12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Track III:
Music as the Mobile Entertainment Killer Application
The mobile and wireless explosion is in the process of reinventing and revitalizing the music industry. With the economic uncertainty that has overshadowed the industry for the past four years, the emergence of the mobile marketplace may be more than a signal of hope. The consumer has fully embraced the entire notion of mobile – from handset and downloads to headsets and ringtones – as a complete lifestyle. The affinity of the consumer to the combination of mobile and music is leading to investment in the industry and a host of new business opportunities. Given the history of the past few years, there will be undoubtedly be hesitation, false starts and uncertainty, nevertheless, mobile music itself may not only be a target market in itself, it may be an accelerator to the entire music industry.
Ben Patterson, Director of New Media, The Firm
Luke Wood, Vice President, A&R DreamWorks Records
Roy Kosugi, former executive, Universal Music Group
Marcus Peterzell, President, Sales & Marketing, Aaron Walton Entertainment
Kamran Valanejad, Director of New Media, Universal Music
Robert Smith, co-founder, Nomadic Artists Agency, Moderator
Kamran Valanejad, Director of New Media, Universal Music: A top graduate of USC's prestigious Music Industry program in 2000, KamranV quickly made the jump from intern to Head of Production in the New Media division of Interscope Geffen A&M. His expertise set the standard for research-driven artist marketing for the entire roster, including such leaders as Eminem, Weezer, and Queens of the Stone Age. With the role of New Media rapidly expanding beyond the Internet, KamranV continues to blaze new trails as the label point person for new technology business developments incorporating Mobile phones, Video on Demand, and new physical formats such as DVD-Audio and Dual-Disc for which he recently served as producer of Beck's groundbreaking "Sea Change," and the upcoming 10th Anniversary Edition of Nine Inch Nail's "The Downward Spiral."
R. Roy Kosuge: Roy Kosuge brings an interdisciplinary approach to bridging the gaps between content, communications, and technology. Kosuge is currently Vice President of Business Development and Strategy for RoseTel, a video communications start-up that delivers real-time two-way video at broadcast quality. Prior to RoseTel, Kosuge was a member of the eLabs Business Development team at Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company. Kosuge’s role entailed building digital content businesses across new technology platforms such as Internet, broadband, interactive video, and peer-to-peer networks. Kosuge also spearheaded UMG’s entry into the mobile content business and managed relationships with major carriers, content aggregators, and developers. Prior to Universal, Kosuge was part of the strategic planning group at AT&T Broadband where he developed product marketing and sales channel strategies for high-speed data services. In his spare time, Kosuge consults with various film production companies, independent record labels, and technology ventures in Los Angeles and Japan. Kosuge earned a B.A. degree from Harvard University, and is fluent in Japanese and Portuguese.
Luke Wood is a senior A&R executive at Interscope Records and founder/chief executive of Tiny Evil, distributed by the Universal Music Group. He was formerly an A&R executive with Dreamworks Records, and an A&R/Marketing executive with Geffen Records in Los Angeles. His most recent signings include multi-platinum artists Jimmy Eat World and AFI; and, Saves the Day, Brand New and Nine Black Alps.
Marcus Peterzell is the president of leading entertainment marketing agency, Aaron Walton Entertainment, which is in turn part of the global advertising conglomerate Omnicom. Peterzell has a rich background in the entertainment sector covering over 20 years. Peterzell’s credits include executive stints at Hollywood Media Corp, 24/7 Media, several record labels and in the early 1990’s he served as U.S manager for The Cure. Most recently Peterzell worked at MusicVision as SVP sales and marketing.
Ben Patterson, Director of New Media at The Firm, manages internet and new media directives at The Firm, one of the most prominent artist and talent management companies in Los Angeles. With a focus on the convergence of online and entertainment marketing, Patterson oversees all new media marketing and business development for The Firm's roster, which includes Snoop Dogg, Linkin Park, Dixie Chicks, Korn, Audioslave, etc.. He has initiated paid subscription, wireless and digital music distribution initiatives across broad media platforms. Additionally, Patterson has been instrumental in forming new marketing, business, and promotional opportunities with partners including AOL, Yahoo, MSN, and Target and others to market client’s products and to create new revenue streams. Mr. Patterson holds a Bachelor of Science from the School of Speech at Northwestern University.
Robert Smith is a founding partner of the Nomadic Artists Group. Nomadic is a content creating, licensing and consulting firm bringing artists and high level content together with wireless and digital media distribution and corporate clients. He was senior executive and head of marketing for Geffen Records for ten years, during which time Geffen emerged as one of the most successful independent record companies. He worked with artists as diverse as Nirvana, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Peter Gabriel, Hole, Counting Crows, Beck and Aerosmith. Following Geffen, he became President/COO of Musician.com Networks, an on- and off-line resource site for musicians and music professionals, founded by music industry executives in partnership with Guitar Center, Inc.