Weird, Wonderful Webster Hall

The site of the New Music Seminar, Webster Hall in Manhattan's East Village, is a spooky, dark relic... and no one ever wants that to change. The nightclub, concert venue, corporate events center and recording venue was built in 1886.

Comprising four public floors, it was named a New York City Landmark in 2008. I tell you what, the porcelain urinals in the downstairs men's room deserve their own designation. It's been a long time since I've seen anything as old. I'll miss that joint. With an All Access pass for NMS, believe me, I investigated every nook and cranny. *

NMS Day III: And That's A Wrap

Man, oh, man. So much for a break in the week... Back to freelance, with a new quick gig... I'll let the photos from Monday and Tuesday at the New Music Seminar speak for themselves... *Tom Silverman intros keynoter Bob Pittman, CEO of Clear Channel.Heavy hitters, including Warner Music chief Lyor Cohen.Scenes from the crowd: the delegates of NMS 2012.Below, the Manager's Movement, including my mad crush from NMS, third from right, Ash Pournouri from At Night Management.Below, Justin Timberlake... uh, Sean Parker is interviewed by Tom Silverman.Artists panel, including Wyclef Jean in red.Tom's closing remarks... And finally, the announcement of the winner of $150,000 in goods and services from NMS for the Artist On the Verge winner: Maren Morris, a fiery singer-songwriter from Arlington, Texas. *

New Music Seminar Day II: What A Mad Rush

As the New Music Seminar fired up Sunday, what a rush it was to see months of work (and a year-plus from the organizers) at last come to life. I tell you, the conference felt significant... with major ideas discussed that truly have potential to impact an industry that is in the eye of a tornado of evolution.

You can literally see the new model's framework edging its way rung by rung to the sky, with online radio services like Pandora, Spotfiy, LastFM, iHeartRadio and now Songza threatening the tried-and-true the traditional radio model.

But AM-FM super-powers are hardly waving the white flag, as they work like hell to reinvent themselves and thrive amid such robust competition... Meanwhile, the new services are fretting and furiously trying to figure out how to monetize their new platforms. The age-old adage applies: Only the strong will survive.

It's also thrilling time for the consumer, as more choices become available month after month, most of them free at this point, as they strive for penetration. And the era of "personalized radio" is truly upon us, where you choose what you want to hear—not from your weary iTunes playlist or been-there-heard-that iPod—but from a portal like Pandora, which actually "gets to know you" based on your likes and various other metrics that you share. Over time, your "station" is customized to the point that it's frighteningly YOU, while also introducing you to new songs you're apt to like, based on your profile. It's genius.

NMS Executive Director Tom Silverman cautioned at the beginning of the conference: "No whining, no complaining." The intent of the gathering was to bring unity to the music business and work as one—artists, record labels, radio companies and all in between—toward a spanking new thriving model for an industry that has been ailing for more than decade. But more so... for consumers, so that they will continue to fall in love with music and support the new regime with their ears, their social networking and ultimately, their $$.

Man, what a great experience this has been. Imagine: a "trade show" that's actually fun, positive and charged with good will. I'm jazzed, man. More photos Tuesday! *

Sunday morning's prep...
2 p.m.: Doors open! Let the madness ensue...
Executive Director & NMS C-Founder Tom Silverman offers nearly 1,000 delegates an empowering WELCOME.Among the opening panels: the Songwriter's Circle with Demond Child, Jodi Marr, Claude Kelly and Eric Bazilian.More from the NMS Opening Night Party...

'Appetite For Disruption': New Music Seminar 2012 Day One

After six weeks of planning, writing, editing and working toward the opening of the 2012 New Music Seminar in New York, the day at last dawned Sunday, June 17 (at left, the Mayor's Proclamation for New Music Week in NYC).

Packed into the event: some 160 speakers and panelists, 900 registrants and more than three dozen panels and tutorials guiding the industry away from a record business that no longer functions and into the future with an "Appetite for Disruption."

Following are pix from opening day and the wondrously raucous Opening Night Party. Meanwhile, following day one, all I want to do is soak my feet (in gin, of course). Stand by for tons more pics, conference coverage and perspective on the burgeoning new music business. Change is a'coming... at last. *

 Load-in and build-up of the canopy for the Opening Party Red Carpet.

Cracked me up... hiding in a corner... Webster's Hall's massive disco ball.

Evening act Alek Sandar & Yozmit preps the "performance art" aspect of its Opening Party spectacle.

Sound check in the Grand Ballroom.
Attendees line up for 2 p.m. registration. Let the games begin.

First session of the day, including massive hit songwriters Claude Kelly and Desmond Child (pictured), along with Eric Bazilian and Jodi Marr.
And a packed room for the session... standing room only. Off to a good start.
The big bosses: Tom Silverman, Founder, New Music Seminar & Founder, Tommy Boy Entertainment (left) and NMS 2012 Executive Director Dave Lory... who had the wisdom to hire a meticulously detailed Editor for the New Music Seminar... Uh, that would be me.
Awesome moment as Tom Silverman told attendees that the most value they're going to get from the gathering is schmoozing. He had everyone at the official welcome turn and meet whomever was next to them.  Reminded me of church in the South as a kid.

The Opening Party begins after Sunday's first three sessions... featuring Evan Shinners, who brings an electronica punch to classical Bach and Beethoven compositions.

Alek Sandar & Yozmit's fucking bat-shit crazy performance, which began with a two-tiered 12-foot-tall Yozmit, followed by a troupe of carnival performers, as Sandar sang... peaking with...

...Yozmit descending into the audience and spreading his "gown" across the entire ballroom.

And here they are on the red carpet before the performance... Below, a collection of the scariest characters at the Opening Night Party.
To come Monday: the business of the New Music Seminar, with a massive 23 Movements and Intensives, all with the function of helping new artists understand the burgeoning business of a new era in music.

More to come tomorrow! *