Friday, April 14, 2023; 12:00PM – 1:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

Wearable Technology in Content Creation: Fostering and Accelerating Innovation

Wearable technology has had the promise and ability to usher music into a new era, allowing us to go beyond sound and enter into new multi-sensory experiences for both creators and audience members. But, despite this potential, the question remains, why are the music and entertainment industries not realizing and better showcasing these next-generation innovations?

Join A3E for a fascinating discussion on the intersection of creative imagination and technological innovation. Our panel of experts will explore the ways in which wearable technology is transforming the entertainment industry, how it will expand artistic expression and create more inclusion for audience members, and how we can bridge the gap between artists and developers creating transformative collaboration opportunities.

Anastasia Elliot | Artist, Producer, Songwriter | Anastasia Music, LLC

Anastasia Elliot approaches her entire music career with nothing but the bigger picture in mind. Like a painter standing in front of a canvas, she views everything with a “whole world or nothing” mentality. One part singer-songwriter, one part visual artist, she cannot feel satisfied until she has created an entire immersive universe for her listeners; casting broad auditory strokes of symphonic pop-rock, then mixing them harmoniously with mind-bending visuals. Everything is meticulously planned to ensure optimal delivery of her vision. Her current masterpiece, forthcoming LP “La Petite Mort” is a testament to that state of mind.

Dr. Kelly Snook | Co-Founder | Mi.Mu Gloves | Lunar Program Scientist | NASA

Dr Kelly Snook is a planetary scientist, data sonification researcher, music producer, engineer, and maker based in Portland, Oregon. She is one of the original developers of the Mi.Mu Gloves for gestural control of music and visuals. She holds a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University and spent two decades as a NASA Research Scientist with a focus on Mars and the Moon before turning her attention to music full-time in 2010, when she joined Imogen Heap as her studio manager and musical assistant. She toured with Ariana Grande in 2015 in support of Grande’s use of the Mi.Mu Gloves on the Honeymoon Tour. Her current research efforts center in the field of Applied Harmonics Research through the development of Concordia, a musical instrument platform designed to facilitate the exploration of complex datasets through audiovisual immersion. She has built three Fab Labs with specialization in wearable technologies, smart devices, web3 and blockchain hardware/software integration. She also runs her own recording studio, called “It’s Not Rocket Science Studios,” in Portland, producing, recording, and mixing music by independent musicians.

Lula Mebrahtu (aka LULA.XYZ) | Artist | LULA.XYZ

LULA.XYZ (Lula Mebrahtu) is an award winning multidisciplinary artist at the intersection of Art, Music & Tech. Unconventional thinker with technology as her enabler, she is breaking norms. Her artistic expression is a sensory experience garnering support and success across multiple fields. Credits include: North Star Fading Animation (shortlisted for an inspiration award), Lead in feature film Semret (2022), BBC Documentary long-listed for an Amnesty award, Oram Award for innovation in sound.

‘I don’t believe in monogamy in art!”

Using her voice to liberate truth, LULA.XYZ sings about a lived experience past, present and future. Her soulful timbre, which carries the weight of her heritage, facilitates transcendence. As a pioneering practitioner of the wearable tech MiMu Gloves (midi gestural controller), she makes levitation through sound waves possible.

‘One of 2019 most breathtaking discoveries’ MoogFest, North Carolina‘

The face and sound of Electronic Music is changing, her name is LULA.XYZ, Habesha by way of London, Afrofuturism through an East African Lens.

Gigi Louisa Johnson | Managing Director | Center for Creative Futures, Maremel Institute

At the Center for Creative Futures at Maremel, Gigi Johnson runs transformative programs, speaks/moderates, invests, advises, and produces virtual worlds, media, and events around creativity and technology. She also runs Rethink Next, a nonprofit that co-founded the Amplify Music conferences and podcasts in 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic. She explored digital transformation for 22 years at UCLA, where she ran the Center for Music Innovation, expanded three industry-connecting programs at UCLA Anderson, designed conferences and events, and taught more than 2,000 undergraduates, MBAs, and executives about disruption in creative industries. Before UCLA, she financed M&A in transforming media sectors at Bank of America for ten years. She has a doctorate in education, a UCLA MBA, and a USC film school degree.

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Friday, April 14, 2023; 1:00PM – 2:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

The Future of Next-Generation Plugins, With Today’s Top Engineers

As the boundaries of creativity are constantly evolving, so are the tools that enable and enhance that creativity, including Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins. These tools, along with advances in software, hardware, and artificial intelligence, are providing artists with capabilities and flexibility unimaginable just a few years ago. Join A3E and this amazing panel of top engineers to discuss and explore next generation plugins and learn new techniques that are expressing the artists’ true creativity and taking their fans into those sounds and emotions.

Tommy Brown | Producer/Engineer | Republic Records Studios

Ariana Grande, John Legend, Justin Bieber, multiple Grammys

Shin Kamiyama | Engineer | Republic Records Studios

The Weeknd, Kanye, Grammy winner

Ken “Duro” Ifill | Producer/Engineer | Republic Records Studios

Jay Z, Alicia Keys, Usher, Pop Smoke, J-Lo, multiple Grammy wins

Sean Phelan | Producer/Engineer | Republic Records Studios

Shania Twain, Lizzo, Mary J Blige, CeeLo, multiple Grammy wins

Aubry “Big Juice” Delaine | Producer/Engineer | Republic Records Studios

Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Usher, Chris Brown, Ciara, David Guetta, Migos

Rob Christie (Moderator) | Republic Records* Studios Director | Universal Music Group

2 x Grammy Winning A&R Producer, former Staff Producer for EMI-Capitol Records.

*(Republic Records has been recognized by Billboard as the industry’s #1 label over the last 10 years. It is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning superstar artists such as: The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Drake, Ariana Grande, John Legend, Post Malone, Metro Boomin, Stevie Wonder, among others.)

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Friday, April 14, 2023; 2:00PM – 3:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

Cutting-Edge Copyright: The Latest Technology for Tracking, Protecting, and Monetizing Content

Music and content creation continue to evolve in exciting ways, bringing new opportunities for artists and music companies. But as content evolves, so do the challenges that come with it, especially when it comes to copyright management. Finding and protecting content while also getting paid properly is an age-old issue that has only intensified with the explosion of digital content. Despite advancements in technology over the years, these challenges still cast shade on the otherwise bright futures of music and content creation. In this panel, we’ll discuss new and innovative copyright solutions for the creator economy that are helping creators and rightsholders reap all the benefits digital content provides, without the burdens of copyright protection. Join this A3E panel of pioneers and luminaries to explore the ongoing issues as well as the latest advances and strategies that should be considered as you help shape the future of music.

Chris McMurtry | Vice President of Product | Pex

Chris McMurtry is the Vice President of Product at Pex where he leverages more than 15 years of experience as a leader in the music technology space, and deep industry knowledge as an accomplished composer and musician, to advance Pex’s mission to provide the creator economy with fair and transparent licensing. In his time at Pex, Chris has spearheaded revolutionary data efforts that will change the way creators are attributed to and paid for their work, helping accelerate Pex’s vision of attribution for all. His passion for technology and desire to support creators has been instrumental to Pex as it grows its creator services and continues to develop cutting-edge technology.

Prior to Pex, Chris served as the Head of Music Product at Exactuals, a leading provider of payments in the music industry. During his tenure, he led the design and launch of RAI, a software development kit and open API that leverages machine learning to correct and enhance song and recording metadata. Named one of Billboard’s “2019 Digital Power Players” Chris is a rare combination of a tech founder and musician. His company Dart Music, acquired by Exactuals in 2018, was the first automated digital distribution platform specifically designed to handle the complex metadata of genres such as classical music. Born and raised in Nashville, he previously managed the classical music record label Refinersfire and served as an Information Systems & Technology mentor at Apple.

Chris is also a multi-platinum recording artist with 26 albums to his credit. He holds a degree in classical music composition from Middle Tennessee State University and is an avid writer, having composed over 300 songs. Chris is passionate about data not getting in the way of proper attribution or payment, and works to ensure the products he develops have the best data possible.

Heather Rafter | Principal, RafterMarsh US | RafterMarsh Law Firm

Heather Dembert Rafter has been providing legal and business development services to the audio, music technology, and digital media industries for over twenty-five years. As principal counsel at RafterMarsh US, she leads the RM team in providing sophisticated corporate and IP advice (US practice) and entertainment law services (UK) to content creators, hardware and software developers, and event producers, among others.

Heather currently serves as an Advisor to Ardian, a French-based private equity firm, on the Board of Advisors of the Bob Moog Foundation, and as a Senior Advisor for MediaBridge Capital, a leading investment banking and strategic advisory firm serving the media technology industry. Heather, an advocate for gender parity in the legal and music industry, also serves on the Boards of SoundGirls.org, and WiMN, the Women’s International Music Network. A proud alumna, Heather serves on the advisory council for the Department of Music at Princeton University.

Aarash Darroodi | EVP & General Counsel | Fender

Aarash Darroodi serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel at Fender, the iconic guitar manufacturer. Aarash is responsible for all global legal needs across Fender whose portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, EVH®, Charvel®, Bigsby® and PreSonus®–including mergers and acquisitions, compliance, litigation, intellectual property, corporate governance, advocacy and risk management. Aarash also serves as an officer to the Board of Directors for Fender. In addition to his General Counsel role, Aarash was appointed as President of the Fender Play Foundation™, the brand’s 501(c)(3) public charitable organization on a mission to equip, educate and inspire the next generation of players through music education.

Matt Urmy | CEO, Founder | Artist Growth

As the Founder and CEO of Artist Growth, Urmy’s decade+ as a touring artist and songwriter inspired him to create a platform helping artists secure their creative freedom through financial independence. Even ten years ago, it was clear to him that, with the way the industry was evolving, artists would also have to be business entrepreneurs in their own right to build a sustainable career. Under Urmy’s leadership, Artist Growth has become an indispensable tool for major and indie labels, management companies, and aspiring creators.

Artist Growth formally launched in 2012. Vector Management adopted the platform as the flagship client followed by the likes of Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and more. Entrepreneur has named Urmy among the eight “Best Motivators in Business,” while The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NBC News, and more have covered his journey. Urmy has built a platform for creators proudly by creators.

F. Reid Shippen

hi.
i’m reid.
i hate bios.
+ caps. + bigots.
i dislike convention.
i appreciate disruption.
i like hard questions + being the dumbest guy in the room.
i love doing good shit w/ cool people + cool shit with good people.
i spend my time in music, tech, private investment + strategic consulting.

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Friday, April 14, 2023; 3:00PM – 4:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

VR/AR/XR for Interactive Media: Meeting Your Fans Wherever They Are

Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), or Extended Reality (XR) have been a topic of discussion in the music and entertainment industry for nearly a decade. With the Metaverse becoming XR’s envisioned enabler and delivery platform, how close are we to creating great, easy-to-use content that will drive widespread adoption and use of VR, AR, and XR? Meet and listen to this A3E panel of experts and visionaries who are leading the way in helping establish an even richer ecosystem of apps and technologies that will further set the stage for a digital future with AR, VR, MR, and XR experiences in music, gaming, and video.

Askia Underwood | Certified Metaverse Expert | Miroma Project Factory

Askia Underwood is the first-ever U.S. Business Director of award-winning, globe spanning Miroma Project Factory (MPF). Askia brings more than 17 years of experience in strategic digital campaign planning, development and execution to MPF. Her expertise in digital strategy and content monetization lends to campaigns designed to motivate consumers to take action online.

A Certified Metaverse Expert, Askia’s focus includes innovating at the intersection of where multicultural shoppers connect, consider, and purchase online, along with the development of advanced format immersive, experiential, digital content, products and brand experiences.

Her past work includes migrating more than twenty-five million dollars from traditional advertising mediums to higher-performing digital, social, and search platforms working with clients in the consumer, automotive, retail, sports, pet product, beauty and non-profit categories. Priding herself on actively driving consumer behavior, Askia is often tapped to curate experiential brand moments which motivate consumers to act (watch, share, buy or donate) online.

Brett Gildersleeve | Product Manager, XR Audio | Meta

Brett Gildersleeve is a product manager in Meta’s Reality Labs organization. His XR Audio team is responsible for creating the audio capabilities that power virtual, mixed, and augmented reality experiences. His current focus is core audio presence technologies like spatial audio and acoustics simulation, which create a sense of immersion for users in virtual environments.

Brett has 18 years of professional experience in audio systems and music technology. He started his career at Analog Devices, Inc., where he collaborated with companies like Sony and Bose to integrate embedded digital signal processors into consumer electronics products and improve the audio experience. He then joined Source Audio, where he designed guitar effects pedals that have earned a place on stage with artists including David Gilmour and John Mayer. Most recently, he worked at Pandora / SiriusXM, where he partnered with global automakers to integrate music discovery and voice control into their vehicles.

David Cortes | Lead Audio Software Engineer | Magic Leap 2

I am a Software Engineer mostly focused in Audio, Music, Multimedia and Videogames.

I consider myself a “Problem Solver” in all aspects of the development process from aligning a 3D text on top of a rotating volume, creating some Audio plugins, integrating two pieces of software, creating a little Unity game to test 3D audio or orchestrating a music piece.

My knowledge base and experience include Audio (VST/AU/AAX), JUCE, Graphics, programming games (Unity), multimedia, C++/C#, WPF, Python, Windows (MFC, COM, .NET, etc), music and mobile Apps (iOS, Android)

My main focus on the Magic Leap Audio Algorithms team, is to lead the development efforts for all audio plugins, Unity, Unreal, WWise, Juce (VST, …), as well as the development of demos and PoC as needed for our XR 3D audio technologies

Mike Butera, Ph.D. | Founder & CEO | Minibeats

Mike Butera is the founder and CEO of Minibeats and Artiphon, companies reimagining musical instruments as smart devices and social apps. Mike holds a PhD in Sound Studies, and his research focuses on the phenomenology of music technologies and possible futures of augmented creativity.

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Friday, April 14, 2023; 4:00PM – 5:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

MIDI 2.0 : What Developers Need to Know About Free Tools for Developing MIDI 2.0 Products and Apps

Members of the MIDI 2.0 working group will talk about recent changes to the core MIDI 2.0 specifications, the MIDI 2.0 API on Apple, Google, Linux and Microsoft operating systems and explain the tools that the MIDI Association is providing to all developers to help making MIDI 2.0 devices easier.

Pete Brown | Microsoft Software Engineer / MIDI Association Executive Board Chair | Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer in the Windows + Devices org at Microsoft. We’re working to make Windows better for everyone.

Primary focus is on Windows all up, with outreach to all client developers, but with a love for musician and other creative scenarios and MIDI.

2021 / 2022 MIDI Association Executive Board member. https://midi.org

In my spare time, I enjoy building in my woodworking workshop, working with CNC mills/routers and 3d printers, building synthesizer modules, messing around with technology and electronics, and writing code. Oh, and raising my two children with my wife, of course.

Originally from Massachusetts, I live with my wife and two children near Annapolis, MD.

Mike Kent | Chief Strategy Officer | AmeNote Inc.

Mike is a world leader in technology for musical instruments and audio/video. Mike is the Chair of the MIDI 2.0 Working Group of MIDI Association and Chair of the MIDI Working Group of USB Implementers Forum. Mike filled international roles for Roland R&D for over 20 years, in product development, business development, while managing strategic relationships and technology licensing. Mike has consulted to Yamaha, Apple, Roland, Musescore, Shure, Artiphon, and Analog Devices. Mike contributed audio processing technology design for NASA’s Ames Research Center. Mike is a Member of the Program Advisory Committee for BS in Computer Science & Digital Audio and BA in Music & Sound Design at DigiPen Institute of Technology.

Florian Bomers | Founder, Software Architect | Bome Software

Florian Bomers is a software architect in the field of MIDI and audio products.

He is the founder of Bome Software, for which he created a suite of MIDI routing and translation software and hardware. The Bome Network application allows seamless MIDI networking and routing across Windows, MacOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, iOS, and BomeBox devices (Android coming soon).

In the MIDI Association, Florian is the chair of the Transport Working Group, currently working on a MIDI 2.0 network standard. He is also a member of the Technical Standards Board of the MIDI Association.

Andrew Mee | MIDI 2.0 Consultant | Yamaha (Consultant)

Andrew Mee is the chair of the MIDI Association Prototyping Working Group. Thanks to Yamaha, he spends his days testing and developing MIDI 2.0 tools and providing help to manufacturers who are working with MIDI 2.0 for the first time. Andrew has developed the MIDI Workbench, an open source prototyping tool for testing OS support of UMP, MIDI-CI and checking devices against specifications. He has also developed a set of C++ libraries under a MIT licence to help anyone jump start their development of UMP and MIDI-CI.

Feel free to come up and ask him questions about development, because he loves to have an excuse to talk about MIDI Technology.

Back to A3E 2023 Anaheim At-A-Glance

Friday, April 14, 2023; 5:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

MIDI 2.0 : What Musicians Need to Know About MIDI 2.0

Michael Cain | cofounder and CEO | Ekwe

After moving to New York in 1990, Cain became a first call keyboardist working with artist such as Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Steps Ahead, Ravi Coltrane, and Meshell N’degeocello, among others.

Awards include a 2006 Grammy nomination for Dance of the Infidel, Meshell N’degeocello’s release on which Michael is pianist and co-arranger, and has recorded several records as a leader including Circa, a 1996 ECM release.

Other Notable projects include serving as musical director for the Jose Limon Dance Company, composing the music for the Broadway play View from 151 st Street, which ran at the George Papp Public Theater in New York, and touring with trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard.

As an educator Michael has been a professor at the Eastman School of Music, the New England Conservatory of Music, and currently the Director of the Electronic Music and Recordings Arts program at the MacPhail Center for Music.

Athan Billias | President | The MIDI Association

Career Highlights

• Product Planning manager in Tokyo, Japan for the largest selling synthesizer of all time – the Korg M1.
• Licensed IVL Virtual Vocals to 9 of 11 companies in the Japanese network karaoke market including Daichi Kosho/Yamaha, GigaNetworks, Ricoh, Sega, Taito and Xing/Brother.
• Marketing and Sound Design Manager for the Yamaha Motif synthesizers in the US.
• As Director of Marketing for the Pro Audio and Combo Division planned and implemented the Trainer/Merchandiser program at Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA).
• Lead the Steinberg software team in the US for the first three years after Yamaha acquired Steinberg in 2005.
• In 2014, implemented the Qualtrics Voice of Customer program at YCA.
• In 2018, selected and implemented a best in class digital marketing stack that creates individualized profiles for every YCA customer and then delivers personalized messaging across multiple touchpoints to guide customers through their unique customer journey.

Specialties: Product Planning for digital musical instruments and software. Digital marketing. Fluency in Japanese and working with Japanese companies, expertise in licensing contracts and third party relations

Moldover | Artist, Musician, Instrument Designer | Moldover

Moldover is a professional musician, artist, and inventor of musical instruments. He is best known for coining the term controllerism and supporting its adoption with a diverse body of work including live performances, eclectic compositions, educational videos, and the creation of totally new kinds of electronic instruments. As an innovator, educator, and devout lover of all things creative, Moldover’s goal is to share inspiration and to bridge the gap between traditional musicianship and modern music cultures.

Brett Porter | Lead Software Engineer | Artiphon, Inc.

Brett g Porter is a software developer and engineering manager with 3 decades of experience in the pro audio/music instrument industry; currently Lead Software Engineer at Artiphon, he leads the team that develops companion applications for the company’s family of instruments. Previously, he developed or led the development of projects for companies like Roland, Cakewalk, Universal Audio, Massenburg DesignWorks, and Audionamix. He’s been a member of several MIDI Manufacturers Association Working Groups focusing on the development of MIDI 2.0, and has served as a member of its Executive Board since 2021. He holds degrees in composition and electronic/computer music from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.

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Saturday, April 15, 2023; 11:00AM – 12:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

Revolutionizing Sound with Immersive Audio and AI

Artists are constantly searching for new mediums to express their creativity; looking to push boundaries and charge into new frontiers. Creativity should not be limited by the tools available to help bring their vision to life. Artists want to elevate their art by bringing a vibrancy to their vision – why should audio be any different?

This panel will focus on how visionary artists, composers and companies are evolving digital sound experiences for audiences. We will focus on revolutionary changes in audio technology and the next advancement of audio design by reinventing what is possible and accessible to all creatives including AI or generative music.

Join us to explore the future of sound and the powerful audio tools that are breaking audio design barriers and principles. Hear how our panelists are revolutionizing experiences that translate into art for your ears.

Jacqueline Bošnjak | CEO & Co-Founder | Mach1

Mach1 is a sound technology company focused on spatial audio that Bošnjak co-founded with composer, sound designer and inventor Dražen Bošnjak. Together the Bošnjak’s appeared on Advertising Age’s Creativity50 featuring the most influential creative figures for their contributions to the field of spatial audio. Mach1 is a recipient of the Lumiere Technology award from Hollywood’s Advanced Imaging Society for advancing high quality spatial audio production on immersive production. Bošnjak is known for producing high-profile VR titles, including 20TH Century Fox’s The MartianVR, AlienVR, Sony’s PassengersVR, National Geographic’s OKAVANGO VR, Oculus Emmy Nominated Dear Angelica and Lockheed’s MarsVR Bus. Bošnjak founded MadWomen, a breakfast club connecting leading women in entertainment and technology, and is a regular speaker at CES, AWE, NAB, SXSW, and Digital Hollywood. Early in her career, Bošnjak created & produced the critically acclaimed adicolor Podcasts, the first film series distributed on a mobile device that became a landmark case study in Kotler and Armstrong’s “Principles of Marketing.”

Wyatt Giampa | Creative Producer | Spatial Inc.

Wyatt Giampa is the Creative Producer for Spatial, building an ecosystem for innovative thinkers to pave new paths in the world of immersive experiences. His work in live sound, audio engineering, and digital art led him to Spatial in 2019 where he began building and hardwiring early product activation. From there, his focus was making the software accessible to new users by developing educational materials including knowledge base documentation and support sites for Spatial Studio, Spatial’s 3D authoring tool. His creative curiosity has given him the unique ability to understand the product from both the perspective of the user and the engineer.

Wyatt graduated from Chapman University’s Dodge School of Film and Media Arts and his early work includes the GRAMMY Foundation and The Orchard. Wyatt’s fervor for audio stems from his ongoing career in live sound, music production, and media creation. He ultimately found Spatial through his passion for pursuing revolutionary changes in acoustics and the next advancement of sound/music technology.

Jean-Marc Jot | Founder and Principal | Virtuel Works

Globally recognized audio technology innovator in consumer electronics and pro markets, lately focusing more particularly on spatial audio, hearing personalization and music technology innovation. I founded Virtuel Works to help accelerate the development and deployment of audio, voice and music computing technologies that will power future immersive experiences. Initiated and drove the development of novel sound processing technologies, platforms and standards for virtual and augmented reality, gaming, broadcast, cinema, and music creation – with Magic Leap, Creative Labs, DTS/Xperi, and iZotope/SoundWide. Before relocating to California in the late 90s, I conducted research at IRCAM in Paris, where I created the Spat software library for immersive music creation and performance. Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society, regular speaker in industry and academic events. Authored numerous publications and patents on digital audio signal processing.

Gregg Stein | Founding Partner, CEO | Triple G Ventures

Dynamic, forward-thinking visionary, dedicated to unlocking the potential of great people, great ideas and emerging technologies. 20+ years experience building, leading and scaling connected IoT consumer electronics, ed-tech, audio/music tech, and content businesses to $500m+ with several exits.

Specifically recognized for scaling ION Audio, ROLI and Kano Computing, Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2018 and 2019, just behind Apple. Developed products and partnerships with Apple, Warner Bros., Disney, and Microsoft, resulting in multiple TIME’s Best Invention, Toy of the Year, CES Innovation, and recognition(s).

Knows how to build global brands and bring connected platforms and devices from ideation through manufacturing, retail and direct sales to customers including but not limited to Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, FNAC, JD.com, Media Markt/Saturn, MoMA, Target, Walmart and more. Strength in brand, product, teams, marketing, sales, partnerships, ops and P&L results.

Graduate of Berklee College of Music, Harvard, and recently completed executive program at MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Currently serves as Founding Partner at Triple G Ventures and President/CEO at SKOOG Inc.

Back to A3E 2023 Anaheim At-A-Glance

Saturday, April 15, 2023; 12:00PM – 1:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

Demystifying Instagram Reels For Artists and Content Creators – Must Know Tips & Tricks

Discover and learn new techniques for staying relevant and getting you trending! Leverage one of the most powerful platforms for creatives and make your Reels stand out in this must attend A3E session.

Brandon Pon | Android Engineer, Meta | Instagram

Brandon Pon, an Android engineer on the Instagram Reels team at Meta, is on a mission to make Reels the best platform for musicians.

Having previously studied both computer science and music technology at UCLA, he is passionate about exploring the intersection of the two fields.

When he’s not busy working on the latest new Reels feature, Brandon is an avid bedroom music producer and songwriter and is always looking for new musicians to meet and collaborate with.

Paul Hamilton | Product Design Lead | Instagram

Paul Hamilton is currently Product Design Lead with the Instagram Camera team, focused on audio creation.

He started out in automotive and industrial design, before transitioning into digital products. He has led product innovation projects with some of the world’s leading brands, where he blends design, branding and strategic thinking to create unique and memorable products. Partners have included Google, Nike, Samsung and IKEA.

He now works with a talented team building new creation tools that enable people to fully express themselves with audio on Instagram.

Back to A3E 2023 Anaheim At-A-Glance

Saturday, April 15, 2023; 1:00PM – 2:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

Artists, Developers & Music Technologists: Partnering in an Ever-Increasing AI Creative Landscape

Join this A3E session as we explore the dynamics and importance of the artists/developer relationship in not only leveraging technology in the creative process, but having the ability to create the very technology and tools which can unleash an artist’s individualized style as well as having them control the content they are creating. A3E continues to recognize this partnership between artist and developer as one that will become even more important in understanding the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of new and emerging Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Creativity capabilities affecting their profession, the industry and the world.

BT | Founder | SoundLabs.AI

BT is a music industry icon with an impressive 25+ year career as a Grammy-nominated producer, composer, technologist, and songwriter. His pioneering work in Trance and IDM laid the groundwork for modern EDM, and he’s also a classically trained composer and songwriter.
BT’s signature plugins like Stutter Edit 1&2 for Izotope and Phobos & Polaris with Spitfire Audio have become essential tools for producers worldwide. He’s written, produced, and remixed for a stunning array of top artists like David Bowie, Madonna, and Tiesto, and is an accomplished film composer for scores like Monster and The Fast and The Furious. BT’s creativity also extends to groundbreaking projects like writing the music for Tomorrowland at Disneyland Shanghai and exploring the web 3 space with his Genesis.json NFT, Metaversal, and The Orbs – a collection of infinite music and 3D art pieces.

Max Frenzel | Founder | SoundLabs.AI

Max Frenzel is a creative technologist, entrepreneur, and co-author of the international bestseller Time Off. His ideas have been featured in Fast Company, Financial Times, Thrive Global, Entrepreneur Magazine, and other publications, and he is a regular speaker on topics such as AI, creativity, and the future of work. After receiving his PhD in Quantum Information Theory from Imperial College London and working as a postdoc at Tokyo University, Max has been involved in several tech startups, focusing on the intersection of AI research and product management, as well as the applications of AI to creativity, design, and music. Before co-founding SoundLabs.AI, Max started Yudemon, a company combining health-tech and biofeedback with sound and creative AI. In his time off, Max enjoys good coffee, tries to
perfect his bread baking skills, and produces and performs Drum & Bass. You can find him online at www.maxfrenzel.com.

Michael Hetrick | Founder and Developer | SoundLabs.AI & Unfiltered Audio

Dr. Michael Hetrick is a programmer and lifelong musician from Canton, Ohio. He received his PhD in Electronic Music and Sound Design from the Media Arts and Technology department at the University of California, Santa Barbara. With his company Unfiltered Audio, he has produced many popular audio plugins including BYOME, lo-fi-af, and SpecOps. He currently resides in Zionsville, Indiana.

Joshua Dickinson | Founder | SoundLabs.AI & Unfiltered Audio

Joshua is a founding member of Unfiltered Audio and a professor in the Multimedia Arts department at Berkeley City College. He enjoys building digital systems to simulate the organic world, and developing algorithms related to artificial-creativity. He hopes through his work to better understand the human experience while expanding its creative potential.

Zach Phillips | Director of Professional Development | NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants

Zach Phillips serves as the director of professional development for NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants. He oversees NAMM’s education programs, both live and digital. This includes the education conference at The NAMM Show, the global music products industry’s leading trade event, along with NAMM U Online. NAMM provides education for everyone from music retailers, pro audio and live event production professionals to music technologists, educators and artists. He’s also the past host of NAMM’s Top 100 Dealer Awards.

In his previous role, Zach served as the editor of Music Inc. and UpBeat Daily magazines. During that time, Music Inc. received the prestigious Magazine of the Year Award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. Zach’s also a singer-songwriter, and his last two albums, 2022’s “Goddaughters” and 2020’s “The Wine of Youth, were both nominated for San Diego Music Awards in the Best Country / Americana Album category.

Paul Sitar | President | A3E & A3E Research + Advisory Services

Paul began his professional career as an aerospace underwriter, commercial pilot, and certified flight instructor. However, his passion for information technology led him to transition into the field of emerging technologies that impact all aspects of business and life. He accomplished this by launching research projects, trade shows, and conferences for prominent organizations such as Gartner, Inc. and Advanstar Communications, Inc., as well as for several of his own ventures such as NlightN, Inc., Sitarian Corporation, A3E LLC, and the The Electric Vehicle + Energy Infrastructure Innovation & Sustainability Exchange™. These efforts and projects have included a global footprint.

Paul has focused his attention on several areas, including music and entertainment technology, electric vehicles and next-generation mobility, healthcare informatics, electronic commerce, artificial and creative intelligence, robotics, IT security, cyber terrorism prevention, and critical infrastructure protection.

Paul’s experience also includes founding and managing a software security company for seven years. During this time, he successfully patented and commercialized a deviceless one-time password authentication system. Today, Paul continues his work in research, trade show and conference creation, and the launch of innovative projects in technology driven industries.

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Saturday, April 15, 2023; 2:00PM – 3:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

Generative AI: Exponentially Impacting the Arts

On September 24th, 2014, A3E opened its inaugural program in Boston, MA with a MasterMind Keynote titled “AI + MI = A3E | The Future of Artificial Intelligence + Music Instruments”. A3E has explored and covered the evolution of this focus on The Future of Music + Entertainment Technology™ in many aspects, but none more impactful and controversial as what exactly does and will AI mean to the arts and content creation. Then in March of 2021 A3E, working in a newly developed process – the A3E 3 Phase Exchange™, collaborated with industry experts and the A3E communities in whole to explore and survey how content creators felt about AI, more accurately define by A3E as Artificial Creativity (AC). (Request the Survey Results Summary via email: Add Subject Line “Request for the A3E Research AI + AC Survey Results Summary”)

A3E has had its sights on the ever-evolving and ever-increasing influence and impact of AI and AC: however, in 2023, the growing impact and disruption that AI is now bringing to all facets of the music and entertainment industries is occurring even faster than anticipated. Join an amazing panel of experts to explore where the new advent of AI, including ChatGPT, Divergent AI, Generative AI, and Creative AI, might take us, and how it will impact not only creativity in the music industry, but also the skills leveraged in the creative process and A3E Digital Artistry™.

Maya Ackerman, Ph.D. | CEO/Co-founder | LyricStudio

Dr. Maya Ackerman is a world renowned researcher in generative AI and CEO/co-founder of WaveAI, providing musicians with generative AI tools, LyricStudio and MelodyStudio. A pioneer in the space, Maya has been researching generative AI models for text, music and art since 2014. Dr. Ackerman has over 50 peer reviewed research publications and her research has been cited in over 1200 publications. Named “Woman of Influence” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, interviews with Dr. Ackerman appear on NBC News, Music News Worldwide, New Scientist, NPR, Grammy.com, SiriusXM and international television stations across the globe. She appeared on many top stages, including the United Nations, IBM Research, Microsoft and Stanford University.

Ben Goertzel, Ph.D. | CEO | SingularityNET

Dr. Ben Goertzel is a cross-disciplinary scientist, entrepreneur and author. He leads the SingularityNET Foundation, the OpenCog Foundation, and the AGI Society which runs the annual Artificial General Intelligence conference.

Dr. Goertzel also chairs the futurist nonprofit Humanity+, serves as Chief Scientist of AI firms Rejuve, Mindplex, Cogito and Jam Galaxy, all parts of the SingularityNET ecosystem, and serves as keyboardist and vocalist in the Jam Galaxy Band, the first-ever band led by a humanoid robot.

As Chief Scientist of robotics firm Hanson Robotics, he led the software team behind the Sophia robot; as Chief AI Scientist of Awakening Health he leads the team crafting the mind behind Sophia’s little sister Grace.

Before entering the software industry Dr. Goertzel obtained his PhD in mathematics from Temple University in 1989, and served as a university faculty in several departments of mathematics, computer science and cognitive science, in the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Jessica Powell | CEO & Co-founder | AudioShake

Jessica Powell is the CEO and co-founder of Audioshake, which uses AI to separate audio into its stems and parts so that it can be opened up for new uses. Winner of Sony’s Demixing Challenge, DJ Mag called it the “cleanest stem separation tech.”

Powell spent over a decade at Google, where she sat on the company’s management team, reporting into the CEO. She began her career at CISAC, the International Society of Authors and Composers in Paris. She is also the author of a novel, The Big Disruption, and her essays and short stories have been published in the New York Times, TIME, WIRED, and elsewhere.

Akiva Bamberger | Co-Founder & CTO | MAYK

MAYK makes playing with music fun and puts the power of AI in people’s hands by making it easy to create original songs and remix any song. From the mayk.it app to AI generators like drayk.it, TikTok/Snap/Google alumni founders Stefan & Akiva are all about making music accessible to the 99% so anyone can create anysong with anyvoice. We built innovative music tech that is playful and help more people to express themselves and have a voice.

Dani Deahl | Head of Communications and Creator Insights | BandLab

Dani Deahl is currently is the Head of Communications & Creator Insights at BandLab, a social music creation platform headquartered in Singapore. She leads the company’s strategic messaging and quantitative analysis of key industry trends.

Dani most recently served as Editorial Director at Output where she led content strategy development through insightful industry storytelling with artists like Lucky Daye, Richie Souf, and Krewella.

Prior to her time at Output, Dani led The Verge’s coverage of consumer music tech, authoring influential features on topics like music creation trends, AI, emerging genres, and creator platforms. At The Verge, she also handled artist relations and produced and hosted The Verge’s video series, “The Future of Music,” featuring acts like Charli XCX, Steve Aoki, and Eric Prydz.

Additionally, Dani is a DJ, and a dance music producer, and currently serves as President of the Board for the Recording Academy’s Chicago Chapter.

Back to A3E 2023 Anaheim At-A-Glance

Saturday, April 15, 2022; 3:00PM – 4:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

Exploring Capabilities and Pushing the Boundaries of New Tools & Technologies for Interactive Media

Come join this A3E session as we explore the current and future state of new tools and technologies that are pushing the boundaries and enhancing user experiences in interactive media. Learn about creatives who are implementing these state-of-the-art tools as well as their capabilities, and techniques, some of which are revealing eye-opening insights and creative ideas, setting new precedents, and even re-defining how audio applications can be used in projects.

Chase Bethea | Chair | Interactive Audio Special Interest Group

Chase Bethea is a Video Game Composer/Technical Audio Designer that has shipped over 21 game titles in his eleven years experience.

His soundtrack for “Cubic Climber” earned a Noteworthy on Destructoid. In 2016, Chase was nominated for Artists of the Year – Independent Composer

by VGMO in the entire industry for his “I Can’t Escape:Darkness” score. In 2021, he won an award for the AGROUND soundtrack from the NYX Game Awards. Chase has also scored Aztec Ride, a highly addictive fun mobile game that shipped on Google Play in October 2020 and was nominated for a Pocket Gamer Mobile Award.

Brian D’Oliveira | CEO and Creative Director | Mntra Instruments

Brian D’Oliveira is a multi-award-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist, and creative technologist from Montreal, Canada. He is renowned for his memorable and immersive soundtracks, which have been featured in hundreds of productions over the course of his career, and his work can be found providing the sound and musical universes present in games like Resident Evil 7 and 8, Shadow of Tomb Raider, League of Legends., and countless others. He also founded La Hacienda Creative Studios, a company known for its unique, handcrafted approach to music creation, utilizing cutting-edge interactive technologies. In addition to his work at La Hacienda, Brian is also the head of MNTRA Instruments, the Studio’s research and development division focused on creating next-generation audio tools for the interactive and music industries. Most recently, he served as the composer behind the epic scores on Disney Plus/ “Gannibal” (2022) which has taken Japan by storm.

Jonathan Rowden | co-founder, CBO | GPU Audio

Jonathan Rowden is a musician, sound designer, product designer, technologist and business developer, and the co-founder and CBO of GPU Audio. As a producer, musician and sound designer, his works have been featured in a diverse array of projects and IP from Virtual Reality films with RYOT Studios to Splice. He began his career as a professional saxophonist, professor of improvisational studies in 2006, eventually emerging into technology around 2016, developing audio experiences and tech within the immersive technology industry – a path which led him to joining GPU Audio as a co-founder in late 2019. Along with Sasha, he leads the vision and mission of GPU Audio to bridge accelerated computing and pro audio industries, by unlocking GPUs to power the audio tools and platforms of tomorrow.

Alexander “Sasha” Talashov | co-founder, CEO | GPU Audio

Sasha Talashov is an engineer and founder, rooted as a computer scientist who brings his experience of high performance, low latency compute on GPUs, into the world of audio processing as the CEO of GPU Audio. His passion for accelerating algorithms for GPU execution began in his university experience where he studied under great minds such as those who originated the Sputnik 1 and other original satellite projects. As the CEO of GPU Audio, he communicates the importance of new, powerful computing standards as a path towards a brighter, more interoperable future between industries.

Jonathan Wyner | President | M Works Studios

Jonathan Wyner is Chief Engineer at M Works Studios, Professor of Music Production and Engineering at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Past President of the Audio Engineering Society and former Education Director for iZotope.

He combines a focus on production, engineering and education with experience as a product design consultant. Work includes leveraging technology and product innovations to create engaging experiences to creative and technical users.

A producer, engineer, musician and performer, he’s mastered and produced more than 5000 recordings during the last three decades years. Credits include Jean-Claude Risset, James Taylor, David Bowie, Aerosmith, Kiri Te Kanawa, Aimee Mann, London Symphony, Miles Davis, Semisonic, Thelonius Monk, Pink Floyd, Cream, Bruce Springsteen and Nirvana.

He has several accolades, including production of the Grammy Nominated soundtrack for PBS special Invention and Alchemy (Deborah Henson-Conant, 2005), the mastering of the first recording of a full length opera (Madame Butterfly 1912, BBC), and the first interactive CD game (Play it By Ear, Rykodisc). In 2012 he authored the text ‘Audio Mastering: Essential Practices’ published by Hal Leonard/Berklee Press along with undergraduate and graduate courses for Berkleemusic Online.

Driving CV triggers on an ARP 2600 from his French Horn in 1977 set him on a lifelong journey….

Back to A3E 2023 Anaheim At-A-Glance

Saturday, April 15, 2023; 4:00PM – 5:00PM Pacific Time; Anaheim Convention Center; Level 2, Room 204C

What Will a Musical Instrument Be in the Next 10 Years?

Musical instruments (MI) have been around for thousands of years, and significant advances in these instruments have historically occurred at lengthy intervals. A3E, looking at it through their technology lenses, identifies these advances as disruptions. With the increasing prevalence of new technologies such as hardware, software, and applications, these disruptions have been occurring more frequently and with shorter intervals in between. It is possible, and A3E argues very probable, that the current and future timeline for MI advancement and disruption will see a shift in the types of instruments being developed, especially due to the new demographics and types of artists using them.

Join this closing A3E session to hear from some of the brightest minds and viewpoints on what new MIs may emerge in the next 10 years.

Mike Butera, Ph.D. | Founder & CEO | Artiphon, Inc.

After a lifetime of playing music and a Ph.D. in Sound Studies, I founded Artiphon to reinvent the musical instrument as a smart, connected device. I’m intent on building a future where everyday creativity is augmented by technology. And I think everyone can play music with the right tool, regardless of their training or skill. Beyond Artiphon, I like to think and write about the social structures, phenomenologies, and possible futures of creative technologies. Feel free to reach out anytime.

Specialties: Sound, Technology, Design, Music, Social and Cultural Theory

Daniel Rowland | Oscar-winning Engineer, Producer and the Head of Strategy and Partnerships | LANDR Audio

Daniel Rowland is an LA-based audio engineer, educator, and tech executive. He holds both a B.S and M.F.A. in Music Technology, and is currently Head of Strategy and Partnerships at LANDR, cofounder of Audiotool, and longtime instructor at MTSU.

He has produced the music for an Oscar-winning Pixar film; and mastered multiplatinum/Grammy-nominated albums, while working on projects as varied as Nine Inch Nails, Seal, Phillip Glass, Nina Simone, David Foster, Flo Rida, Gayle, Gucci Mane, and Gwen Stefani, along with soundtracks for Star Wars, Marvel, John Wick, and others.

Daniel has helped grow LANDR to 5 million users, working to refine their AI mastering engine, plugins and other products, while crafting partnerships with leading brands and labels.

Kevin Doucette | Head of Studio | Firdaus Studio By A.R. Rahman at Expo 2020 Dubai

As part of the collaboration between Expo 2020 and legendary composer A.R. Rahman, Firdaus Studio served as a creative space where artists in the UAE, and from around the world, can collaborate, perform, and expand their musical horizons together. It has the largest scoring stage in the UAE containing state-of-the-art recording and multimedia equipment that will facilitate the studio to have three primary use cases; a recording studio, a performance venue and a private cinema.

A.R. Rahman’s vision is to make Firdaus Studio a world class studio in which artists from the region and around the world will want to come and record their latest albums, film scores and video game/multimedia projects. We also want to nurture and develop the local talent as we build the new musical production ecosystem.

Jamie Gale | Founder | Jamie Gale Music

Industry insider, educator, consultant and curator of the Boutique Guitar Showcase. Jamie has shared his unique perspective on the un-written future of guitar in many of the world’s most prestigious institutions, from instrument-making schools with centuries-old traditions in Europe to the Harvard graduate school of design.

Having worked in almost every aspect of the guitar industry. From touring musician to retail, distribution and manufacturing enable him to see things from many different perspectives.

His work with the Boutique Guitar Showcase enTour provides annual trips to more than 25 cities in 11 countries, helping to keep a pulse on the global musical instrument industry, customer perspectives and needs.

These days Jamie is intent on working with as many other creative disciplines as possible to find new perspectives and synergies for the future.

Aarash Darroodi | EVP & General Counsel | Fender

Aarash Darroodi serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel at Fender, the iconic guitar manufacturer. Aarash is responsible for all global legal needs across Fender whose portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, EVH®, Charvel®, Bigsby® and PreSonus®–including mergers and acquisitions, compliance, litigation, intellectual property, corporate governance, advocacy and risk management. Aarash also serves as an officer to the Board of Directors for Fender. In addition to his General Counsel role, Aarash was appointed as President of the Fender Play Foundation™, the brand’s 501(c)(3) public charitable organization on a mission to equip, educate and inspire the next generation of players through music education.

Paul Sitar | President | A3E & A3E Research + Advisory Services

Paul began his professional career as an aerospace underwriter, commercial pilot, and certified flight instructor. However, his passion for information technology led him to transition into the field of emerging technologies that impact all aspects of business and life. He accomplished this by launching research projects, trade shows, and conferences for prominent organizations such as Gartner, Inc. and Advanstar Communications, Inc., as well as for several of his own ventures such as NlightN, Inc., Sitarian Corporation, A3E LLC, and the The Electric Vehicle + Energy Infrastructure Innovation & Sustainability Exchange™. These efforts and projects have included a global footprint.

Paul has focused his attention on several areas, including music and entertainment technology, electric vehicles and next-generation mobility, healthcare informatics, electronic commerce, artificial and creative intelligence, robotics, IT security, cyber terrorism prevention, and critical infrastructure protection.

Paul’s experience also includes founding and managing a software security company for seven years. During this time, he successfully patented and commercialized a deviceless one-time password authentication system. Today, Paul continues his work in research, trade show and conference creation, and the launch of innovative projects in technology driven industries.

Back to A3E 2023 Anaheim At-A-Glance