DCMD presents D.C. Music Industry Night
in partnership with Union Stage
After selling out D.C. Music Industry Night last year, D.C. Music Download is kicking off summer by returning with our signature panel + networking series on June 21.
Set at Union Stage -- the newest spot for live music at The Wharf -- D.C. Music Industry Night is where musicians, venue owners, studio owners, label heads, bloggers, photographers, music lovers and other creatives in the ever-changing music scene can connect, drink together, and exchange ideas.
We’ll start off with a discussion on music streaming services and their impact on indie musicians, featuring D.C. artists and industry experts. Do music streaming services help or hurt indie musicians? Which music streaming services are best for indie artists? Is it the savior or downfall of the industry? All of these questions, and more, will be covered during our hour-long conversation.
Afterwards, stick around to grab some drinks and meet more local creatives in the city. D.C. Music Industry Night is free with an RSVP, and space is limited.
Marcus is a native Washingtonian whose words have appeared in VICE, Pitchfork, Complex, Bandcamp, Mixmag, the Washington City Paper, and more. As an entrepreneur, he's had a role in concept development for Decades, a retro-themed four-story nightclub in downtown Washington, DC. Also, he's assisted with the expansion of global online radio stations, and DC-based event and culture brand One Love Massive. Furthermore, Dowling was a #202Creates Ambassador at the #WEDC House at SXSW 2017.
Sara Curtin is a CMJ.com premiered artist and her 2015 album "Michigan Lilium" charted on the CMJ Top 200 charts. That Music Magazine calls her "a gifted songwriter who understands that you don’t write because you want to say something, but because you have something to say and she sure as heck says it exquisitely."
Sara made a name for herself in the folk scene with her duo The Sweater Set (with Maureen Andary), who performed across the US, UK, and Ireland, and were former Artist-In-Residence at Strathmore. Sara is also a current Artist Fellow with the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities (2014 - 2018). Brightest Young Things names her “One of D.C.’s finest.”
In 2017 Sara founded LOCAL WOMAN RECORDS which has the goal of providinging support to other artists she believes in so that they can explore their creativity to its full potential without worrying about whether they filled out some online submission form correctly.
Tony Porreco (Pronounced “Pore-Echo”) is the co-host and producer of Hometown Sounds, the podcast dedicated to showing the world how DC rocks.
Every episode, Tony and Paul Vodra spin the hottest new tracks from DC bands and artists, share their backstories and promote their upcoming shows. Reviewers on iTunes call it “The best way to get into and keep up with the DC music scene” and “an essential listen for music fans of all varieties”.
Hometown Sounds is available biweekly wherever you get podcasts.
Chris is the Founder of Listen Local First DC - (https://www.facebook.com/ListenLocalFirst).
Listen Local First DC (LLF) is a local music initiative devoted to building awareness and creating opportunities for local musicians to raise the profile of DC’s local music scene. LLF was born out of a collaboration with Think Local First DC and seeks to partner with local musicians, arts organizations, venues, businesses and local government to create new avenues for local music exploration. LLF has co organizes two of the district’s largest all local music festivals, Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival and Funk Parade. LLF supports Fair Trade Music principles and has been working with local government agencies and officials to establish a permanent DC Local Music Taskforce to advocate for musician specific interests within the broader Creative Economy.
Chris is a telecom attorney with background in copyright and media law and policy. Chris has advocated on behalf of the independent music community for the past 7 years focusing on artist development and policy reform that benefits the local creative economy.
With a father who loves Miles Davis and a mother who adores Smokey Robinson, Cecily grew up surrounded by the music in her parents vast record collection, and was captivated by the works of Minnie Riperton, Gil Scott-Heron, Anita Baker, and Phyllis Hyman. After college, Cecily looked to these rich, soulful sounds from her childhood, and channeled them into her own music.
Known for her sweet soprano, honest lyrics and pure vocals, singer-songwriter Cecily brings her own vulnerability to each song, telling her story, and hopes that, at the end, the audience feels vulnerable enough to tell their own stories.
In her hometown of Washington, DC Cecily has opened for Grammy Award winning jazz and soul artist Gregory Porter, R&B stars Johnny Gill, Kenny Lattimore, and Elle Varner, and alternative soul pioneer Bilal. She has played at the legendary Blues Alley, as well as The Kennedy Center, The Hamilton, The Howard Theater, and Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. In 2017, Cecily and her band were invited by the US Embassy to perform in Colombia at the VI Annual Mompox Jazz Festival. While there, Cecily also presented a masterclass for local vocal students.
Cecily released her first full album, entitled Songs of Love and Freedom on May 4th. On this project, she has collaborated with several DC-based producers and musicians, including Aaron “Ab” Abernathy, Diggs Duke, Drew Kid, and Columbia Nights members Jason “Brother Spanky” Edwards and John Daise.
Cecily is currently a Strathmore Artist-In-Residence.
Skyler, an attorney by day and musician/songwriter by night/weekend, has a sincere, professional passion for serving the needs of entrepreneurs and creative professionals. He has experience within law firms, as startup/small business in-house counsel, as an investment fund executive, as an investment broker, and as a professional trader. Skyler's clients include musicians/songwriters, small businesses, entrepreneurs, startups, socialpreneurs, tech professionals, creatives, freelancers, and nonprofits as well as individuals and families.
Skyler is a graduate of George Washington University Law School and the University of Cincinnati where he studied industrial/product design and business. He is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and is based in the Washington, DC area.