Midatlantic Music Conference 


Performermag.com

By Vanessa Voigt 

Sam Ash Music Stores, The Caldwell Group and Wholeteam Enterprises will be hosting the 7^th annual Midatlantic Music Conference November 14-16, in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Founder and conference manager of the event, James Caldwell said, “The MMC is the largest and longest event of its type in the region, with the goal to provide artists and industry stake holders with networking and growth opportunities at the same time, focus national and international media and related sources on the Midaltlantic.” 

The MMC consists of music seminars, showcases, conferences with top music industry panalists, and music competitions, all in which give participating musicians networking, publicity and educational opportunities.  

The first event that kicks off the conference is the Midtown Sundries Stage, in Midtown Sundries University, Denver, North Carolina at Lake Norman, and features acoustic performances from unsigned acoustic and rock bands, and is recorded for the local television show, “The Sonic Lounge.”
The second event is the Sam Ash Carolina Battle of the Bands, at the Sam Ash Music Store in Charlotte, and is a two day competition between the best high school and college bands from Charlotte and Raleigh. Three winning bands, from each city, will be performing three songs for fans and judges.  The winner at the end of the competition will receive a gift card to Sam Ash Music Stores, music gear, and performance opportunities, including a performance at the MMC’s grand final party. 

I DO Music studio will be taking it’s Atlanta based music showcase on the road to MMC, and will allow for people in the industry to meet and build business relationships, and also feature new hip-hop and r & b artists for a panel, that gives feedback and selects one artist to perform in the “I Do Music” showcase in December. 

The most anticipated event at MMC is the MMC Best of the Best Stage, which in honor of its 7^th year anniversary will showcase the seven top new artists of the Mid-Atlantic States, based on month long online voting. The seven winners will perform three songs for a panel of judges and industry experts. For the winner, prizes include a Sam Ash Music Store gift card, music gear, and performance opportunities in the Mid Atlantic region. 

Other events include the New Artists Showcase, where hip hop artists perform for managers, label executives and booking agents to be judged. There is also the “Beat Street Live II/ Global King of the Beats US Grand Finale Round One”, in the Sam Ash Music Store, which will be an elimination type competition between music producers in the industry. 

Also, there will be seminars such as “Making Money Without a Major Label or Record Deal”, “Your Band/Your Brand and how to Effectively Promote", and “Music Publishing 101 an Advanced Songwriting Seminar”. 

The weekend will end with MMC Grand Finale Party, where the Sam Ash Carolina Battle of the Bands winner and the winner of the MMC Best of the Best will perform. 

Registration for this event ended September 30, but is done online at www.midatlanticmusic.com and can either be submitted online through Sonicbids, or printed out to be mailed, both with a $35 dollar fee. A $150 conference fee is waivered for every band that registers. 

To have full access to the MMC, register online at their website.  There is a fee of $100. To attend only the showcases is $20. 

Voting for the Sam Ash Carolina Battle of the Bands and Best of the Best Contest started September 15 and went on through October 15. 

Some renowned panelist that will be in attendance at the MMC is Ted Pearlman, who in 2006 was the Grammy winner for best pop instrumental, and Producer DJ Steedy who has worked with Outkast and Young Jeezy.