Shaking Up the Music Sector: An Invitation to Tune In
On Sunday, April 30, Lani Hall at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) will play host to a unique event, "Drop the Needle: Remixing the Music Industry." This annual showcase will feature presentations, performances, and research by graduating seniors from UCLA's Music History and Industry undergraduate degree program.
The event aims to empower students by providing them with the opportunity to hone their passion projects and sharpen skills to garner critical support for those projects. One such project is Marlee Orr's live performance of Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come," which aims to exemplify the emotion underlying the Civil Rights Movement.
Another highlight of the event will be the first listen of a song from Cherry Pop Records' debut release, the first student-run record label at UCLA. The label's mission is to empower students with hands-on music industry experience, working directly with local artists.
Tara Tempesta's presentation will delve into the topic of music creation by artificial intelligence and the issues of copyright, asking the question, "What is the impact, and how does legislation need to change?"
Lukas Castro's project aims to provide independent artists and music students with the support they need to begin developing new approaches to self-promotion and pragmatic business models upon entering into the music industry.
Samantha Najemy (aka Sam Alon) and Annabelle Hendrickson's documentary, "Remember Me," follows Hendrickson as she takes on the LA music scene as an independent artist, discussing important topics like identity and sexism.
Quinn Campbell will discuss the marketing and release plan that follows the creation of an album, punctuating the presentation with a screening of a music video.
Annika Dudley's Elevator Music is a diverse programming initiative aimed at allowing diverse artists to be properly compensated for their work while providing free performance art to community members.
Antonio Estrada's company, ProSoundly, aims to transform the music production services market and innovate how music producers approach their craft, offering music production packs, educational videos, mix/master services, original track production, and an AI synthesizer on its website.
Emmon Amid will perform tracks off an EP based on lost stories and generational trauma among the Persian community following the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Brooke Maytorena's presentation will cover the process behind her first EP "I Don't Remember," from concept and demos to artwork and marketing.
Joshua Sung's EP "Good Intentions with Bad Habits" reflects the perspective of Asian Americans, made in collaboration with other Asian American artists.
Katsura Uthus will offer a presentation about the EP "Bedroom Rock," an aural exploration of the subject of mental illness.
Kryztyna Hernandez's "The Cliffnotes Podcast" offers the opportunity to discuss personal music ideas and opinions within the podcast industry.
In addition to these projects, Samantha Heller co-founded Sam X Sam, a not-for-profit production organization for female, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ creatives within the music industry. The Music for Movement benefit concert series by Sam X Sam aims to provide a platform for female and gender-nonconforming artists while raising funds and awareness for women's right to bodily autonomy.
"Pink Is Power," led by Lulu Dawson, is a female-fronted music festival furthering opportunities in the music industry, celebrating women's contributions to music, arts, and culture with a full vendor fair and festival lineup.
The event is free and open to the public, running from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more details about specific projects or to learn about past events, visit UCLA's Music Department website or contact the program directly for archives or event summaries.
The event at UCLA, "Drop the Needle: Remixing the Music Industry," not only showcases performances and presentations by graduating seniors, but also offers opportunities for lifelong learning and education-and-self-development in areas such as music and the music industry. For instance, Tara Tempesta's presentation delves into the topic of music creation by artificial intelligence, questioning the impact and need for legislative change, while Lukas Castro's project aims to equip artists and music students with pragmatic business models for their careers. Furthermore, Emmon Amid performs tracks based on lost stories and generational trauma among the Persian community, highlighting the importance of entertainment that promotes learning and self-development.
