4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Session B:
Internet Music Free free for All: Surviving in a Napster and Gnutella Universe
There are three sides to the argument. (1) In the long run, there is not fighting the technology and the needs of the fan base - the music is going to be free. (2) The music industry is based on the integrity of intellectual property of the artist and the future of the industry, from well-being of the artist to the business structure of a multi-billion dollar industry depends on the continued valuation of content and (3) Somewhere between these two points exists an arrangement, whereby Internet technology takes on the role that radio and cable TV have always played in giving music away for free while at the same time building a tremendous fan base. In this session, we will explore the latest ideas in the high tech - music industry free for all.
Hank Williams, founder and CEO, ClickRadio
Aaron Newton, founder and President, Epitonic.com
David Pritchard, Senior Marketing Director, HotBot, Lycos Music
Scott Burnett, Marketing Executive, Content Distribution, IBM's Global Media & Entertainment Industry
Chris Otto, Product Manager, RealJukebox, RealNetworks, Inc.
Brian Brinkerhoff, VP Content Acquisition, eMusic
Dave Williams, Vice President, Marketing, Listen.com
Kevin Unangst, Microsoft Windows Media
Todd Sawicki, Director of Strategic Marketing, Loudeye, Moderator
Chris Otto, Product Manager, RealJukebox, RealNetworks, Inc. Currently, Chris Otto manages business development and marketing efforts for RealNetworks' RealJukebox product. He has overseen the development of RealNetworks' music-related content projects including the creation of LiveConcerts.com, MusicNet, Rolling Stone Radio, and Instavid. Previous to joining RealNetworks, Otto founded the multimedia department at Atlantic Records, the first department of its kind at a major record label. Mr. Otto attended Stanford University where he studied computer music and product design.
Hank Williams, founder and CEO, ClickRadio: Hank Williams, 35, is one of the few African-American executives running an Internet music company. Rather than opt for an urban music niche, Williams developed technology that improves how all kinds of music is played and listened to on the Internet. Williams has been developing computer software since he was 15 years old. In 1995, Hank co-founded Cybersonic, an Internet development and consulting firm that provided technology development services to Polygram, Warner Music Group, Atlantic Records, Elektra Records, and MSN. Cybersonic provided the music industry with technology solutions to provide music content to the burgeoning online audience. In 1996 Cybersonic produced "Hootie and the Blowfish: Live from Red Rocks" for Atlantic Records. It was the largest Web-simulcast at that time. From 1988 to 1994, Hank served as President and CEO of Pastel Development Corporation, where he conceived and developed "DayMaker," a personal information management software application that won awards from MacWeek and MacUser. In 1985, Hank co-founded Human Touch, which developed one of the first memory expansion and processor accelerators for the Mac. Hank studied Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and currently has five patents pending.
Aaron Newton, founder and President, Epitonic.com: Aaron Newton is the soul of the MP3 revolution. An obsessive music fan who started out posting his favorite MP3 files to a personal Web site, he’s turned his labor of love into a thriving hotspot of alternative culture. As President and Founder of Epitonic.com, the site WIRED Magazine called "one of the Web’s biggest MP3 download sites", Aaron has created a place where music fans from around the world are discovering the latest music from the best cutting-edge artists of our time. Started in January 1999 as the Web’s first editorial free music download site, Epitonic.com now boasts over 2500 tracks from 1500 artists on 275 of the most highly respected independent labels in the indie rock, electronica and hip hop genres. But it’s the editorial voice that sets Epitonic.com apart. With the same DIY aesthetic that drives its indie label partners, Epitonic.com dishes up highly opinionated song and album reviews, label info, and the ability to purchase hard-to-find CDs. The site’s Gen-Y users respond with an enthusiastic 1.5 million downloads per month and an amazing 50% return rate. The company is funded by fellow media companies CNET and NBCi. Aaron, 24, conceived of Epitonic.com when he and his friend Scott Bilby found it impossible to locate truly interesting music online. They defined the problem this way: There’s tons of music on the Web, but how do you find the good stuff? In answer, Aaron founded Epitonic.com in January 1999 with Scott and indie label veteran Justin Sinkovich. Aaron’s love for computers and music have always intertwined. A Web/interface designer since Netscape launched its first browser, Aaron created fan sites for his favorite bands while majoring in Jazz Guitar at the University of Tennessee and playing in everything from punk bands to jazz ensembles. His talents caught the eye of Cybergold.com, where he was brought on to help build the company’s online micropayment service. Now, with Epitonic.com, Aaron has created for both listeners and labels an expressway to the online music revolution.
David Pritchard, Senior Marketing Director, HotBot, Lycos Music: David Pritchard, Senior Marketing Director, HotBot, Lycos Music David Pritchard brings over 10 years of marketing experience on the national and international front to his position as senior marketing director of HotBot and Lycos Music at Lycos, Inc. Prior to Lycos's acquisition of Wired Digital, Pritchard oversaw all marketing efforts for the award-winning search engine HotBot, including the launch of the search engine in October 1995. Pritchard continues to develop strategy for the search engine, annual marketing plans, product positioning and brand strategy. Most recently, Pritchard was responsible for the marketing strategy behind Lycos's newest offering - Lycos Music. He oversees all advertising, publicrelations, trade show participation, promotions and special marketing programs, and is responsible for identifying and negotiating partnerships with content and distribution partners for both HotBot and Lycos Music. Additionally, he is involved with the design, production and engineering teams in product development. Prior to joining Wired Digital, Pritchard worked as a business consultant for Supercuts Inc. and Levi Strauss & Company. Before that, Pritchard was employed by Travers Morgan International in London, where his last position held was as marketing manager. Pritchard was responsible for developing new business strategies for emerging markets in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Pritchard received his bachelor?s degree in philosophy from the University of York, England in 1986, and earned his MBA in 1995 from the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley.
Scott Burnett, Marketing Executive, Content Distribution, IBM's Global Medi
a & Entertainment Industry: As marketing executive for content distribution in IBM's Global Media & Entertainment Industry, Scott Burnett is responsible for setting global strategy and establishing media distribution solutions for IBM. Prior to joining IBM, Mr. Burnett served as vice president of marketing for Liquid Audio, guiding Liquid Audio's global marketing strategy and positioning the Liquid Audio brand as a major player in digital music distribution. Prior to Liquid Audio, Burnett served as vice president of corporate brands at Warner Bros. Studios, organizing global branding efforts across company divisions. He also served as vice president of Warner Bros. International Dubbing Production Group. Previously, Burnett served as director of character voices at Disney Studios, managing the group's expansion and international development. Among Burnett's 18 years of marketing and production management experience in the entertainment industry, he has served as senior vice president of Highlight Communications, developing entertainment shopping kiosks and has also filled marketing roles at Allied Digital, VCA Teletronics and 3M Company. Burnett received his MBA from the University of San Francisco in 1985 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Thomas University in Minnesota in 1981. Burnett has also taught marketing at the University of San Francisco.Todd Sawicki, Minister of the Medium, a.k.a Director of Business Development, Loudeye: Leading Loudeye’s business development efforts, Sawicki brings experience at new and traditional media companies like SimplyTV, an online streaming company he founded, and the Disney Channel, where he focused on expanding the Disney Channel's market share and interactive initiatives. Prior to Disney, Sawicki worked at PriceWaterhouseCoopers as a business consultant in the firm's business turnaround services group. Sawicki is a graduate of Duke University.
Dave Williams, Vice President, Marketing, Listen.com: Dave joined Listen.com in early 1999 when the company was a mere dozen people in a temporary office space. Since then, he has built Listen.com's user base to one of the largest in online music and established the company as one of the best known music sites in the United States. Dave and his team are responsible for all outbound marketing for Listen.com, as well as business modeling, forecasting, research, and overall revenue strategy. Prior to joining Listen.com, Dave led the marketing team at DoubleClick in NY. He got his start in the Internet as the Director of Marketing at CitySearch in 1996-1997 where he led a city-by-city effort to establish the company as the leading local content company. Prior to working at Internet startups, Dave worked for five years in Brand Management at Cadbury Schweppes, and spent the first years of his career in advertising at DDB Needham. He has a BA in International Relations and Economics from Colgate University.