BerkleeICE and Rethink Music Host Fair Music Workshop

berklee x rethink

Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship (BerkleeICE) and Rethink Music have announced they will host the Fair Music Workshop, a day-long, interactive forum and makeathon designed to solicit feedback and input on how the music industry can move forward to resolve issues related to transparency and fairness for creators. The Fair Music Workshop is taking place in the Innovation District at District Hall in Boston, MA on Friday, Oct. 2, from 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET.

To build on the dialogue created following the publishing of its in-depth report, "Fair Music: Transparency and Money Flows in the Music Industry,” the Fair Music Workshop will tackle issues such as rights management, the creation of a "Creator's Bill of Rights," ways block-chain technology can manage payments and much more. The morning will feature keynotes and panels from songwriters, talent management, technology professionals and record label executives, while the afternoon will consist of facilitated workshop discussions designed in conjunction with partner IDEO.

While the reach of the Internet and the emergence of new digital technologies have transformed virtually every corner of the music industry, the current infrastructure powering the music industry is outdated and unable to accommodate the rapid development of technologies and shifting consumer behaviors. The Fair Music Workshop will generate disruptive ideas and pioneer new directions to raise transparency within the entire payment stream to elicit fair compensation for musicians' creations, fostering the creative community in the process.

In addition to representatives Panos Panay and Allen Bargfrede from BerkleeICE and Rethink Music, the event will feature a special presentation from the English singer/songwriter Imogen Heap. It will also feature insights from many other creators, inventors, designers and thinkers, including:

•  Willard Ahdritz, CEO, Kobalt Music Group
•  Robert Ashcroft, CEO, PRS for Music
•  Phil Barry, Founder, Ujo
•  Harris Cohen, Product Manager, YouTube
•  James Duffett-Smith, Global Head of Publisher Relations, Spotify
•  Michael Hendrix, Partner and Managing Director, IDEO
•  Kiran Gandhi, Artist
•  Jim Griffin, Managing Director, OneHouse
•  Christophe Waignier, Director of Strategy and Resources, SACEM
•  Matt Weiss, Portfolio Director and Business Designer, IDEO

To learn more, view the agenda or register for the event, visit rethink-music.com.