The San Diego Music Thing is happening in the North Park area of San Diego, at Queen Bee, during the North Park Music Festival, which features El Ten Eleven, The Mattson 2, Dead Feather Moon, Miniaturized and more.

 

To attend the San Diego Music Thing, CLICK HERE.

For North Park Music festival info: www.northparkmusicfest.org

 

Join us at Queen Bee Arts and Cultural Center 3925 Ohio St, San Diego, on Saturday May 27th for Two Education Panels.
Doors at 10:30am and submission for Demo Listen is from 10:40am-10:55am

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The first Panel will start at 11am and is open to the public. Seating is first come first serve.

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Panel One 11am - Booking and Promoting – You have a release? A single or an E.P. or better yet an album? We will talk about how to book that gig and get the word out. Shows can help promote a release and new releases can give writers a reason to write about your tour dates and shows. What does it take to book shows and the extremely important part of then promoting those shows? What are media writers looking for and how to find a good publicist for today’s markets. How do you promote your releases and your shows? How to promote your single, E.P., or album release, and promote your live events. Posting once on social media is not enough.

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Our group of panelists include touring musicians, booking agents and talent buyers, along with an experienced national publicist.

 

Panel #1 Panelists

• Jonathan Mattson - The Mattson 2 and Anniversary Group. Jonathan has been the drummer in the Mattson 2 for over 20yrs having toured the world and had numerous radio and streaming hits. Mattson is also a booking agent at NYC-based Anniversary Group where he has booked over 900 shows since being hired in February 2022 and booked his clients slots at Newport Jazz Fest, Desert Daze, Levitation and more. 

• Ilka Pardinas (FLY PR) - Owner and founder of FLY PR, long time rock and roll PR agency. Having well over 20yrs experience in international publicity for music, film, art, and book projects. Ilka is well versed in tour PR, new release PR, and publicity across many artistic formats.

• Steve Kader (Steve Kader Presents) - Booker and talent buyer for over 20yrs; including Adams Avenue Street Fair, Adams Avenue Unplugged, Carlsbad Music Festival, and the Rolando Street Fair. Steve can add to the conversation about what bookers are looking for and what is expected out of artists once the show is booked.

 

Panel # 2 - Songs and Syncs
A conversation about what you need to know to get your work out there; tips and ideas of getting the attention of Music Supervisors, how to build a relationship with regular “soundtrack/ background” or sync work. And maybe more importantly what makes a good song, key elements to songs that get and keep people’s attention.

 

***This panel will have a limited DEMO Listen section where the experts will give feedback on a limited number of pre-submitted songs.

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Panel #2 Panelists

• Josquin Des Pres (Jona Music Group)– Co CEO of Jona Music Group, Josquin is a composer, songwriter, and producer renowned for his vast contributions to the music industry. Notably, he co-wrote over a dozen songs with Bernie Taupin, known for his work with Elton John. Josquin's collaborations have been covered by global artists. He has also worked alongside Jason Mraz, JAX, Gipsy Kings etc. Additionally, Josquin has produced numerous CDs for major labels (Universal, Warner, RCA, Cargo, MCA, Virgin etc.) His compositions have graced over 40 TV shows globally, including shows like Ellen, Oprah, Anderson Cooper, American Idol, The Bachelor, Miss Universe and numerous shows on MTV, CNN, NBC Universal.

• Archie Thompson (Archie Thompson Music) – Archie is a writer, producer and composer of music for television and film. His credits include films by Quentin Taratino, Archer, Bosch, Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and others. Archie can add to the conversation on how to prepare your work and how to be ready to create at a moment’s notice depending on the opportunities.

• Kevin "K.J." Greene (Professor and Intellectual Property Law Attorney) - A Yale Law School graduate, Kevin Greene is a prominent professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. His expertise lies in copyright and entertainment law, with a focus on intellectual property. He has worked for prestigious law firms and represented notable clients in the entertainment industry. Greene is sought after as an expert witness in complex copyright cases and has received recognition for his contributions to academia. He frequently presents his work and has appeared in various media outlets. Currently, he is working on a novel that explores the intersection of copyright law and African American music history.

• Michael Natter (composer / songwriter) Best known for his multi-platinum collaborations with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jason Mraz. Their hit single, “I Won’t Give Up,” and “93 Million Miles” are two of four co-writes from Mraz’s 8x Platinum “Love is a Four Letter Word” album. Michael Natter also co-wrote the title tracks on the debut albums for X Factor winners Alex & Sierra (“It’s About Us”) and American Idol winner Nick Fradiani (“Hurricane”) as well as numerous co-writes on Jason Mraz subsequent albums. Michael Natter is Co-CEO of JoNa Music Group alongside Josquin Des Pres.

 

DEMO Listen Rules
There will be a short demo listen of 5 songs chosen at random at the end of the 2nd panel. Please submit your demos in person on CD or call out a Spotify account and song. Five songs will be chosen. Please submit only ONE song. Choose your best song.

 

Moderator – Lou Niles of 91x Loudspeaker, In Your Neighborhood w. Lou Niles, and the San Diego Music Foundation.

 

Lou Niles has decades experience in the music business as an A&R executive, signed artists to record deals, planned and promoted releases in media and on radio, booked and promoted tours regionally and nationally, has done radio promotion campaigns, is a radio show host, and has also been an artist manager.

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The San Diego Music Thing is a music business education series supported by the San Diego Music Foundation. The San Diego Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization, placing guitars in public school music programs in San Diego County. The San Diego Music Foundation has placed ukuleles and guitars in well over 100 schools in San Diego County. Over its 31 year history, the organization has served over 71,000 K-12 students county-wide.

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The San Diego Music Thing is an extension of the San Diego Music Foundation programs meant to offer free music business education to artist in the San Diego Music Scene from experts in the industry. The SDMT works to bring music business related panels to the music community to participate in educating artists in various areas of the music business including publishing and protecting their works, as well as music sync licensing, music use opportunities, marketing, publicity, social media, touring and booking, recording, songwriting, and more.

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