On Thursday, September 7, Webster University School of Communications will host a series of artist development workshops specifically targeted toward emerging musicians and those pursuing (or interested in pursuing) a career in the music industry.

On Friday, September 8., creatives, professionals, and entrepreneurs of all industries (music, art, tech) are encouraged to attend the professional development portion of Intersessions, which will feature a heavy-hitting roster of influencers from the worlds of music, art, technology, and business participating in a highly curated schedule of panel discussions and presentations.

Beginning June 23, 2023, those interested in attending Intersessions can RSVP at www.musicattheintersection.org/intersessions or directly at www.MetroTix.com (or by phone at 314-534-1111). There will be individual tickets for each workshop/panel. Attending the conference is FREE. However, there will be a small ticket processing fee at sign-up.

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ARTIST DEVELOPMENT:

On Thursday, September 7, Intersessions’ Webster University Workshops will dive into topics relevant to musicians and those pursuing (or interested in pursuing) a career in the music industry. Discussions will be led by faculty, friends, and alumni of Webster University School of Communications, including Chair of the Audio Aesthetics & Technology Department (and Grammy-nominated music producer), Carl Nappa.

Intersessions’ Webster University Workshops will cover the topics of:

• Merchandising and sales
• Marketing and publicity for artists
• Mastering and deliverables for uploading your music online
• Music business education

“During last year’s workshops, we were able to offer music industry insights to artists who were just starting or in the beginning part of their career,” said Nappa. “Typically they’d have to self-educate or wade through a ton of information online. However, we were able to surround them with real-world experts and, in a single day, get them further along their chosen paths. These workshops are all about sharing resources and capacity building for the St. Louis music scene. For 2023, the topics are different, so we hope to see returning attendees, as well as new faces.”

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ST. LOUIS’ MUSIC ECONOMY:

Also on Thursday, September 7 at Intersessions, Kranzberg Arts Foundation and the Regional Arts Commission will host a special event to discuss the results of a multi-year St. Louis “music audit.” Conducted in collaboration with Sound Diplomacy, a global organization specializing in understanding a city’s unique music economy, the study assesses the impact of music on the St. Louis region (economic output, job creation, tourism interest). It also aims to identify opportunities to further enhance St. Louis’ position as a thriving music city through industry advancements and policy changes.

During the event, members of Sound Diplomacy, as well as local music industry leaders and artists, will discuss the study’s findings and focus on how best to utilize the research to drive future growth and development of the St. Louis music scene.

Prior to Intersessions, the findings of Sound Diplomacy’s comprehensive study will be made available to the public.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

On Friday, September 8., creatives, professionals, and entrepreneurs of all industries (music, art, tech) are encouraged to participate in the professional development portion of Intersessions, featuring a variety of national and St Louis-based industry leaders.

“When Chris Hansen and I came up with the concept of Intersessions, we knew the community would devour the content,” said Sam Foxman, President of Evntiv. “After the 2022 event, we took time to gather feedback from attendees, panelists, and community members. That feedback helped shape the 2023 lineup with more diversity, more focus on entrepreneurship, and more engagement with the local creative community.”

Intersessions’ professional development panels and presentations will cover the topics of:

• Arch Grants presents “SHECONOMY,” women founders 
• Connecting in the music industry
• A.I. in the arts. What’s next? 
• Creative factories: killer work from the top marketing shops
• How to make money as a creative entrepreneur
• Examining freedom of speech in the arts
• Recording Academy panel
• Content creators roundtable: leveraging podcasts, TikTok, and Instagram to build your brand
• Building an empire of TASTE: top chefs and restaurateurs

Participating panelists are a diverse cohort of musicians, entrepreneurs, activists, and community leaders including: 

• Mvstermind – Musician, performer, and Director of Musical Experience for St. Louis SC
• Cbabi Bayoc – Visual Artist, speaker, and activist
• Ben Poremba – Owner of Bengelina Hospitality Group
• Cheree Berry – Founder, CEO, and Creative Director at Cheree Berry Paper
• David Steward II – CEO at Lionforge
• Dr. Donald Suggs – Publisher and Executive Editor of St. Louis American
• Gabe Angieri – Executive Director of Arch Grants
• Katie Collier – Co-Owner and Executive Chef of Katie’s Pizza and Pasta
• Carlos Zamora – Owner and Chief Creative Officer at CARTEL Agency
• Tef Poe – Rapper, musician, and activist
• Mike Spakowski – Partner and Creative Director at Atomic Dust
• Allyson Mace – Publisher and Founder of Sauce Magazine
• Tom Pernikoff – CEO and Co-Founder at Tunespeak
• Reid Wick – Membership and Industry Relations at The Recording Academy
• Matt Hall – Co-Founder and President at Hill Investment Group, author and content creator
• Samantha Rudolph – Co-Founder and CEO of Babyation
• John Launius – VP of Nitrous Effect
• Ayesha Mubarak Ali – Co-Founder of Metavisionaries
• Mike Franklin – Executive Creative Director at FUSE Marketing
• Jeff Insco – Co-Founder, President, and Executive Creative Director at UPBrand Agency
• Whitney Gregory – Founder and CEO of Eemerg
• Erica Barnell – Co-Founder and CSO of Geneoscopy
• Ed Morissey – Founder of Integrity
• Sam Foxman – President and Co-Founder of Evntiv
• David Kirkland – Owner and Chef at Turn
• Loryn Nalic – Owner and Chef at Balkan Treat Box

“Tunespeak started in St. Louis, utilizing the city’s close-knit and supportive music community as a proof of concept and eventual springboard to create what is now an international company working with major labels and music’s biggest names,” said Tom Pernikoff. CEO and Co-Founder at Tunespeak, a fan engagement platform. “There were definite benefits to starting in St. Louis, and Tunespeak is proud to still be based here, now adding to the city’s music and tech industries. What we learned, and continue to learn, along the way are now insights to give back and share at Intersessions with burgeoning artists and entrepreneurs.”

“Our membership in St. Louis has tripled over the past several years, and we have more board members from Missouri than ever before,” said Reid Wick, New Orleans-based Sr. Membership and Industry Relations Manager for The Recording Academy. “The city is producing leaders who are in turn sparking its music economy, and it’s being noticed. St. Louis is an important market to The Recording Academy and a place we’re excited to offer our resources, including professional development, networking, music advocacy, and musician wellness – all of which will be showcased as part of Intersessions.”

Intersessions is sponsored by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis, and Evntiv, with support from The Recording Academy and Webster University School of Communications.