San Francisco – Bay Area Producers Conference

The San Francisco Chapter co-sponsored the second annual Bay Area Producers Conference held on July 24 at Fort Mason in San Francisco. The conference primarily focused on a producer's professional development by offering a series of panels led by industry leaders. Networking opportunities were also plentiful amid the showcasing of music by newcomers.

Established recording engineer and producer Jason Villaroman served as the conference's keynote speaker. Villaroman offered sound advice on becoming a successful producer. His closing remarks were met with applause as he emphasized the importance of "...Getting your songs out there. Everything has a music soundtrack."

One of the most popular panels, Digital Dollars, featured San Francisco Chapter Executive Director Chris Wiltsee. The panel provided a wealth of information on music licensing, the role of Sound Exchange, and how to best utilize social media. Expert Danny Dee proved to be a crowd favorite as he provided tips on leveraging the Internet and successful Internet marketing.

The networking opportunities were a highlight of the conference as well. Attendees were able to talk with representatives from many premiere organizations, like The Recording Academy and ASCAP. "Beat Battles," where producers went head-to-head as they played their latest tracks, served an exciting activity throughout the event.