Blockchain, Social Media, Mental Illness, Fabric & Tech: EMC’s Jane Slingo on newly announced panels

The sixth edition of the Sydney-based Electronic Music Conference has announced more speakers for fresh panels.

Its Executive Producer, Jane Slingo, gives an insight into the kinds of conversations that the sessions will generate.

BREAKING DOWN BLOCKCHAIN

Speakers:

Jacqui Louez Schoorl, Jaxsta

Jonny Peters, Gazecoin

Frank Rodi, APRA

Facilitator: Nick Crocker, Blackbird Ventures

Starting out as an incorruptible digital ledger of financial transactions (now worth US$9 billion), Blockchain technology has gone on to become “the new internet” but safer.

It records anything of value called blocks, which are linked and secured using cryptography

What it means for the music and movie industries is that it enhances sharing, increases transparency and reduces transactional friction.

In other words, it will revolutionise the way we distribute and consume music.

The EMC panel will explain how it works, how it will disrupt the music industry in the next decade and how businesses, organisations and individuals can prepare now for this change.

Jane Slingo regards it as “the next evolution in removing the gatekeepers of artists. We have already seen the effect social media has had on removing a layer of human resource that artists once needed but now don’t.

“Since social media has given artists a direct connection to their fans we have seen more of an abundance of artists who are often self-managed or releasing music without a label, because the channel to their fans is no longer one you can only access through someone else.

“I see Blockchain as something that will further enhance an artist or a small team’s ability to ensure that the rights to their music is managed in a way that doesn’t require complicated and confusing processes with multiple organisations or businesses globally.

“Beyond this, I think there is the potential of Blockchain to create a major disruption to the way we handle legals, the way we license music to reproduce it or for public performance of it and so much more.”

OFF LIMITS: DEFINING ARTIST BOUNDARIES IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Speakers:

KLP, Artist

Touch Sensitive, Artist

Mary Hoang, The Indigo Project

Vanessa Picken, Comes With Fries

Facilitator: James Mathison

The new age of artist power and vulnerability on social media can have some negative consequences.

The good bits are that it creates a closer bond with those who like their work and probably helps the artist develop a new way of entertaining their social media followers.

But it can also mean less time available for making music (a worsening Catch 22 as the artist becomes more popular), depression and anxiety if they measure their self-worth on social media, personal abuse and unable to control their lack of privacy in a way they could physically do.

The EMC panel will offer strategies that can protect the artist and what support can be put in place, especially for those still early in their careers.

Jane Slingo does not agree with TMN’s assertion that females, non-white and LGBTQI artists are more at risk.

She points out, “I’m not sure that any particular group of artists is more vulnerable to negativity online.

“I’ve personally seen horrible commentary about cis male artists, cis female artists, LGBTQI artists, indigenous artists and artists from racially diverse backgrounds.

“I don’t think in today’s world we can honestly say that one group is targeted more than the other necessarily. The online world right now is a crazy place, and there is a tsunami of negativity online.

“Having said that, I also have been inspired particularly this year to see much more support and positivity from the public for LGBTQI artists and artists from racially diverse backgrounds.

“I really feel that we are turning a corner now with regards to our increasing respect and appreciation for LGBTQI artists, indigenous artists and artists from differing ethnic heritage.

“I hope this continues to grow. The world is a much more interesting, happy and colourful place when we have true diversity.”

She’s particularly interested in how the panel’s two artists, KLP and Touch Sensitive, deal with social media, having two totally different approaches and the way they control their relationship on it.

“I’m thrilled that we have Mary Hoang on this panel. Her work at The Indigo Project focuses on management strategies for stress and anxiety with a speciality in working with people in the creative industries. Her approach is very holistic,

“The Indigo Project do so many amazing workshops, courses and regular events, designed to assist creative people navigate their way through the connected yet isolated world we live in.

“Meditation courses, their ‘Find Your Tribe’ monthly gatherings, boot camps to train your creative mind, just as you do boot camps to train your body – I think Mary is a very smart woman who is going to deliver many pearls of wisdom and practical methods that any artist at this session can adopt to help them if they’re feeling the pressure of the accessibility that is demanded from them today.”

FABRIC: A CASE STUDY

Speakers:

Judy Griffith, Fabric

Dr Adam Winstock, Global Drug Survey UK

Facilitator: Mirik Milan, Night Mayor Amsterdam

+ More to be announced

London’s Fabric nightclub closed in September 2016 after pressure from authorities due to drug taking within and the deaths of two patrons.

The club returned two months later with stricter security and ID scanning.

The international panel will, EMC says, “discuss in depth how clubs and authorities can better work together; the role drug use plays in this; how we can all better represent electronic music to the wider community; what strategies business owners and the community can put in place to create spaces where people are free to enjoy the whole night safely.”

A wider debate from the Fabric issue, and which has been held in Australia, is if a radical campaign should start where recreational drugs be allowed at EDM clubs

Slingo suggests, “There is a lot we can learn from their experience, and, yes, a big part of this session will be about the gaps that still exist.

“I agree – the drug issue and the debate on whether to pill test or not pill test has grown in intensity in the past 18 months in Australia.

“My personal view is that I believe pill testing would be a much more effective way to save people from harming themselves than a zero tolerance policy”

HIT THE BUTTON; HOW TECH IS SUPERSIZING EVENTS

Speakers:

Chris McDonnell, Eventbrite

Hamish Pinkham, Rhythm & Vines Festival

Austin Gavlak, Top Tap Tech

Leko Novakovic, Novatech

Facilitator: Jared Kristensen

The across-the-board music industry’s adoption of technology is most felt at events, where it is used to enhance the experience of live music fans before and during the show, and introduces a new mindset and level of expectations.

The session will look at what savvy operators are doing to derive the greatest benefits.

Slingo observes, “I think the electronic music sector has always been forward thinking and amongst the earliest adopters of new technology.

“Those in our sector have always re-adapted to new breakthroughs and constant changes. We’re going to be just fine.”

EMC 2017 (November 29 – 30) is held at Giant Dwarf & Cake Wines Cellar Door, Redfern. For full information on the event’s 80+ speakers, the previously announced panels and other events around the conference, visit theEMC website