday, March 13 at Landmark Theatre’s Shattuck Cinemas.

CLICK HERE to visit Landmark Theatre’s Official Website.

CLICK HERE to visit Medicine for Melancholy’s Official Website.