Join the Polsky Center and Liz Fischer, growth-stage tech CEO and Chicago Booth MBA '15, for an informative workshop for founders and startup leaders who want to stop chasing every lead and start focusing on their highest-potential market. This session will help you evaluate the right size market for your current business stage, weigh the pros and cons of different customer groups, and narrow in on the customers most likely to fuel sustainable growth.

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This webinar explores how split-second fan interactions—at shows, online, or during releases—are becoming powerful signals for brands deciding where to invest. We’ll look at how tech now captures these micro-moments and turns them into compelling brand storytelling and sponsorship opportunities. Attendees will learn how artists and managers can leverage fan energy in real time to attract stronger, more relevant partnerships.

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Presented by MusicBiz and Set

Understanding and maximizing neighboring rights is a critical - and often overlooked - part of the global music revenue landscape. Join us for an in-depth Neighboring Rights Webinar designed for artist managers and self-managed artists looking to better protect and monetize sound recording income worldwide. Panelists will break down how neighboring rights work across different territories, common gaps managers should watch out for, and practical steps to ensure artists are properly registered, collected, and paid. Whether you’re new to neighboring rights or looking to refine your global strategy, this webinar will provide actionable guidance and clarity.

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Presented by MMF-US

Anyone who knows me, understands how much I love collaboration. And one of my favorite collaborators is my good friend David Hazan. I am so pleased to welcome David back to host his 7th episode, featuring a speaker I have coveted for years. This one is going to be an all-timer! 

Sam Hendel is the Managing Partner of Chord Music Partners, a joint venture with Universal Music Group that has become one of the largest independent music rights platforms, managing a catalog of over 65,000 works from major artists across genres. He also has a background in investment management and tech, co-founding Dataminr and investing in a range of media, music, and technology companies while remaining active as a DJ and radio host. 

David Hazan is a seasoned music executive with over 30 years of experience driving revenue growth and brand development across music, media, events, and technology, including senior roles at Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, The Orchard, and VH1/MTV Networks. He has worked with a wide range of industry clients and is an active thought leader, regularly curating and moderating panels at major conferences such as SXSW and Canadian Music Week.

These two guys have so much wisdom and inspiration to share. I promise it will be the best hour of your whole week. Check it out!

Register Here

Presented by WHO KNEW

Great lyrics don’t just sound good—they make the listener see something, feel something, and believe it. 

This conversation goes deep on the craft behind lyrics that connect: stronger concepts, cleaner phrasing, vivid imagery, and emotional honesty without drifting into clichés. 

Learn practical methods to tighten verses, sharpen your hook, and make every line earn its place. 

Expect real techniques you can apply immediately, plus a Musiversal power-user segment designed to turn your best ideas into forward momentum.

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Presented by DIT

speakers: 
MANDY SALEM AUBRY (Athens Music Week)
NICOLE SARMIENTO (SONIK Philipines)
Koki Takahashi (CUEW, Japan)

Festivals are more than stages. They’re places where relationships get built, new markets come into view, and opportunities can start to stack up internationally.

Join us for FESTIVALS YOU SHOULD KNOW. This session is all about learning: what these festivals are, what they look for, and why they matter.

JOIN FREE: http://ditcommunity.com

event link: https://members.ditcommunity.com/events/festivals-you-need-to-know-part-1-99600591

Presented by DIT

Presented by BACP and Shelby Parchman, InUrban Strategies, LLC

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just for large corporations—today’s AI tools allow small businesses to operate faster, smarter, and more efficiently than ever before. This session introduces practical ways entrepreneurs can use AI to save time, improve marketing, streamline operations, and make better business decisions. Participants will explore simple tools and real-world examples across five critical areas of business: Sales and Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations, and Management. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with actionable ideas and prompts they can immediately apply to their own businesses.

Register Here

Mark your calendars for March 26th, 2pm CT! 🎶
Join us for an Instagram Live (@mlc_us) featuring The MLC’s Jamie Dominguez and Jamie Hart, Founder of Hart & Songs, as they dive into “Let’s Talk Streaming Royalties: What Songwriters Should Know.” 🎶
Jamie Hart is a powerhouse in music rights management, having audited 5,000+ songs and recovered over $1M in unclaimed royalties for artists, songwriters, and producers. Through her work with Hart & Songs, she’s on a mission to clean up metadata, strengthen registration practices, and help creators build sustainable careers by actually collecting what they’ve earned.
This conversation will be packed with practical insights on metadata, royalties, and the backend systems every songwriter needs to understand to get paid accurately and consistently. 📚
💡 Make sure to tap the reminder so you don’t miss it—we’re going live next week!

You've had people tell you to work smarter, not harder. But what does it mean to work intelligently? In today's music ecosystem the tools exist to give business operators not only time-saving efficiencies, but the capability to make decisions armed with intelligence that isn't possible with manual workflows. In the next two years, advances in AI and machine learning, and the integration of leading music software platforms across a variety of services will make manual data entry a thing of the past. The key to unlocking the true promise of these tools is ensuring your operation is integrated into the correct tech stack.

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Presented by MusicBiz and Artist Growth

One of the most common questions we hear from musicians is simple:

“Am I collecting all the royalties I’m owed?”

The honest answer for many artists is probably not—and it’s not because they’re doing anything wrong. The music rights ecosystem is complex, and many creators simply aren’t aware of every revenue stream available to them.

That’s why we’re excited to share a free educational webinar from SoundExchange, designed to help musicians understand how digital royalties work and how to make sure they’re getting paid.

📅 Date: March 26, 2026
🕛 Time: 12:00 PM Central Time
💻 Format: Free Online Webinar

Register Here

Presented by ATX Musicians and SoundExchange

Why This Matters

Every time your music is played on digital radio platforms like Pandora, SiriusXM, or internet radio stations, it generates digital performance royalties.

These royalties are collected and distributed by SoundExchange on behalf of artists and rights holders.

But here’s the key:

You must be registered and have your recordings properly claimed in order to receive payment.

Many artists miss out simply because they haven’t completed this process yet.

This free webinar will explain how to fix that.

What You’ll Learn

During this session, SoundExchange experts will break down how digital royalties work and how musicians can collect the income they’re owed.

Topics include:

🎧 How Digital Performance Royalties Work
Understanding how royalties are generated when your music plays on digital radio platforms.

💰 How to Register and Get Paid
Learn how to sign up with SoundExchange and ensure your recordings are properly registered.

🌎 International Royalties & Additional Revenue
Discover how global performances generate royalties and how artists can maximize their earnings.

📀 Common Mistakes Musicians Make
Avoid the most common issues that prevent artists from collecting their royalties.

Who Should Attend

This free webinar is ideal for:

• Independent musicians
• Bands and recording artists
• Producers and collaborators
• Record labels and rights holders
• Music managers and industry professionals

If you have released music digitally, this information could directly impact your income.

Join the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Scott Smedresman, partner at Brown Rudnick LLP, for an informative and practical workshop designed to help founders navigate the legal landscape of forming a company, handling founder matters, and closing on first capital.

This session will be in-person with a virtual option.

Register Here

In this session, Winamp explores why the future of artist income is direct-to-fan, and how owning your website, fan community, and merch can unlock sustainable revenue and creative freedom.

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Presented by A2IM

5-Step Blueprint for Small Business Growth While on a Budget: SEO Concepts Explained

Simply imagine your business is a candy store ☐, and the internet is a massive city. SEO is what makes it easy for kids to find your store when they're craving candy!

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Presented by Small Business University

The music industry is no stranger to the promise or challenge of new technology. This conversation will examine major AI issues impacting the music business and those who create it. From educating policymakers, courtroom battles, consensus building and free-market licensing, learn the vital issues creatives and rightsholders need to know. These tactics explore protecting IP, responsible innovation and where legislation is necessary, plus watch a real-world demo.

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Presented by MusicBiz RIAA

With real-time spin data collected from over 9,000 radio stations around the world, explore an exciting new tool that offers a deep dive into your domestic and international radio presence.

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Presented by A2IM

March's Lunch and Learn is coming up - our virtual series exclusively for SONA members that showcases experts in our field with a guided conversation and member Q&A. This next installment is TikTok Best Practices for Songwriters with Emily Mitchell, Manager of Music Publishing Partnerships at TikTok.

This masterclass will cover how songwriters and producers can best leverage TikTok to build their brand, market themselves and level up their careers. Whether you're on TikTok already or you're looking to get started - we've got you covered!

Register Here

About Emily
Emily Mitchell has spent her entire career in music publishing. Currently, she leads Music Publishing Partnerships for the Americas at TikTok, where she is dedicated to championing the work of songwriters and producers. She is focused on enhancing TikTok's strategy for elevating songwriters, ensuring that they are recognized beyond the backdrop.

Join us Tuesday, March 3 at 12 P.M. PT/. 3 P.M. ET. Link to Zoom registration above. A recording of the event will be made available to members. If you cannot attend the zoom but have questions you would like to ask Emily, please email info@wearesona.com.

Presented by SONA

We welcome Sam Duprey, MBA ’16, and Max Gaby, MBA ’16, principals at Caliber Companies, to lead a session titled “Power in Business Partnerships: Collaborate, Divide & Conquer.” They will share lessons learned from conducting a partnered search and successfully acquiring their business, Innovative Lab Services. If you are considering a partnered search, you will appreciate the insights given as we discuss pros, cons, and things to consider.

Register Here

Presented by Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

This will be a practical explainer on implementing the HITS Act this tax season, featuring a guided walkthrough of IRS guidance that is tailored for independent artists, labels, and music accountants.

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Presented by A2IM

AI success starts small. Discover how the best teams deploy AI in days, prioritize the right use cases, and deliver fast, defensible business outcomes. Ideal for executives aiming to prove AI’s value without overhauling their operations.”

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Presented by Small Business University

Presented by BACP and Ebony Crump, Instructor, City Colleges of Chicago 

In this session, we’ll break down networking into a practical growth system entrepreneurs can use to generate referrals, build strategic partnerships, and increase community visibility without feeling salesy or awkward. You’ll learn how to identify the right people to connect with, what to say to make your outreach clear and memorable, and how to follow up in a way that turns conversations into real business opportunities.

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Social media doesn't have to feel overwhelming or inauthentic. Artists Jennifer Meeker, Ramona Muse Lambert, and Akwi Nji discuss different ways to use video to share your work and process to connect with online audiences. Drawing from both artistic practice and communications strategy, this conversation offers adaptable ideas you can use across platforms

Register Here

Presented by Arts Midwest

Growth shouldn’t come with bloated processes or wasted spend. Discover how modern teams centralize promo ordering to stay on brand, on budget, and on pace.

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Presented by Small Business University

Brand and product discovery used to be about placement: shelf position, keyword rank, influencer reach.

But wellness shoppers increasingly want personalized answers: what works for my body, my goals, my constraints. AI is becoming an interface for those answers, sitting between brands and consumers. The following panel of experts will discuss how wellness is evolving, how AI is changing and aiding discovery and what brands can do right now to stay findable, credible, and chosen.

• Margie Omastiak, Senior Buyer, Whole Foods Market

• Tracey Halama, Founder & CEO, Creekside Ventures

• Katie Kloke, Senior Manager, SPINS

• Shiv Gupta, Founder, U of Digital

The panel will be moderated by Katie Rosholt, Managing Director, SOCIETY U.S.

Wellness concerns may be peak during the cold Chicago winter, but consumer demands for wellness products is high year-round. Join us to learn more about this important industry sector.

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Presented by Naturally Chicago

If you follow this series closely, you notice that I very seldom conduct the interviews myself. Well I am honored to come off the bench to conduct this one with someone whom I admire and respect so much.

Scott Scovill is one of the most interesting people I count among my friends. He is the founder and CEO of Moo TV, a hugely successful video production company that counts many A-list acts as its clients. This includes Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Brad Paisley, Tyler Childers, Peter Frampton, Alice Cooper, Dropkick Murphys and Tame Impala among many others. The company has won Pollstar's Video Production Company of the Year more than a dozen times, including 10 in a row.

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Presented by WHO KNEW

In this session, Bootleg founder Rod Yancy and Cloverdale Records’ co-founder & CEO Kyle McEvoy dive into the rise of artist-led business models. Cloverdale, created by rising star artist Evan Honer, unites label services, publishing admin, recording studio access, and hands-on management under one roof to empower artists. Rod will break down how Bootleg helps artists like Evan capture and own their live performances, build recurring revenue from touring, and deepen their connection with superfans. Together, they’ll outline a new blueprint for career ownership in the modern music landscape.

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Presented by MusicBiz and Bootleg

Documentation is often the first way audiences and funders encounter your work. In this panel session, artists and documentation specialists Mariah Moneda, Christopher Selleck, and Seth Dahlseid discuss approaches for capturing 2D, 3D, and video artwork for portfolios, applications, and digital platforms, from DIY setups to professional techniques

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Presented by Arts Midwest

For growing CPG brands, few decisions feel as high stakes as the first hires. This session will help founders move from guessing to making confident and strategic choices about building their teams.

We'll explore:

* When to make the leap from solo founder or tiny team to your first key hires.

* Which roles to prioritize first (spoiler alert – much of this will be driven by your strengths, your channel strategy and current headaches).

* How to decide when to hire a full-time employee vs. contractor, broker or fractional help so you protect cash while still growing.

* Why an Organizational Chart is critical.

* Practical tips for recruiting and interviewing.

Register Here

Presented by Naturally Chicago

This webinar offers artists practical tools to craft grant applications and proposals that resonate with decision makers. Anitra Budd will blend the essentials of strong writing with insights into how reviewers evaluate applications, helping you write with confidence and clarity.

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Presented by Arts Midwest

Presented by BACP, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Ladder Up

This workshop will answer important tax questions for your business including: Are you required to file a tax return? Is your worker an independent contractor or an employee? What business records must be kept? Are you required to make estimated tax payments? What resources does the IRS have for small business owners?

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Join us on February 11 1-2PM ET for our first virtual event of 2026! Rachael Bronstein, Founder & Financial Coach for Life's Jam! Rachael works to help music industry professionals make their money on and off the road.

Rachael Will Discuss

• Why traditional money advice doesn't work for creative and freelance careers

• The difference between income fluctuation and financial instability, and why that matters

• How to create a calm financial baseline even when income changes month to month

• A simple 3-bucket framework (fixed, flexible, future) for organizing money

• What to focus on at the start of the year by identifying pressure points (slow months, big expenses, mental load) .

Register Here

Presented by Women in Music