Join us for an engaging afternoon designed specifically for independent artists and bands!
Artist Development Day is designed to examine every facet of the “business of being an artist,” giving independent musicians the knowledge, tools, and confidence they need to advance their careers. The programming focuses on helping artists protect their creative interests, navigate the industry with clarity, and sustain both their passion and artistic vision along the way.
Featuring In-depth panels, local business interactions, and opportunities for professional, small group consultations with industry leaders.
Detailed schedule forthcoming
Amplifying Change - Using Music to Power Social Impact
The music industry often tries to strip risk out of artistry—pushing predictability, metrics, and algorithms as the path to success. “Do what works. Copy what’s trending. Post more content.” But true art has always demanded something different. It asks artists to challenge assumptions, step into uncomfortable spaces, and speak truths that might otherwise go unheard.
This panel examines the artist’s role in shaping the world we share. Featuring members of the emerging artist collective Oakland Rising, the conversation will explore their decision to perform at the Kennedy Center in Spring 2025, the songs they chose, and the impact they hoped to make. The discussion places their work within the Bay Area’s unrivaled, unapologetic cultural legacy and asks what it means for today’s artists to carry that legacy forward.
About Oakland Rising - Launched just over a year ago at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Oakland Rising is a collective of emerging artists that came together to shine a light on Oakland and the Bay Area's cultural legacy. They have gone on to support Rhiannon Giddens, perform at the GLIDE Memorial concert (with Ruby Ibarra, El DeBarge, and Joan Baez), and perform at the Kennedy Center. On February 6 they will be opening for Sheila E. at the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park.
Panelist info coming soon.
Inside Indie Labels: What They Do & Why They Still Matter
In recent years, “independence” has become a powerful ideal for artists navigating the recorded music industry. Taylor Swift’s quest to reclaim her masters spotlighted a crucial question for creators everywhere: Who should benefit from my work? Ownership, autonomy, and creative control matter deeply and artists are right to value them. But most artists aren’t operating with Taylor Swift–level resources. Juggling rent, recording costs, artistic vision, and a never-ending demand to self-market is rarely sustainable on your own. Independence shouldn’t mean isolation.
That’s where indie labels come in. They offer a balanced, partnership-driven approach providing funding, creative support, marketing expertise, and industry connections, often while allowing artists to retain ownership. Yes, you are sharing some of the revenue, but in return you gain a team invested in your long-term growth. This model isn’t right for everyone; many artists thrive by staying fully independent with the support of managers or community networks. The key is having real options.
For those curious about the indie label path, this panel brings together Bay Area based independent label professionals to demystify how these partnerships work, what to look for in a deal, and how to position yourself for success if signing with an indie label is the right next step for you.
Curated by Lindsay Schapiro
Panelist info coming soon.
Beyond the Algorithm: How Artists Reclaim Their Audiences
Hear about new tech platforms helping artists recapture their audiences from social media and break free from algorithms. This conversation will explore how emerging tools are reshaping fan engagement, restoring direct communication between artists and listeners, and offering sustainable alternatives to traditional platform dependence. Panelists will discuss how these technologies empower artists to build stronger communities, monetize more effectively, and regain creative and strategic control over their work.
MODERATOR:
Vivek Sridharan
Counsel LLP
PANELISTS:
David Beach
Founder of BlurMt
Lyrics Born
Artist Ambassador for OpenWav
Chris Smith
Founder of Covver
The Emerging Artist Roadmap: Building a Live Music Career from the Ground Up
This panel offers a grounded, practical look at the real-world path emerging artists take as they grow from playing small community gigs to becoming local headliners. This candid conversation will talk about building a fanbase one show at a time, navigating the ecosystem of independent venues, and learning how to move from “under the radar” to “on the map”. Panelists will share strategies, lessons learned, and a realistic roadmap for independent artists looking to level up their live performance career in the Bay Area and beyond.
MODERATOR:
Steffen Franz
Founder, IDC, Production Manager/Booker Golden Gate Park Bandshell, Illuminate Live
PANELISTS:
Dan Dectis
Organizer, Community Music Hangout, Artist/Musician
Ellie Stokes
Founder, Big Leap Collective, Artist, Grooblin
Trixie Rasputian
Booker, Independent Venues, including Lunchbox series at Salesforce
In The Hot Seat: Real Talk with Rising Artists
Part conversation, part celebration — this session brings artists into a candid discussion on creativity, growth, collaboration, and navigating today’s music landscape. Then we take it from talk to stage, with short performances that bring their stories to life.
Presented by SHIVR Events
SPEAKER
Afterthought blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and soul into a sound that is both forward-thinking and nostalgic. Drawing from his experience as a child of the foster care and adoption systems, the San Francisco rapper/producer/songwriter has built his musical foundation on one undying principle: Family First. Afterthought has performed over 100 shows across the Bay Area, including residencies at venues such as El Rio, The Chapel, and Academy of Sciences Nightlife. He has also toured across the US and Europe with his collective Family Not A Groupand his band, the Top Chefs. As a youth counselor, he uses his platform to advocate for underrepresented communities and inspire positive change.
SPEAKER
VITAL POWERS is originally from Wolverhampton, currently living in East Bay California, with English and Jamaican heritage. VITAL POWERS has been creating music, videos and working in the creative industry for over 15 years from BBC Presenter to music artist and video content creator.
Making Music, Managing Conflict: Legal Tools for Artists
Building a music career involves more than creativity—it requires navigating legal and business relationships that shape how artists collaborate, get paid, and protect their work. This introductory panel breaks down essential legal concepts in clear, artist-friendly terms, offering guidance on contracts, creative partnerships, and industry norms. In addition to legal fundamentals, the conversation will explore mediation as a community-oriented approach to resolving disputes, from band disagreements to payment and credit issues. Designed for emerging and independent artists, this session focuses on practical tools that foster healthy collaboration and long-term sustainability in the music industry.
Panelist info coming soon.
Business and Pleasure: Living a Music-Centered Life
This fireside chat explores how today’s artists balance creative ambition with the realities of the music business without sacrificing their well-being. Moderated by Mindset Coach Sydney Fong, Musician Elaine Ryan (author of Living a Wellness-Centered Life) and Record Producer Kojak share personal insights on sustaining creativity, protecting mental and physical health, and building careers rooted in intention and longevity. This will be an honest, practical conversation about redefining success and putting wellness at the center of a life in music.
Office Hours
Office Hours offer attendees get the chance to meet one-on-one or in small groups with industry professionals to discuss different aspects of the business of being a musician. These sessions are open-format and conversational, allowing for organic, personalized dialogue. Professionals will be available for one- or two-hour blocks. Full schedule coming soon.
Full schedule coming soon.
PROFESSIONALS TO INCLUDE:
Darius Zellkha
Manager, Brilliant Corners Artist Mgmt
I'm an artist manager who works with Toro y Moi, Josh Ritter, Real Estate, The Dip, and others. I also head up brand partnerships at Brilliant Corners.
Ben Kramer
Head of Artist & Label Development, YouTube
Ben Kramer is Head of Artist and Label Development at YouTube, leading initiatives that help artists and labels grow audiences, deepen fan engagement, and succeed in the platform’s digital ecosystem. A former major-label recording artist and founder of a successful music publishing company with thousands of sync placements, Ben brings a rare dual perspective as both artist and executive to advancing music discovery and creator success.
Dan Strickland
Founder TruEcho Artists & Events
Daniel Strickland founded TruEcho Artists & Events and represents Chuck Prophet, Kelly Willis, Never Come Down, Sleepy Sun, Analog Dog, and Agouti. He produces several music festivals – Real Neato, Woollystar, and Chuck Prophet's Summertime Thing. And has worked as a producer and an event/program manager for Noise Pop, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Cafe Du Nord, and Sound Summit. He was the booker/talent buyer for Amado's, an independent music venue in San Francisco. And he produced livestream events during lockdown for local nonprofits including the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, Hospitality House, and the San Francisco Council of District Merchants Associations
Lee Hawthorne
Talent Buyer, Live Nation
Lee Hawthorne joined Live Nation in 2016 and is currently a Talent Buyer for the California region. Her work focuses on identifying new talent and booking a wide range of artists across all genres in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Lee began her career in live music in Nashville, Tennessee working previously at Creative Artist Agency. At Live Nation, she has been responsible for booking over 110 shows annually in venues that range from 300 - 8500 capacity. A strong advocate for mentorship, she partnered with Femme It Forward as a mentor in their Next Gem Femme program to help develop and guide the next generation of young female entrepreneurs in music.
Adrianna Murillo
Music Publishing and Sync Licensing Consultant, On Record
Adrianna Murillo is a music business professional and rights specialist focused on empowering independent artists through music publishing administration and sync representation. She has more than 12 years of music industry experience and is currently at EMPIRE Publishing, where she is an advocate for artists rights education, ensuring artists and producers understand the inner workings of catalog administration and sync licensing. Adrianna is also the Owner of On Record, an Independent Music Publishing and Artists Services company that specializes in turning independent catalogs into "sync-ready" assets, ensuring artists capture every dollar of global royalties while securing impactful placements in film, TV, and digital media.
Shannon Kaplan
Tour & Merch Manager
Shannon Kaplan has been working in various capacities within the Live Music industry for the last decade. Starting out as venue event staff, she's worked her way up to management and most recently, touring full time. Touring credits include TV On The Radio, Panda Bear, The Drums, Tom Jones, and Courtney Barnett. Shannon considers herself to be apart of the movement of making concerts and touring a more female and queer friendly workplace.
James M. Barnes
Music Director
James M. Barnes is a Chicago-born Music Director, multi-instrumentalist, and vocal trainer with over 20 years of industry experience. Now based in the Bay Area, he works as a show producer, director, artist developer, and musician, drawing on his deep musical roots to elevate local talent and create world-class live music experiences.
Dave Rowan
Agent, High Road Touring
Dave Rowan has worked at High Road Touring since 2004, based in Sausalito. Among the artists he works with are Phoebe Bridgers, Nathaniel Rateliff, Jesse Welles, Ween, Lucius, and many other wonderful and amazing artists.
MG
Managing Partner, Squeak E. Clean
MG is an internationally-tested, award-winning Music Supervisor and Executive Producer with nearly 20 x years experience operating at the intersection of music, branded content and technology. You can find him these days in the role of Managing Partner for global music & sound house Squeak E. Clean, executing at the highest level on behalf of forward-thinking clients aiming to create bold and impactful work. A #GirlDad to identical twins and a diehard Angeleno, occasionally he'll try and find the time for a surf.
Brian Reynolds
SF Bay Area CPA & Business Manager, ZZRJ [Zeisler Zeisler Rawson & Johnson]
Brian is a Partner at ZZRJ (Zeisler, Zeisler Rawson & Johnson), a Bay Area–based boutique business management firm with offices in San Rafael, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. He is a CPA specializing in federal, state, and international tax compliance, as well as business management and accounting for domestic and international touring bands. Since moving to San Francisco in 1998, Brian has advised artists across the industry while enjoying plenty of live music along the way.
Sam Hunt
EVP, Wasserman
Sam Hunt is an agent and evp for Wasserman Music. He is based in the Bay Area and reps artists such as Diplo, The xx, Run the Jewels, Public Enemy, 2hollis, Suki Waterhouse, Caroline Polachek, and more.
Jack Goodman
Head of Sound, Jack Goodman Sound
Jack Goodman is an award winning independent commercial and narrative sound designer, mixer, and owner of Mix Immersive LA; a 7.1.4 PMC based master-grade Mix Facility calibrated by Jonathan Lester of Dolby Labs. Jack is an expert in Dolby Atmos for music mix and audio post-production, as well as field recording techniques, ambisonics, and immersive playback work.
B Patt
CEO & Co-Founder, Nothin But Hits
B Patt is a multi-hyphenate artist, producer, and entertainment executive whose work spans across music, live experiences, and the creative ecosystems that shape culture. With deep roots as a musician and over 15 years of cultural immersion, curation, and execution, he brings a holistic understanding of both the artist's journey and the systems surrounding them. He is the CEO & Co-Founder of Nothin But Hits (NTHN), a next-generation creative agency building platforms, bespoke experiences, and cultural infrastructure designed to help artists and brands thrive creatively and sustainably. B Patt also serves as Executive Director of Best In The Bay, the Bay Area's premier artist showcase and entertainment industry night, connecting the region's most promising talent to real opportunities. Across his work, B Patt is committed to shaping culture, developing artists as a whole, and driving meaningful change that stands the test of time.
Max Gibson
West Coast Artists & Labels Ambassador, Bandcamp
Max Gibson is West Coast Artists & Labels Ambassador at Bandcamp and will be joined by Miguel Reyes, Support Specialist at Bandcamp, and Mariana Timony, Senior Editor at Bandcamp. Bandcamp is an online record store and music community where passionate fans discover, connect with, and directly support the artists they love.
Sydney Fong
Performance & Mindset Coach for Artists
Sydney Fong is an ICF-certified Performance and Mindset Coach with over 15 years of experience in the music industry, specializing in helping artists access flow, regulate mental and emotional energy, and sustain creative performance while writing, recording, and touring. Her work supports artists in navigating industry pressure, burnout, imposter syndrome, team dynamics, and touring demands while protecting artistic integrity, mental health, and long-term sustainability.
Christian Routzen
Owner, San Franpsycho
Christian Routzen graduated from SFSU focusing on filmmaking. He is a creative working with multi-media , clothing, marketing, and building community. In 2026, his company, San Franpsycho, is celebrating it's 25th Year and going strong.
KoOoLkOjAk
Musician & Producer
KoOoLkOjAk has been making hit recordings since the 90's, with a legendary 16million records sold in the streets of Brasil, in addition to producing and composing many #1 platinum and gold records. He has mentored many popular artists such as Charli XCX, Doja CAt, Ke$ha, Ariana Grande, One Direction to name a few. Kojak has made hits in Japan, Bali, Brasil, Mexico and imperialist America.
ALSO PARTICIPATING:
Alexandra Bloedorn, CA Lawyers for the Arts
Entertainment Law
Expo Tables
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Audio Engineering Society
Audio Engineering Society (San Francisco chapter) will be on hand to say hello to their many members, talk about events they have coming up, talking about all things audio and what they do as community builders for the greater Bay Area.
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KXSF
Totiana White better known as MS. WHITE 1ST LADY OF FRISCO, will be tabling as an Artist Development Facilitator, offering free 15 minute one-on-one sessions and educational resources for independent artists. This will focus on artist development, artist identity mapping, community impact, radio and media education. Attendees can learn practical strategies to grow their careers, strengthen their brand and understand how to leverage media and community platforms. Artists will also have the opportunity to stay connected through sign-ups for future workshops, media opportunities and consultations!
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SF Hip Hop
Promoting National Hip Hop Day
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San Franpsycho
Shhhh...Stop by the San Franpsycho booth, they'll be Live Screen Printing something special!
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CA Lawyers for the Arts
Hosted by Susan Parlane, CLA’s AAMS Program Coordinator from our Bay Area office. A mediator and former entertainment attorney, Susan will be available to answer questions from attendees about common music-industry disputes and to provide information on mediation, lawyer referrals, and other dispute resolution options. No legal advice will be given.
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InterMusic SF
InterMusic SF is dedicated to sustaining and nourishing the Bay Area creative environment by offering dynamic programming and vital resources for musicians and audience members. Find out more about us and if your projects are eligible for funding through our Musical Grant Program!
All locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 554-4669 or contact Kate.Patterson@sfgov.org.
Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.