OUR NEXT WORKSHOP DATE & TIME: Saturday, July 18, 2026, 11am

WHERE: Rock & Roll San Diego, 3360 Sports Arena Blvd (off Kurtz Street)

 

TICKETS: Registration RSVP is required; seating is first come first serve.
To attend the workshop, CLICK HERE

​

​

Join us at Rock & Roll San Diego on July 18
for Two Music Business Education Panels​​

​

11:15am-12:15pm

Legal & Practical Aspects of the Music Business

Seasoned legal experts give you a high-level overview & lay out some of the main areas an emerging artist needs to pay attention to, and what should be considered. Areas Such as, Copyright & Intellectual Property; Agreements & Contracts Royalties & Licensing; and maybe a little about AI.

Panelists include:

• Michael Hoisington's law practice spans over 20 years in industries ranging from entertainment, to technology, to fashion, to food and beer. He has a special connection with the music industry, especially guitar, amplifier, and related manufacturers. Michael Hoisington’s practice is focused on trademark and copyright prosecution and litigation, Internet related contracts and domain disputes, privacy law compliance and entertainment related matters. 24 years of experience as an intellectual property attorney prosecuting and litigating trademarks and copyrights, advising clients about their intellectual property rights, policing client rights, advising clients about privacy law and issues, reviewing, drafting and negotiating entertainment related and IT related contracts.  Represent music equipment manufactures in their intellectual property legal matters for over 15 years.

• Lisa A. Cervantes is the founder and owner of IP Legal Studio, LLC, a private entertainment law practice since 1999.  The firm specializes in film, TV and music, licensing, clearing and resolving various intellectual property disputes for creatives, such as artists, directors, producers and entertainment businesses worldwide.  IP Legal Studio, LLC helps entities of all sizes to protect, license, assert and defend rights in trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. A frequent panelist and volunteer for various lectures and workshops on copyright, trademark and entertainment law, Lisa has given presentations at University of Turin, California Lawyers for the Arts, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Cal Western School of Law, University of San Diego School of Law, National University in Los Angeles, as well as for other private events. As a Professor, Lisa has taught Trademark & Unfair Competition Law and served for 3 years as the Supervising Attorney/Professor for the Thomas Jefferson School of Law Trademark Clinic, which provides pro-bono legal services to individuals, organizations, and small businesses.

• David Branfman attorney at law is a specialist in intellectual property (especially trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets) and entertainment/new media law (music, television, film, Internet) with 30+ years of specialized experience.  Member of NORML and California Cannabis Industry Association.  Former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Film Commission (1999-2001) and member of the Board of Directors of the Film Commission (1999-2006).  Former Legal Chair of the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) for two decades thru 2006.  Frequent writer and lecturer on intellectual property and entertainment/new media issues. Specialties: Intellectual property law and cannabis businesses.  Entertainment/new media and intellectual property transactions including record and publishing deals, video and film, and extensive experience in trademark clearance and registrations.  Clients include cannabis businesses and entrepreneurs to restaurants to apparel companies to after-market hot rod shops to film and video production companies and musicians, songwriters and record labels.

​

12:30-1:30pm

Social Media: Marketing & Promotion Strategies

In the ever-shifting social media world, keeping up with the most effective ways to promote yourself online is crucial for a successful music career. OUR panel, who are actually ARE making waves with the level of effort they put into their content, self-promotion, AND marketing , will cover how to leverage social media to create dramatic improvements in your online marketing strategy.

Panelists include:

• Shannon McConnell -  Director of Operations and International Tour Manager at DragonForce. Shannon McConnell is a Los Angeles-based music marketing professional, music technologist, multi-instrumentalist and Director of Operations for the RIAA platinum-selling metal band DragonForce. Over the past five years, she has helped lead DragonForce's digital presence across more than 20 official accounts reaching over 5 million combined followers, creating viral content and organically growing audiences by hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide. Previously, Shannon built and led the social media marketing department at Fly PR, helping emerging artists, bands, museums, and cultural organizations develop authentic online identities and connect with their audiences.   Her passion lies in helping artists tell their stories, build genuine communities, and navigate the ever-evolving intersection of music, technology, and fan engagement. She believes social media works best when artists focus less on chasing algorithms and more on creating meaningful connections with their audiences.

• Obed Padilla, hailing from Oceanside, California, is a dynamic force in the music scene as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Known for his storytelling prowess, Padilla's music transcends mere sound, becoming a canvas for narrating experiences and emotions that resonate with his audience. With roots deeply embedded in Mexico and Costa Rica, his heritage plays a significant role in shaping the unique soundscapes and rhythms found in his compositions. Obed has been rising with regional tours and radio air play growing his popularity. Social Media Content has played a big role in Obed’s singles reaching more audiences.

• Giulietta Randal of The Microblades - San Diego’s The Microblades sound like a time capsule cracked open and rewired—sunbaked harmonies, descriptive lyrics, and guitars that shimmer like heat off pavement. Their breakout single “Cowboy” crowned them with a 2024 San Diego Music Award and wrapped their retro soul in dreamy visuals. The band has found success on national radio, with their single Around the Sun reaching No. 29 on the Mediabase Top 40 Activator Chart. Their latest single, Baby Legs, has continued the band’s national momentum, breaking into the Top 40 and is currently charting at No. 34 on the Mediabase Top 40 Activator Chart. Known for their electrifying live performances. Giulietta Randell stands as lead vocalist and guitarist, voice smoky with defiance, threading scenes into lyrics like film stills. Drummer Lauren Deerinck executes her playing like the punctuation in a love letter written in morse code—moody, powerful, exact. Imogen Collis, all quiet fire, seals each track with her dynamic rumble and edge from her bass.

​​

Moderator: Lou Niles (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.

​

DEMO LISTEN

If time permits, we will have a short Demo Listen session, where the experts will give feedback on a limited number of pre-submitted songs. Submission for Demo Listen at 10:45am-11:15am. Demo listen after the 2nd panel.

​

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.

​

​

​

All panelists subject to change without notice