LIVE FROM NYC: GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA SUMMIT AND BILLBOARD BACKSTAGE PASS TOURING CONFERENCE

Hypebot‘s Bruce Houghton will provide updates from today’s GEMS: Global Entertainment Media Summit and Monday and Tuesday’s Billboard’s Backstage Pass Touring Conference. 

SATURDAY – Stopped by GEMS in the afternoon and saw a good crowd who were networking up a storm.  Ran into old friend Ravi, music author Hank B. and many others. Shine is a beautiful multi-level and multi-room nightclub on 27th.  Interesting place for the convention although some of the meeting rooms could have been more isolated for noise purposes.  GEMS Off to a strong start.

SUNDAY – Will be there all day. Am on an interesting panel late in the day.

Artist Development And Touring: A New Approach

Find the soul within you! They’re some of the leaders from the world of entertainment–and they understand the connection between the soul of the artist and the artists true expression.  But in an ever changing environment—with a lack of artist development these days—exactly how are artists being developed? What is the future of artistic sustainability?  Is there a new way of developing talent to insure longer shelf life?  Some of the brightest minds from the world of entertainment will offer their take on it—and field questions and ideas from GEMS participants.  Featuring: Howard Bloom; Steve Leeds, Wayne Forte, Entourage Entertainment;  Steve Martin, Nasty Little Man; Bruce Houghton, Skyline Music and special guests.

BILLBOARD’S BACKSTAGE PASS –

The gathering is in NYC on Monday and Tuesday.  On a panel Tuesday morning.

HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW ?
Promoter consolidation and the increase in nationally promoted tours have caused agents to redefine their position in the touring marketplace. Agents now offer more services to clients, including coordinating sponsorships and cutting more individual deals with promoters and venues. Agents also are involved in such ancillaries as merchandising.
Alex Hodges, Executive VP, House of Blues Concerts (Moderator)
Arny Granat, Co-President, Jam Productions
Peter Grosslight, Head of Music Worldwide, William Morris Agency
Bruce Houghton, President, Skyline Music
Rob Light, Managing Partner and Head of Music, Creative Artists Agency
Steve Martin, Sr. VP, The Agency Group
Marsha Vlassic, President/Owner, MVO Ltd.