2008 UGA Music Business / AthFest Panels

AthFest 2009 dates have been set for June 25-28, 2009.

ATHENS, GA — AthFest and The University of Georgia Music Business Program will host educational panels on Saturday, October 4th from 11:00 A.M to 3:00 P.M. at The Melting Point in Athens, GA, located at 295 E. Dougherty Street at the corner of Thomas Street in the Foundry Park Inn complex. The panels are free and open to the public and will provide an opportunity for networking with leading music industry professionals.

The first panel, "Entrepreneurship in the Music and Entertainment Industry," begins at 11:00 AM and will be moderated by Chris Hanks, Lecturer, Entrepreneurship, Department of Management at the University of Georgia Terry College of Business, and Jared Bailey, founder of Flagpole Magazine, AthFest Music and Arts Festival, and former owner of the 40 Watt Club.

Panelists include: Velena Vego, 40 Watt Club talent booker, talent manager (Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven), record label manager, Pitch-A-Tent; Don Perry of Greenberg Traurig, business advisor specializing in corporate entertainment, new product development, and celebrity endorsements; Mark Montgomery, Echo, chief executive officer/co-founder, online entertainment space for music, Fortune 100 companies, record labels, cable television, and media properties; Jeff Hoffman, Priceline.com, Founding Team Member, founding partner as well as Chairman and CEO of Black Sky Entertainment, an independent production company in the film and music industries; Jan Smith, Jan Smith Studios, nationally recognized singer/songwriter/musician and multi-platinum certified vocal coach/vocal producer; and LIFE, spoken word artist, manager and cofounder, community coordinator for Dreaded Mindz Family (DMZ), a local university and community organization dedicated to eradicating injustice, disorder and ignorance through art and grassroots activism.

At 12:45 P.M. the Keynote Speaker, Rob Kenner, will be introduced by music business program administrator and platinum winning songwriter, Bruce Burch. Kenner is based in New York City and is an Editor-At-Large for VIBE Media Group.

The second panel, "How to Start a Band-And How to Keep It Together Once You Do," begins at 1:30 P.M. and will be moderated by David Claassen of BMI and Keith Perissi of the UGA Music Business Program. Panelists include: David Lowery, artist, Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker; David Prasse, attorney and producer; Kalen Nash, artist, Ponderosa; Michael Dorio, artist, Trances Arc; Troy Aubrey, manager, Modern Skirts and owner, Nomad Artists; JoJo Glidewell, artist, Modern Skirts; and Ishues, hip-hop artist.

These panels are part the commitment by AthFest to provide education about the music and entertainment industry to the public. Bailey comments, "AthFest continues to improve the music business panels held in conjunction with the UGA Music Business Program every year. Additionally, we have added new music education programs, including Nuci's Space Camp Amped for Kids, and an outreach program that brings musicians into schools to perform while teaching kids how they write, record, and sell their music."

UGA's Music Business Program began in January 2006 as an interdisciplinary certificate program organized and operated by the University's Terry College of Business. In addition to guest lectures from prominent figures in the music industry, students gain real world music industry experience through externships with record labels, promoters, studios and other entertainment companies. Burch comments, "We are honored to be working with the Athfest organization. One of our goals is to serve not only UGA students but the music community of Athens. We are proud to be a part of the legendary Athens music scene. "

AthFest, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The mission of AthFest is to educate citizens and visitors about the music and arts scene of Athens, GA. Since 1997, AthFest has organized an annual festival to showcase the incredible musicians, artists, businesses and residents of the Athens community.

AthFest 2009 is scheduled for June 25-28, 2009, and will mark the 13th year for this award-winning music and arts festival held annually in the downtown area of historic Athens, GA.