3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session A - DH19:
Next Generation P2P Music and Film - DRM, Paid for Pass-Along and Other Legal Distributed Computing Models and the Entertainment Industries
While the debate over legal issues in music and movie distribution of content continues, the P2P and distributed computing industry is making strides in taking its technologies into the mainstream. With many evolving solutions on the way from paid-for-pass-along along with various DRM solutions and advertiser based options - and now an active trade association for P2P exists to enhance the solutions in the marketplace - we are pleased to hold a standalone solution session on the topic. In this session we will attempt to go beyond the legal issues into the practical applications of P2P in the marketplace. P2P advocates make claim to a major share of the market that will play a central force in the future of the music and film industries. In this session, we will hear the case for P2P - understanding it strengths and weaknesses.
Janet Snowdon, Business Development Manager, IBM Digital Media Group
Jan Marc Kuelper, Director Business Development Gnab, arvato mobile GmbH
Randall Crockett, Senior Vice President, DRM Networks
Michael Weiss, President & CEO, StreamCast Networks
Talmon Marco, co-founder, iMesh
Dmitry Shapiro, Chief Executive Officer, Veoh Networks
Marty Lafferty, Chief Executive Officer, Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA), Moderator
Janet Snowdon, Business Development Manager, IBM Digital Media Group: Janet Snowdon, Business Development Manager, IBM Digital Media Group, is responsible for the development of IBM's strategy for content protection, including building on-going alliances with target companies within the content distribution area. Prior to her current position, Snowdon was responsible for Solution Sales for IBM Media and Entertainment Industry. Since joining IBM in 1983, Snowdon has held a variety of sales, marketing and engineering positions within IBM’s consumer electronics, transportation, manufacturing and telecommunications industries. A graduate of University of California, Davis, Snowdon earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. She has completed IBM President’s class and International President’s class and received numerous sales awards and recognition from clients. Snowdon has also been awarded IBM President’s award for her work with semiconductors.
Michael Weiss, President & CEO, StreamCast Networks: Entertainm
ent industry veteran, Michael Weiss first joined StreamCast Networks, formerly known as MusicCity.com, as its President & CEO in April 2000. Weiss was responsible for re-positioning the company from an Internet radio provider into a peer-to-peer powerhouse and the world’s largest peer-to-peer consumer software provider. Under Weiss’ leadership, the company introduced the wildly popular "Morpheus" peer-to-peer file sharing software. Within 4 months of launch, "Morpheus" achieved legendary status: 20+ million users, # 1 most popular Internet software, over 1 million downloads weekly, 2 million daily users, and the # 1 most searched Internet subject. After taking the company to # 1 status, Weiss left the company in September 2001 when it relocated to Nashville, TN and co-founded ShareComm, Inc., a technology start-up venture. Previously, Weiss was founder of WebRadio.com and served as its Vice President & General Manager. WebRadio.com, a subsidiary of GEO Interactive Media Group, Ltd. (GIM:LSE), transmits terrestrial radio stations’ signals on-line through the innovative EMBLAZE "plug-in free" streaming media technology developed by GEO. WebRadio.com was valued at $441 million during Weiss’ tenure. Previously, Weiss was VP, Strategic Marketing for GEO. Prior to GEO, Weiss held several positions at Sirius Publishing, Inc from 1994 to 1998. As Vice President of Entertainment & Business Development, he negotiated and acquired the digital rights to movies and video programs from major motion picture studios, independent production companies and record labels and served as company spokesperson for its MovieCD product line. As VP, Marketing, he played a key role in Sirius' trajectory as a major player in the multimedia industry--growing annual company sales from $100,000 to $22 million within nine months. Previously Weiss spent 16 years in the home video industry.Randall Crockett, Senior Vice President, DRM Networks: With over 2
5 years of experience promoting products through the entertainment industry, Randall Crockett has recently worked to develop methods of distributing entertainment and information to the masses through the use of the Internet. As a director of DRM Networks, he now uses his expertise to promote secure methods of distribution that allow for new and innovative business models. Randall began his career in entertainment by promoting events in Southern California for the legendary Mickey Thompson where he managed the Off-Road Championship Grand Prix and the Superbowl of Motocross. After the death of Mickey Thompson, Randall founded one of the worlds first event marketing firms, PR Crockett in Irvine, California. PR Crockett topped out at 75 employees and worked closely with both events and the sponsors of those events including, Coors, Proctor and Gamble, Dodge, The City of Los Angeles Marathon, Long Beach Grand Prix, American Heart Association and many more. In all, PR Crockett provided resources and sponsorships for over 100 events annually. PR Crockett was eventually sold and Randall moved to Aspen, Colorado with the intention of skiing and relaxing for a bit but quickly found himself engaged in the start up of many other businesses centered on the recreation market. Eventually this brought him again to involvement with live events though this time focused on concert and festival promotions. In 1998, Randall was recruited to join the newly established management team at the Celebrity Theatre, a world class entertainment venue in Phoenix, Arizona. Utilizing his expertise in marketing, the Celebrity Theatre quickly grew to over 100 shows a year most of which sold out. Provided with that success, Randall partnered with other visionaries and founded a new concept in entertainment to bring live concerts and sporting events to audiences via the internet. Though early adoption for the Web Theatre concept was limited, Randall continued to pursue and analogize the importance of online media and has been vigilant in developing resources that can accommodate users much like himself, to make online digitals media a accessible to anyone with content. In 2001, Randall took over a division of CWIE Holdings company, the parent company of CCBill where he continued to develop an idea that online media sales would lead the way of digital content sales. Today DRM Networks boast such clientele as Disney, ABC, Peer Impact (which represents the Big 4 Record Labels), Hewlett Packard and many more. Through the DRM system, over 6,000,000 digital media files are distributed and sold monthly. Mr. Crockett is active with many organizations both professionally and as a volunteer that cover a fast area including Broadcasting, Internet Deployment and civic organization.Dmitry Shapiro, Chief Executive Officer, Veoh Networks, Inc.: Dmitry Shapiro is a world recognized thought leader and visionary in electronic communications, peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, online community and computer security. Mr. Shapiro is a frequent speaker at major technology and business events and is widely quoted in the press, including eWeek, InfoWorld, Internet World, PCWorld and the Red Herring. Prior to founding Veoh, Mr. Shapiro founded Akonix Systems, Inc. Under his vision and leadership, Akonix Systems pioneered technologies that are now standard corporate requirements for IM and P2P management. With more than one million enterprise seats deployed, Akonix’s solution is the world's corporate standard in P2P security. Akonix's products are deployed at media companies such as MTV, Fox News, 20th Century Fox, Viacom and Disney, as well as hundreds of other recognizable brand names across all major vertical markets. Prior to founding Akonix, Mr. Shapiro led technology development for CollegeClub.com, the world's largest community of college students at that time, which provided innovative real-time communications to its community of over four million users. CollegeClub.com was a recognized pioneer in integrating presence, Instant Messaging and other collaborative technologies into a comprehensive communications infrastructure. His visionary work on presence integration into web infrastructures has been the basis for the "Who's Online" functions now implemented across major industries, including e-commerce, call centers, online personals and others. Before CollegeClub.com, Mr. Shapiro led the Internet technology group at Fujitsu Business Communication Systems. Prior to that, Mr. Shapiro was a key player in Fujitsu's systems engineering team where he helped lead Fujitsu's entry into the Computer Telephony Integration space. Mr. Shapiro holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Neil Portnow, President, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences: During the course of his 30-year career, Neil Portnow has become a leading figure in the music and recording industry relating both to music makers and marketers. He was appointed President of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences® (the Recording Academy®) in December of 2002. As President, Portnow works closely with the Board of Trustees and its Chairperson, local Academy Chapter boards and officers, as well as the Academy's senior management team to advance the Academy's goals and purpose — including the creative and strategic vision, and the operations of the Academy and its related entities (the GRAMMY® Awards, Member Services, the Producers & Engineers Wing, and other programs). Also benefiting from his experience and vision are the MusiCares® Foundation and the GRAMMY® Foundation, both of which he also serves as President. Additionally, Portnow represents the Academy to its constituents and partners; serves as an industry leader on issues relating to the music industry — including participation in national caucuses, seminars and similar events; and with key domestic and international industry-related organizations. In keeping with the Academy's position as an advocate for its constituents, Portnow develops and manages strategic advocacy positions at the national, state and local levels — both governmental and within the music industry. Born in Manhattan, New York, Portnow is a professional musician who has played with various bands and has worked as a studio sideman, playing bass and guitar. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from George Washington University, where he served as Cultural Affairs Director booking concerts for the university, and later was elected to an unprecedented two-year term as Student Body President. In 1971, Portnow formed his own firm, Portnow-Miller Company, Inc., where he served as President. His client list included RCA Records, The Entertainment Company, Babylon Records, and Playboy Records. Portnow's services incorporated radio promotion, marketing and creative services, music publishing, and record production. The Screen Gems Publishing Group, later acquired by EMI, named him Manager, Talent Acquisitions and Development in 1972. He established the record production division for the company, working with the industry's premier producers, arrangers, musicians and songs from writer/artists including Fleetwood Mac, Carole King, Melissa Manchester, and Cat Stevens. Portnow also negotiated domestic and international agreements in both recording and music publishing areas. A staff producer for RCA Records, Portnow was promoted to the post of Executive Producer in 1977. He was transferred from New York to West Coast operations in the newly created position of Division Vice President, Artist and Repertoire. He was responsible for negotiations that included a distribution arrangement for Elton John's Rocket Records. In March 1982, Portnow was named Vice President, Artists and Repertoire, West Coast for Arista Records by Clive Davis. As the principal West Coast executive, he was responsible for all West Coast activity and he functioned as General Manager for the company. He also worked on the stunning debut album for Whitney Houston in addition to projects involving many of Arista's top acts such as Barry Manilow, Billy Ocean, The Thompson Twins and Dionne Warwick. In April 1979, he became the Senior Vice President for 20th Century Fox Records, and was promoted to President the following January. Portnow was responsible for the artistic and financial turn-around of the company. The industry regained respect for the label, crediting the label and Portnow's success to the development of key new artists (including three gold albums and a gold single of GRAMMY-winner Stephanie Mills). In February of 1985, Portnow was appointed Vice President, Artists and Repertoire for EMI America Records where he was responsible for all A&R activity worldwide. In addition to supervising all new artist acquisitions, Portnow worked with artists including David Bowie, Sheena Easton, Corey Hart, Nona Hendryx and Evelyn "Champagne" King. He was instrumental in establishing a black music department, played a major role in the signing of superstar Robert Palmer, and brought platinum and gold album recording artists The Pet Shop Boys and Najee to the American company. He was involved in many soundtrack projects throughout his career, including such smashes as Ghostbusters, 9 To 5, The Stunt Man, The World's Greatest Lover, and the 1986 hit About Last Night. Some of the musical talent involved in those films included Air Supply, Sheena Easton, John Hall, Ray Parker Jr., Dolly Parton, Bob Seger and John Waite. In 1987, he was named Music Supervisor for Frank Mancuso Jr.'s production of Permanent Record for Paramount Pictures. Music from the film was on the Epic Records soundtrack album, which included the first film underscore as well as songs by Joe Strummer. Just prior to becoming President of the Recording Academy, Portnow served as Senior Vice President, West Coast Operations for the Zomba Group of Companies, which includes Jive Records, Volcano, Verity and Silvertone Records, Zomba Music Publishing, as well as Zomba's Film and Television Music operations. Zomba, the world's largest and leading independent music company, was sold to Bertlesman in late 2002 for a historic $2.7 billion. Portnow also served an unprecedented three-year term as President of the Music and Entertainment Industry chapter of the City Of Hope from 2000–2002, raising significant funds for the world-renowned cancer treatment and research center. In October 2003, the City Of Hope presented Portnow with its top philanthropy honor, The Spirit of Life Award, at a gala event that raised more than $2.3 million to benefit research and treatment efforts.
Talmon Marco, Co-Founder, President and CMO, Mr. Marco is a rare combination: savvy businessman and a technology pioneer. Before the age of 30, he has brought to market multiple innovative technologies. Starting 1993, Mr. Marco served as CIO for the Israeli Defense Forces Central Command. In 1995, Mr. Marco Co-Founded Nortex Software, a developer of Civil Engineering software. In 1997 he Co-founded Expand Networks, a privately held, venture back, world leader in Application Traffic Management. Mr. Marco served as President at Expand Networks until 2004, at which point the company reached a run-rate of $20M/yr. In 1998, Mr. Marco co-founded iMesh. Following the RIAA settlement, Mr. Marco joined iMesh as President and Chief Marketing Officer in order to help propel iMesh forward. Mr. Marco holds a degree in Computer Science and Management from the Tel-Aviv University.
Marty Lafferty, Chief Executive Officer, Distributed Computing Ind
ustry Association (DCIA): As DCIA’s CEO, Marty Lafferty is responsible for industry outreach, strategic development and management of all association initiatives. He is an accomplished new media industry leader with a track record of successful multi-business collaboration and excellence in pioneering the distribution of content via new technologies. Throughout his career, Lafferty has served in senior leadership positions for some of the world’s most innovative technology and entertainment companies. Lafferty joined DCIA from Lafferty Media Partners LLC (LMP) where he served as Managing Partner. Prior to LMP, he was CEO of Zoom Culture, which he transformed from a year-old dotcom into a thriving digital television and new media firm within 24 months, working with partners including NBC and PAX TV. He also led Zoom’s software development team and partnered with Apple engineers to serve as the first Beta client for Scale 8’s advanced global storage network and edge content distribution system. Previously he served as CMO for StreamSearch.com, where he oversaw the conversion of streaming video search engines from a technological to an entertainment market focus, working with and for major studios such as Paramount and Artisan. While there, he also led the creation of the interactive multimedia site for Sundance Film Festival. During his tenure as Microsoft TV VP of Corporate & Service Marketing, Lafferty supported the strategic refocus of Microsoft’s WebTV acquisition from a purely B2C niche subscription offering to a B2B application suite for multichannel service distributors and their set-top suppliers, in addition to introducing plans for the Xbox game console. While serving as President of FutureVision, Lafferty supervised the redesign and rollout of the industry’s first true switched digital network service offering and the company’s acquisition by Verizon. Before FutureVision, as VP of TV Answer, he led the development of numerous technically diverse simulcast interactive applications using IVDS over-the-air transmission spectrum, and secured affiliations with PBS and commercial broadcast station groups, culminating in a strategic alliance with CapCities/ ABC. Lafferty was also CEO of NBC’s Olympics joint venture, where he led multiple vendors to develop alternative security solutions for a satellite-delivered mini-subscription PPV signal, as well as oversaw cable and broadcast affiliate marketing. Prior to that, as GE Americom VP of Cable Services, he contributed to GE Astro’s new fleet development and deployment, generating $445 million in sales to television programmers in 18 months. As VP of TDBS, he led Turner Broadcasting’s internal and GI engineering teams to develop and deploy the industry’s first signal-scrambling security technology for basic programming services. Lafferty has received recognition from, and held leadership positions in, numerous industry organizations throughout his career. He was awarded the Council for Entrepreneurial Development Award as a top-fifty new company. He served as Membership Chairman of the Interactive Services Association, and was named Chairman of the International Digital Satellite Television Symposium. Lafferty also co-founded the Satellite Broadcasting Communications Association and served as its first Vice Chairman. Lafferty holds a Master’s degree from Yale University and Bachelors with honors from Williams College. He has received the NCTA’s President’s Award and a CTAM TAMI Award for industry service.