Join us for an insightful session featuring The MLC and business manager Cat Marcasciano, as we dive into the world of music royalties and how you can maximize your earnings. In this webinar, we’ll break down the complexities of mechanical licensing, share key strategies for navigating royalties and the financial aspects of the music industry, and discuss how The MLC is here to help creators, publishers, and administrators maximize their revenue streams.

Cat Marcasciano, a seasoned industry expert and business manager, will provide valuable insights into effectively managing royalties, blending a deep understanding of both the creative and financial landscapes, while The MLC will walk you through the resources, tools, and support available to ensure you’re receiving the royalties you’re entitled to. Whether you're just starting out in the music business or looking to optimize your current practices, this session will empower you with the essential knowledge to thrive.

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It's old home week for me as we present two of Nashville's finest humans and explore how one of them is over-seeing a major milestone for the organization he runs. These two combined have 60+ years of been there, done that in several of the entertainment industry's most important companies.

Damon Whiteside is the Chief Executive Officer of the Academy of Country Music, one of the two major trade organizations serving the country music industry. Since taking over the top job in 2019, Damon has led the organization thru dramatic growth, culminating in this year's 60th year anniversary. A native of Southern California, he has spent his 30+ year career in music, film, television, live entertainment, Broadway and retail. 

Kerri Fox-Metoyer is the Head of Entertainment at GABB Wireless, which is the leading tech platform designed to keep kids safe online. A music industry "lifer", Kerri has held key executive jobs in major companies including EMI, Disney, Sony and APA. 

Please join us for what will be the best hour of your week. I promise you will leave smarter and more inspired than you arrived. 

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Presented by WHO KNEW

The future of the music industry lies in automation, and AI-powered tools are transforming how artists engage with fans and generate revenue. In this session, SymphonyOS will break down the evolving landscape of fan-driven businesses, exploring how centralized data and automation can help artists scale efficiently. We’ll dive into real-world strategies for monetizing pre-saves, optimizing e-commerce, and leveraging AI-driven marketing tools like email and SMS automation. Join us to discover how innovation can empower artists to build sustainable, always-on businesses while staying in control of their audience and data.

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Presented by Music Biz

Do you have what it takes to start and run a successful business? If so, do you know what the start-up journey is like? Or what initial steps you need to take? This webinar will help you assess your prospects, give you the initial direction you need, and inspire you to move forward to realize your dream. The webinar will also cover pricing, promotion, competition and marketing to give you a competitive edge. Topics Covered in the Start-up Webinar include: identifying successful traits, assessing your journey, navigating organization and regulations, gauging market potential and avoiding failure.

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Presented by Score Chicago and

Join Skyler Almquist, Founder and Managing Partner of Alliance Growth Partners for an ETA Workshop on Tech Stack Setup & Best Practices. This session will provide essential insights into selecting, implementing, and optimizing the right technology tools to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and support scalable growth.  Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an experienced industry leader and gain practical strategies to build a strong and effective tech infrastructure.

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Presented by Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

What does it take to see your company name in the headline of a trusted music or tech publication? Go behind the scenes to understand how journalists and editors work, what gets their attention, and what happens next.​

Find out what's changing as the media landscape shifts, and why advertising (paid media) and news coverage (earned media) need each other.

​We'll cover everything from how to make a pitch to getting the most out of your press after it lands.

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Presented by Music Tectonics

Join the Polsky Center and Sophia Matveeva, CEO & founder of Tech For Non-Techies, for an informative workshop on Fundraising for Non-Technical Founders. Investors are often skeptical about tech ventures run by non-technical founders – but don’t find this discouraging! In this session you will learn the methods Sophia used to raise $1 million from angel investors, the difference between product founders and technical founders, and how to mitigate investor concerns and position yourself for success.

This workshop builds on content in Sophia’s E2 “Tech for Non-Technical Founders.”

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Presented by Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Discover the power of AI in developing varied content designed for a range of platforms including social media, email marketing, blogging, your website, and more. Learn how to use AI to streamline content creation, aiding you in delivering a consistent and engaging brand narrative across different channels.

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Presented by Women’s Business Development Center

How do you identify investments that have a high probability of achieving growth and returning capital over the long-term? How do you separate short-term fads from industries and sectors with sustainable competitive advantages? In recent decades, certain sectors have witnessed meaningful investment by private equity firms — veterinary, dental, insurance brokers are examples — but how do you know when the tide will turn? In the late 90s, investors flocked to internet companies only to have the tech bubble burst in the early 2000s, losing large suits of capita. Over the past decade however, internet investments have supported strong returns—was it a theme or fad early on? In recent years, PE firms have focused on industries that do not fit the traditional buyout model—businesses with few assets and meaningful human capital and key man risk such as wealth management firms, insurance brokers, accounting firms and engineering firms. Will this support strong returns long term or is it yet another passing fad? Join IIR, Duane Jackson, to discuss some of the recent themes and fads in private equity to improve your investment theses development.

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Presented by Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Presented by BACP and National Association of Women Owners (NAWBO) member Mary Beth Weigel,  Leadership and Career Coach at Step Back Get Clear Coaching

Whether you're managing a team, serving your clients, or collaborating with peers, delivering and receiving difficult feedback/information is inevitable—but it doesn’t have to be destructive to the receiver, the giver and the relationship. There is a skill to navigating challenging conversations so that they can be productive, emotionally secure, problem focused and relationship developing opportunities. This workshop is designed to equip you with the tools, mindset and strategies to handle these interactions—whether you are giving tough feedback or receiving it – with compassion and empathy.

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In recognition of Earth Day, observed on April 22, this month’s Empower Hour will feature BACP Chief Small Business Officer Lotika Pai chatting with Carolee Kokola, Director of Enterprise Operations for Bubbly Dynamics LLC.

Established in 2002, Bubbly Dynamics is dedicated to incubating small businesses in formerly vacant, industrial buildings located in disinvested communities. Through Bubbly Dynamics, The Plant and Bubbly exist as buildings offering affordable, energy-efficient spaces for space for small and emerging manufacturers, product assemblers, and other businesses committed to sustainability. The Plant, located in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, is a research and production facility comprising a collaborative community of small food businesses. In Bridgeport, Bubbly is home to a variety of light industrial businesses ranging from furniture repair to bike building, leading to collaboration that strengthens the businesses and reinforces sustainable practices.

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By 2033, the music industry powered by AI is projected to grow to a staggering $38.71 billion. But how can we ensure creators’ rights are protected while fostering innovation? In this session, join music, technology, and business experts at MatchTune to explore the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and music. We’ll examine how AI-driven tools are revolutionizing the music industry, while addressing critical ethical questions around copyright, licensing and data usage. Together, we’ll discuss opportunities for fostering innovation without compromising creators’ rights. Join us to envision a future where technology and artistry collaborate seamlessly.

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Presented by Music Biz

Presented by BACP and Matthew Revere, Pursuit Lending

Attend our virtual Access to Capital business advising session with Pursuit Lending. Explore loan options, grants, and other funding opportunities. Gain valuable insights, ask your pressing questions, and take the next step toward financial success.

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Founders Susan Chen (Madame Susan Sauces) and Teresa Ging (Sugar Bliss) share their transitions from corporate careers to building successful CPG food brands.

Topics covered include:

• Brand Building: Learn how they approached storytelling, marketing, and connecting with their audience to grow their businesses.

• Challenges & Opportunities: Hear about the unique experiences they faced as Asian American female founders, including funding and industry representation.

• Financing & Scaling: Discover how they navigated capital challenges and managed costs while scaling their businesses.

• Advice & Future Plans: Get valuable advice for aspiring AAPI entrepreneurs and insights into what’s next for their businesses.

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Presented by NY Public Library

How do you identify investments that have a high probability of achieving growth and returning capital over the long-term? How do you separate short-term fads from industries and sectors with sustainable competitive advantages? In recent decades, certain sectors have witnessed meaningful investment by private equity firms — veterinary, dental, insurance brokers are examples — but how do you know when the tide will turn? In the late 90s, investors flocked to internet companies only to have the tech bubble burst in the early 2000s, losing large suits of capita. Over the past decade however, internet investments have supported strong returns—was it a theme or fad early on? In recent years, PE firms have focused on industries that do not fit the traditional buyout model—businesses with few assets and meaningful human capital and key man risk such as wealth management firms, insurance brokers, accounting firms and engineering firms. Will this support strong returns long term or is it yet another passing fad? Join IIR, Duane Jackson, to discuss some of the recent themes and fads in private equity to improve your investment theses development.

Register Here

Presented by Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Presented by BACP, Erika. Q. Gonzalez, Executive Director, and Jovanna Druay, Business Advisor.

In this webinar, we'll cover cost-effective marketing strategies for small businesses, along with tips on how to effectively use social media as a marketing tool. Perfect for small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to take their marketing to the next level.

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As the name of this platform boldly states, we present really smart people who do amazing work in the music business. This has never been more true than this episode presenting two Ivy Leaguers, who are both highly successful digital music experts and all around nice guys. 

Joseph Perla is the founder and CEO of Hangout.fm., which is part of Turntable Labs. Previously he's held senior level tech roles at Meta and Lyft, as well as co-founding two other successful tech start-ups. Simply put, he is one of the most impressive people I've ever met.

Lars Murray is well known on this platform and throughout the music industry. An early advocate for streaming, he's held senior roles in major record labels (Columbia and Virgin) and led the partnership team at Pandora. He is currently running his own digital consultancy and produces the Unlimited Supply podcast, which should be part of your daily routine.

In addition to our normal 1 x 1 conversation, plan to stick around for a few extra minutes for a live demo of Hangout.fm. 

Please join us for what will be the best hour of your week. I promise you will leave smarter and more inspired than you arrived. 

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Join the Polsky Center and Nell Compernolle and Tanya Treptow in an informational workshop on how to optimize your data intake and analysis. Nell and Tanya both work for the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago and are research experts. In this workshop, we will discuss the best ways that you can structure your data intake so that you get the right kind of data, and then also how to interpret it, so you can optimize the way you incorporate feedback. This is part two of a two part E2 series with NORC focusing on research, but you don’t need to attend the first to get value out of the second.

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Join Elliott Holland, Managing Director of Guardian Due Diligence, for an in-depth discussion on the critical role of due diligence in the acquisition process.

With years of experience guiding entrepreneurs through successful transactions, Elliott will break down key components of due diligence, highlighting common pitfalls and best practices. He will also share real-world examples of how thorough due diligence can mitigate risk and uncover hidden opportunities in a deal. Whether you’re an aspiring searcher or an experienced acquirer, this workshop will provide valuable insights to help you navigate the complexities of evaluating a business before making a purchase.

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Presented by Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovataion

Whether you are looking to expand, secure financing, or simply optimize your cash flow, this webinar will provide actionable insights to help you build a thriving business. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain expert knowledge and take the next step toward financial success!

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Presented by BACP and Chase for Business

Maximize your royalties and protect your rights at RegFest, a FREE webinar for songwriters, artists, producers, and rightsholders. Presented by The MLC and Cosynd, and hosted by award-winning songwriter and artist Cassandra Kubinski, this event will cover how to register your works and claim all your income streams. Hear from experts at The MLC, Cosynd, BMI, SoundExchange, and Too Lost Distribution on how to collect every penny from royalties on downloads, streaming, radio, TV play, and more.

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Music search technology is more than just a tool for sync — it’s reshaping how record labels, music publishers, and music tech companies unlock value in unexpected ways. From A&R and marketing to catalog management and beyond, AI-powered search is driving efficiency, uncovering new opportunities, and transforming the way businesses navigate their music assets. In this webinar, we’ll explore how the latest innovations in music search technology are shaping the industry in 2025 and helping companies get more from their catalogs.

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Presented by Music Biz

Anyone who follows my platform recalls the live event series that birthed SPITR. It was called Who Knew and the audience reaction we always aimed for was, "wow, who knew!!!". I predict your reaction to this episode will be exactly that...who knew indeed!

Melissa Core-Caballo is one of the most unique executives we've ever met. From humble beginnings in a gypsy caravan in Australia to becoming a super successful entrepreneur and running her branding firm, she is a force of nature who will inspire you. Legendary producer Tony Brown calls her "the velvet glove" = a strong punch delivered softly. 

Keith Thomas is a music industry lifer, starting out as a performer at age 9, to writing and producing award winning, hit songs for stars such as Ronnie Milsap, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Amy Grant, Vanessa Williams, James Ingram, Whitney Houston and Selena among others. He's won 2 GRAMMY's and 5 Dove Awards.

Please join us for what will be the best hour of your week. I promise you will leave smarter and more inspired than you arrived. 

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Join the Polsky Center’s Investor in-Residence for private equity, Tim Kelly, MBA ’00, for an interactive workshop to discuss special topics in EQ.

Tim has been involved in private equity for nearly three decades in senior leadership and investment management roles with Allstate Insurance Company, Heller Financial, GE Capital, and Adams Street Partners. Tim began his career with Goldman Sachs & Co. in Chicago where he traded over-the-counter (OTC) securities and managed the office’s OTC market expansion efforts. He went on to manage billions of dollars in private equity related investment programs and to complete hundreds of successful international partnership and direct equity and fixed income investments. He is proud of an extensive global network of general and limited partner relationships he developed throughout his career as a result of his personable interaction style, objectivity and candor, and desire to help others succeed. His vast industry knowledge and experiences transcend finance, investments, law, international business, and complex capital formation structures.

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Join the ISA's Director of Education, Max Timm, as he dives into all things filmmaking with producer, Rob Deege. This will be an incredibly informative discussion that you don't want to miss!

You will learn:

• The role of a Producer - from development to distribution

• The producer’s perspective on scripts

• What makes a successful collaboration between writers and producers

• The steps in development, sales, and packaging processes

• Trends in film & TV production and the impact of streaming and digital platforms 

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Presented by International Screenwriters’ Network

The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) is transforming how we interact with digital and physical environments. AI is rapidly accelerating the capabilities of immersive experiences, making them more responsive, intelligent, and personalized. From AI-powered training simulations that adapt to individual learning styles to virtual customer service agents that provide real-time, natural conversations in AR environments, this fusion is redefining engagement. Healthcare institutions, for instance, are leveraging AI-driven VR simulations to train medical professionals, while retailers are deploying AR experiences enhanced with AI to offer personalized shopping journeys. The result is a new level of immersion that goes beyond static digital environments, providing dynamic, context-aware interactions that feel natural and intuitive.

As enterprises explore the potential of AI-driven immersive technologies, they face both opportunities and challenges. The emergence of spatial computing devices, such as Apple’s Vision Pro and Meta’s Quest 3, is expanding the reach into industries like manufacturing, aviation, and finance. AI enables digital twins to simulate real-world operations in XR environments, helping companies optimize workflows and predict outcomes. However, enterprises must navigate hurdles such as hardware adoption, data integration, and large-scale deployment to unlock the full potential of these technologies. As AI continues to advance, its synergy with immersive platforms will drive more interactive, intelligent, and accessible experiences—reshaping how we work, learn, and connect in an increasingly blended digital and physical world.

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Is your packaging helping or hurting your brand? Join us for a live packaging audit where we’ll analyze real brands’ pouch and film packaging, giving direct feedback on material choices, sustainability, and functionality.

What to Expect:

• A live review of pouch and film packaging from participating brands

• Expert insights on materials, durability, and consumer impact

• Best practices for choosing the right materials for your product

If your products use pouches or films, this session will help you optimize your packaging for better performance and stronger brand impact. Want your packaging reviewed? Share your product website link.

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Presented by FoodBevy

Join the Polsky Center and Nell Compernolle and Tanya Treptow in an informational workshop on how to talk to people most effectively about your business. Nell and Tanya both work for the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago and are research experts. In this workshop, we will discuss the best ways that you can approach people, such as potential or existing customers, about your business and apply their feedback. This is part one of a two part E2 series with NORC focusing on research, but you don’t need to attend the first to get value out of the second.

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Presented by Score Chicago

Two experienced SCORE mentors will lead you through this self-assessment to help determine if you are ready to become an entrepreneur. Do you have the qualifications, the temperament and skills needed to succeed?

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Experts don't always love it when you slide into their DMs asking "can I pick your brain?" So our friends at Music Tectonics have done the hard part for you!

Ask your burning questions and get access to a treasure trove of music tech expertise from these advisors, investors, and a founder: ​

-Cliff Fluet - Eleven Advisory, Lewis Silkin

-Vickie Nauman - CrossBorderWorks

-Hazel Savage - Angel investor, exited founder Musiio

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Presented by Music Tectonics