Conference offers guidance on morphing music industry

March 23, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Today’s music industry looks a lot different than the music industry of only a decade ago. It is continuously changing and so far there is no clear consensus on what the future will look like.

The ninth annual Music Law Conference at the University of Florida Levin College of Law will offer guidance to musicians, lawyers, law students and business professionals on how to handle the shifting dynamics in the industry.

“DON’T PANIC: Navigating the Changing Universe of the Music Industry” will address topics such as piracy issues, do-it-yourself versus commercial avenues, contract negotiation and perspectives on the future of the industry.

The day-long conference, sponsored by UF Law’s Music Law Society, starts at 8 a.m. March 26 on the UF Law campus and will feature a variety of panels and breakout sessions with a keynote address from Orlando entertainment attorney Greg Galloway (JD 86), whose clients have included Matchbox 20 and Taproot.

The conference will also host a live music showcase on the evenings of March 25 and March 26. Friday’s showcase consists of an eclectic lineup of four Gainesville bands ranging from funk and blues to rockabilly performing at :08 nightclub in downtown Gainesville. Saturday’s showcase will feature eight local indie rock, garage rock, reggae and pop-punk acts performing at Common Grounds and Rum Runners.

Conference panels will be comprised of experts and professionals from many areas of the music industry, from recording artists and producers to record label owners and entertainment attorneys.

Panelists include Vinnie Fiorello, founding member and drummer for the ska band Less Than Jake and founder of the record labels Fueled by Ramen and Paper + Plastick; Var Thelin, co-founder and owner of Gainesville’s No Idea Records; Michelle Fantus, the A&R coordinator at Sony/ATV Music Publishing; and Paul Trust, a music producer, engineer, and songwriter, who has worked with The Matrix production team as well as artists in many genres.

Registration for the Music Law Conference is available online until March 24, and will also be available at the conference on March 26. It is free for UF students and faculty and features special rates for bands and other attendees. For more details, itinerary and registration information, visit the Music Law Conference website at http://www.law.ufl.edu/musiclawconf/.

As in previous years, seven CLE credits will be available, pending approval by The Florida Bar.