The Most Excitingest Part Of CMJ… The Panels
Full disclosure: My press application as “Ryan Catbird, Proprietor of Catbirdseat.Org, One Of The Oldest Music Blogs On The Internet” was rejected by CMJ, but it was instantaneously flipped to “Approved” status when I told them I had planned to cover the fest for Idolator. But I assure you (you can ask anyone), I am a totally easygoing guy and I do not hold grudges. I harbor no ill will. Plus, I even met the press pass folks today, and they were very nice, and very friendly, and totally (as) helpful (as they could be, under the circumstances). Just saying.
OK, let’s do this:
Panel 1 – Oct. 16, 2:30 p.m. Ones And Zeroes: An in-depth discussion about the digital technology takeover with a focus on uses of the digital medium in music promotion, distribution, publicity, sales and more.
Is digital completely overtaking currently established models!?
Will the industry ever recover from the chaos wreaked by the advent of digital files!?
What does the future hold for music in a digital world!?
The verdict: I have no idea. I never made it to the panel. I was busy standing in line, waiting to get my badge, for 68 minutes, which is about 63 minutes longer than what I was expecting.
God willing, I was gonna make it to this next panel, though:
Panel 2 – Tuesday 10/16, 3:45pm Radio Revolution: Professionals from all sides of the issue discuss radio, webcasting and the shifting legal landscape of streaming and broadcasting music. The Copyright Royalty Board’s decision to raise royalty rates for webcasters will be cracked open for a thorough explanation of the nuances of the issues from various points of view from radio pros to label bosses.
The verdict? Hang on, I’ll get to that in a minute– first I just want to boot up my laptop and shoot a message over to Maura, to let her know I’m here. OK, let’s see here… perfect! I just picked up an “NYUguest” network, just as I expected. Now, just let me open my Gmail. OK…. Wait a second. What the fuck? “Please supply NYUguest login credentials?” Uh… hmmm. Right, let me just ask this guy if he’s got Internet access. What’s that? No? You don’t know anything about it, huh? Hmmm. Well, I guess maybe I’ll just pop back down to the lobby and ask the kids manning the CMJ table how to get Internet access. (Bear with me– just going back down 10 floors on the elevator (with people stopping on every other floor (fun!)) Alright, here’s the CMJ table. Hi, I’m just trying to get Internet access? What’s that? You don’t know anything about getting Internet access for CMJ attendees? Hmm? I should go up to the first-floor computer lab and talk to the security guard up there? OK. (Up a flight of stairs…) There’s the security guard. Hi, I was just… hmm? What? I should go back down to the lobby and talk to the security guard posted there? OK, thanks a lot. (Back down a flight of stairs…) Excuse me, sir? What? No, I’m not trying to use of those computers up there in the lab; I have my own laptop, I’m just trying to talk to someone who can tell me how to get guest access. Hm? You don’t know anything about it? Well, is there another lab or something near here, where I could maybe talk to someone? No? Oh, I see. Mm-hmm.
What’s that? What’s that you say, random woman sitting next to the security desk? You think there’s a free, open wireless network, provided by the city, in the park across the street? OK, I guess I’ll just pop over there and check it out. (Sorry everyone, bear with me again… exiting building… crossing street… wandering through park looking for a bench…) OK, well, let me try this– yeah, yeah, there we go, “Free Public Wi-Fi,” that sounds good! OK now…. Hmm. Wait. No signal. Let me try over here. No signal. Aw, fuck this. I’m just gonna go back, I’ve wasted enough time. (Back out of the park, across the street, into the building, into the elevator, back up to the 10th floor (people stopping on every floor (fun!) again…)). SIGH. OK. Alright. Here we go: RADIO REVOLUTION:
Dammit, it’s over. I missed it.
Well, I guess this means I definitely won’t be doing any “live” updates here this week. They seem to have not provided any Internet access for us during the panels.
I suppose I can see their point of view, though… I mean, this is a music conference, for God’s sake! It’s not like the Internet has anything to do with music, amirite?
