Jennifer Toomey from Washington, DC's Coalition for the Future of
Music spoke on "Web Basics: You got Internet on my Record
Business." Margaret Saadi, owner of West Hollywood, CA-based Muscle
Music, sat on the panel addressing heroin use and "Keeping the Band
Alive." Portland, OR-based Willamette Week Editor Mark Zusman
moderated a panel on sex and how the effects the new Digital
Millenium Copyright Act has on all industries. Frank Sennett,
features editor of Liberty Lake, WA, sonicnet.com, spoke about who
will survive the wake of the Napster decision. Paula Batson, of N2K
history and now NY-based myplay.com, spoke on a panel with SF-based
ChickClick.com Director Caroline Frye on "Analog to Digital Case
Studies: Moving to a Wired Career." AOL/Spinner's VP Music
Programming Chris Douridas spoke on "The State of Internet Radio."
DreamWorks' A&R executive Luke Wood and Atlantic Records' director
of A&R spoke on a panel entitled "A&R: Why You'll Need us Now More
than Ever." Opening remarks came from Garageband.com's Jerry
Harrison. This conference marked the inaugural Digital Video Festival, replicating SXSW's popular offerings of Film, Music and
Interactive during the week in Austin. More than 40 videos (all
under 15 minutes) from around the world were shown.
The booths featured music-industry labels, CD-makers, streaming
technology and local organizations. Sunnyvale, CA-based Preview
Systems was handing out earpiece radios, and Snowball.com (which
owns ChickClick.com) had free branded-disposable cameras. The most
unique booth I had ever seen was the Sex Workers booth. It featured
their zines (Danzine et al) as well as programs on safe sex and
educating and raising the awareness of people who work in the sex
industry. I was struck by the heroin and AIDs brochures and condoms
on the table.
