by Maria Teresa Roca de Togores

Hello everyone! I am MT, FMC’s Policy Intern for this fall. The Policy Summit is right around the corner, and while we’re all working hard to get the word out about what will be going on during those two intense days, I’m also excited about attending myself in my capacity as a student of Government and American Musical Culture at Georgetown. These are my picks:

In Conversation: On Activism and Art
Monday, Oct. 27 10:55 AM – 11:35AM
Lohrfink Auditorium

If you are interested in the social conditions that artists are taking on, this is the panel for you. This panel will definitely provide a variety of opinions and experiences on the challenges that artists are facing, not only regarding technology, but also when confronting issues of equality social justice. This panel features fascinating speakers who use their musical talent and expertise to advocate for peace in Latin America, fair immigration policy, and equal job opportunities for Latino immigrants.

NPR Alt. Latino host Felix Contreras will be moderating the panel featuring musician and Antibalas founder Martín Perna, Shawn King of Devotchka who works with Latino artists to advocate for and raise awareness about immigration, and Ceci Bastida, an LA-based Mexican artist whose music voices the issues of immigration and violence in northern Mexico. 

And as a great bonus, Shawn, Ceci, and Martín will all be performing later in the evening at the Future of Music Honors event!

The Honorable Mignon Clyburn
Monday, Oct. 27 11:40 AM – 12 Noon
Lohrfink Auditorium

I think we can all agree that Commissioner Clyburn is one of the most important people who will be joining the FMC Summit this October. Since beginning her term at the FCC in 2009, her efforts have included advocating for wider accessibility to communications for disabled citizens, media ownership rules to protect diversity in ownership, and universal access to telephone and broadband technology.

As net neutrality debates are generating unprecedented public interest and Comcast’s proposed merger with Time Warner Cable adds to the telecommunications controversy, I am excited to hear directly from someone The Huffington Post describes as one of the “two women who hold the future of the internet in their hands.”

The Legal Geniuses Panel
Tuesday, Oct. 28 10:10 AM – 11:10AM
Lohrfink Auditorium

We’ve all been hearing so much about potential changes in the Coyright law, pre-72s, licensing cases…keeping track of it all is a never ending story! That’s why I’m excited to hear from a panel of legal eagles at the FMC Summit (on Tuesday) who can help navigate all these thorny issues.

Moderated by FMC co-founder Water McDonough, this panel features expert lawyers in the fields of Entertainment – Jill Berliner, who is in the Super Lawyers rating list, and Paul LiCalsi, who has represented artists like Taylor Swift, Elton John, Billy Joel, etc. –, Licensing, Arts Advocacy – Ashlye Keaton, Adjunct Professor of Law at Tulane Law School, as well as Janine Small, who is the 2015-2017 elected chair to the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports. It is a session not to be missed!

Internships: Promoting Good Uses, Avoiding Abuses
Tuesday, Oct. 28 10:10 AM – 11:10AM
Salon C, Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center

This session maybe touches my soft spot because I am a student and the moderator is one of my professors, but I sincerely think this will be a very interesting, inspirational, and interactive session. Of course, if you are a student attending the Summit, you cannot (or should not) miss this: it will be a fantastic opportunity to get insight on how internship programs work, what options are out there, and even network a little.

If you are in the music industry: you would be surprised of the creative and innovative ideas that students can have about your business. Take advantage of the opportunity of being a guest at Georgetown University for two days and listen to what students have to say. Who knows, you might find your next star employee!

Prof. Anna Celenza, a longtime collaborator with FMC and professor at Georgetown University, will be moderating this session, which I am sure will make the interactions between professionals and students all the more inspiring and fruitful.

All Songs Considered Listening Party
Tuesday, Oct. 28 6 PM – 9 PM
Gibson Guitar Showroom

After 2 days of wrestling with the heaviest music business topics, there’s no better way to kick back than to listen to a bunch of new music.  NPR Music’s Bob Boilen is back by popular demand to host an exclusive closing night party, where you can weigh in on new releases and hear from a distinguished group of music braniacs.  Brought to you by the good folks at Mailchimp.

Along with these and all the other fantastic panels and sessions that will fill up our two-day conference, we’ve got a variety of  the social events that we have organized and that will allow all the attendees of the Summit to mingle and exchange opinions about what we will all be discussing! Get psyched for the Welcome Pho Dinner and Welcome Party on Sunday night, the Cocktail Party and Future of Music Honors on Monday night. Check out the full schedule for details.