2018 Agenda
2018 NYME AGENDA
Digital Music Forum
OCTOBER 4, 2018
Future of Television
OCTOBER 5, 2018
NY Games Conference
OCTOBER 4, 2018
Rights Tech Summit
OCTOBER 5, 2018
8:30 am - 9:30 am
REGISTRATION
WELCOME & INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
PRESENTER:
Tinzar Sherman, CEO & Co-Founder, Digital Media Wire
Peter Schwinge, Founder & Executive Director, Moving Target Group
Peter Schwinge
Tinzar Sherman
OPENING PRESENTATIONS: THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL MUSIC
Visionary presenters give their perspectives on the future of the music business followed by Q/A.
PRESENTER: Russ Crupnick, Managing Partner, MusicWatch
Do You Remember Rock n Roll Radio?
In a world obsessed with music streaming and podcasts does broadcast radio get enough respect? Radio remains one of the most important modes of music consumption. Radio trumpets how it serves local audiences and advertisers, offers engaging personalities and drives music discovery. Is anyone listening? We’ll take a quick tour through a few key metrics for radio, see how radio stacks up against music streaming options and explore what radio needs to say to stay competitive with pure play music streaming services.
PRESENTER: Jeff Bronikowski, SVP, Business Development, Head of Innovation & Emerging Tech, Warner Music Group
Still The OG of Innovation and Cultural Relevance
Music has always been at the center of innovation in content consumption. From ringtones, to downloads, to music videos being the first online video category to generate billions of views, to subscription streaming and Hologram concerts, music is the OG of content Innovation. And despite mass fragmentation of most other forms of media, it remains incredibly powerful and culturally relevant.
Russ Crupnick
Jeff Bronikowski
VIEW FROM THE TOP: THE FUTURE OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS
The overture to the Digital Music Forum. Hear from the people who are leading the charge, staying ahead of the curve, and forging new pathways to a greater music economy.
PANELISTS:
Lori Feldman, EVP of Strategic Marketing, Warner Bros. Records
Marcie Allen, President, MAC Presents
Jim Mahoney, General Manager, U.S., MERLIN
Moderator: Jason Lipshutz, Editorial Director, Billboard
Lori Feldman
Marcie Allen
Jim Mahoney
Jason Lipshutz
11:00 am - 11:30 am
MORNING BREAK
11:30 am - 12:15 pm
EVENTS HALL
AI AND VOICE-ACTIVATION: CREATION TO CONSUMPTION
From AI developed songs to smart speakers and in-car dashboards, the evolution of AI and voice-powered systems are changing the way artists can create music to how consumers can access music. What is the effect these services and devices have on artists and the end user. How can labels and artists make sure they’re on the right playlists to be called upon, and what does the future hold for for these platforms.
PANELISTS:
Sean Gibbons, SVP Product & UX, SiriusXM
Kyle Smetanka, Senior Product Manager, Metadata, TiVo
Drew Silverstein, CEO, Amper Music
Scott Ryan, Vice President, Music, Gracenote
John Rosso, President, Market Development, Triton Digital
MODERATOR: Howie Singer, Special Technology Consultant, Universal Music Group
Sean Gibbons
Kyle Smetanka
Drew Silverstein
Scott Ryan
John Rosso
Howie Singer
Investing in Music
Investing in music has always come with a set of challenges, but with the upswing in global revenues, we’ve seen an increase in mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and startup launches. What are the services helping artists and labels with royalty payouts? What is the temperature in the investment community for music-related investments? Where is the industry headed? What type of ROI can be seen?
PANELISTS:
Andrew McInnes, CEO & Owner, TMWRK Management
Nari Matsuura, Partner, Massarsky Consulting
Hale Boggs, Chairman, Investment Committee, Manatt Venture Fund
Jason Sklar, Managing Director, Shamrock Capital Advisors
Moderator: Allen Bargfrede, Managing Partner, PDX Media Partners
Andrew McInnes
Nari Matsuura
Hale Boggs
Jason Sklar
Allen Bargfrede
12:30 pm - 1:45 am
LUNCH BREAK
MARKETING WITH VIDEO AND LIVE STREAMING: HOW THE SOCIALS HAVE EVOLVED
No longer is it just posting an image. No longer is it a link to view. These days video has taken center stage in connecting with your audience. Whether you’re an artist, venue, festival, service, or influencer, this is the new era of content creation and audience engagement. What type of investment is required? How can you generate revenue? What can you do to stand out?
PANELISTS:
Ina Burke, Vice President, Original Content, iHeartMedia
Brandon Martinez, Vice President, Live Nation Video Network, Live Nation Entertainment
Grace James, Vice President of Marketing, Atlantic Records
Jacob Pace, CEO, Flighthouse
Moderator: Brian Anthony Hernandez, Senior Editor of Music & Culture, ONE37pm.com
Ina Burke
Brandon Martinez
Grace James
Jacob Pace
Brian Anthony Hernandez
Fireside Chat with Shahendra Ohneswere, SVP Content Development, Columbia Records
Fireside Chat with Shahendra Ohneswere, SVP Content Development, Columbia Records
Interviewer: Chris Denson, Founder, Crush Industries, Host, Innovation Crush
Shahendra Ohneswere
Chris Denson
State of Music Startups
Picking up from the Investing in Music Discussion, you will learn more about the current market for Music Startups. What are the challenges, how to generate a sustainable user-base when there is so much competition out there, what are investors looking for, and types of exit strategies?
PANELISTS:
John Funge, CEO & Co-Founder, The Music Fund
Damian Manning, Founder & CEO, Hifi
Dick Wingate, Principal, DEV Advisors
Mike Jbara, CEO, MQA
Moderator: Wesley A’Harrah, Head of International Development and Marketing, Musical.ly
John Funge
Damian Manning
Dick Wingate
Mike Jbara
Wesley A’Harrah
Data: What does it mean to you?
Nearly every platform offers some sort of insights to your posts, videos, downloads, streams, et. al. With so much information to acquire, knowing what you’re looking at, and how to interpret it can sometimes be overwhelming. How can you best breakdown the key data points to understand your audience and how something is performing?
PANELISTS:
Sheryl Allen, Director, Next Big Sound, Pandora
Fabrice Sergent, Managing Partner, Bandsintown
Jeff Ratner, Chief Media Officer, iCrossing
Jon Bahr, VP, Creator Services, CD Baby
MODERATOR: Joan Solsman, Senior Writer, Digital Media, CNET
Sheryl Allen
Fabrice Sergent
Jeff Ratner
Jon Bahr
Joan Solsman
STARTUP PITCHES
Digital ReLab Presentation:
Travis Tucker, Partner and Head of Production US, Overcoast Music & Sound
Nate Casey, VP Business Development, Digital ReLab
Moderator: Peter Schwinge, Founder & Executive Director, Moving Target Group
Travis Tucker
Nate Casey
Peter Schwinge
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
EVENTS HALL
THE NEW ERA FOR STREAMING SERVICES
Streaming services have been expanding their core operations to include more types of content. We now see music streaming services offering tickets, artists analytics, original video content and video services adding music. How are companies and labels leveraging these new formats to create more marketing and monetization opportunities and adding value for artists, services, and fans alike?
PANELISTS:
Jorge A. Rincón, VP, North America, Deezer
Tony van Veen, CEO, AVL Digital Group / CD Baby / Disc Makers
David O’Brien, CEO & Founder, Humbolt
Jordan Bromley, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
Jeff Zuchowski, Vice President, Artist Marketing & Industry Relations, Pandora
Moderator: Seth Schachner, Managing Director, Strat Americas
Jorge A. Rincón
Tony van Veen
David O’Brien
Jordan Bromley
Jeff Zuchowski
Seth Schachner
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
AFTERNOON BREAK
BRANDING IN A DIGITAL WORLD: CONTENT & STORYTELLING
Cross-partnerships can help an artist or a brand reach a wider audience, but what is involved in the storytelling era. What unique ways are artists, labels, and brands working together to create a genuine engagement strategy. What works, and where is it going?
PANELISTS:
Jeff Clyburn, Managing Director, Mass Appeal Records
Danielle James, Head of Fashion & Beauty Partnerships, iONE Women’s Division, Founder, Model Citizen
Matthew Yazge, VP, Head of Brand Partnerships, Nielsen Entertainment
Raymond Roker, Head of AEG Studios, Global Partnerships, AEG
MODERATOR: Jesse Kirshbaum, CEO, NUE
Jeff Clyburn
Danielle James
Matthew Yazge
Raymond Roker
Jesse Kirshbaum
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
EVENTS HALL
Blockchain and Music: It’s Here, What You Need to Know
Tokens, Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, Ethereum are words that are becoming more mainstream in today’s lexicon. Learn how new platforms are simplifying distribution and revenue generation and how companies and artists can best utilize these services.
PANELISTS:
Matt Medved, Founder, Billboard Dance
Christoffer Wallin, CEO, Pindify
Allen Bargfrede, Managing Partner, PDX Media Partners
Jesse Grushack, Co- Founder, Ujo Music
Moderator: Alexandra Bear, Associate, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Matt Medved
Christoffer Wallin
Allen Bargfrede
Jesse Grushack
Alexandra Bear
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
COCKTAIL RECEPTION
8:30 am - 9:30 am
REGISTRATION
WELCOME & INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
Trends to Watch in Television and Video
In our opening session, NYME Chair Ned Sherman will highlight several key trends to watch in television and video.
PRESENTER: Ned Sherman, Counsel & Director, Manatt Digital / Founder, Digital Media Wire
Ned Sherman
OPENING PRESENTATIONS: THE FUTURE OF TELEVISION
Visionary presenters give their perspectives on the future of television and Q/A with Conference Chair, Ned Sherman.
- PRESENTER: Seth Geiger, President, SmithGeiger
The Battle for Screen Time: Key Trends in the Attention Economy
Dr. Seth Geiger will explore the different ways media consumers are shifting their consumption patterns. These trends are accelerating with a concurrent explosion of screen time and an accompanying set of challenges for traditional and emerging media platforms. - PRESENTER: Kirstine Stewart, President and CRO, TribalScaleWhat it Takes to Transform: Going Beyond Process and Practice and Looking at Culture
The nature of ‘television’ is changing. With emerging technologies and new consumer behaviors, organizations need to adapt to a market and media landscape that is complex and ever-evolving, this requires continuous innovation, agility, and transformation. In this session, Kirstine Stewart, President and CRO of TribalScale, discusses the must-dos for successful transformation in the changing world of television. Spoiler alert: it’s much more than processes and practices, it’s about humanistic mindsets and values. - PRESENTER: Gabrielle Gibbs, Global Marketing Communications Manager, Facebook
Big-Picture Planning – Understanding Value in a Multi-Screen World
Video advertising was once easily defined as a 15-second, 30-second or 60-second TV spot. Today, people’s changing viewing behaviors across devices can make the definition of video advertising unclear, and the number of formats that advertisers need to create for has expanded. Where do 6-second TV ads, digital gifs and cinemagraphs fall in the spectrum of advertising across people’s screens? And what does that mean for marketers today and tomorrow who are trying to plan video campaigns that cut across platforms? This session will discuss how marketers can achieve real business value across screens through insights on the complexity of consumer attention, the impact of digital advertising platforms on TV campaigns and best practices for cross-media planning and measurement.
Kirstine Stewart
Seth Geiger
Gabrielle Gibbs
VIEW FROM THE TOP: THE FUTURE OF TELEVISION
This panel of industry leaders will discuss how video content will be made, distributed, marketed, consumed and monetized in the future. What are the key factors contributing to the continued growth of revenue? What developments are expected in the value-chain for content monetization? What areas are poised for the greatest growth? What innovations and business models will fuel growth in the marketplace?
PANELISTS:
David Beck, EVP, Corporate Strategy & Operations, Turner
Dwayne Benefield, Vice President, Head of Playstation Vue
Jonathan Barzilay, Chief Operating Officer, PBS
Kristen Finney, EVP, EMEA, Television Distribution, 20th Century Fox
MODERATOR: Todd Spangler, New York Digital Editor, Variety
David Beck
Dwayne Benefield
Jonathan Barzilay
Kristen Finney
Todd Spangler
Fireside Chat with Viacom and Philo
Tom Gorke, EVP, Head of Distribution & Business Development, Viacom
Andrew McCollum, CEO, Philo
Moderator: Joan Solsman, Senior Writer, Digital Media, CNET
Tom Gorke
Andrew McCollum
Joan Solsman
11:15 am – 11:45 am
MORNING BREAK
THE X[R] FACTOR: CREATING IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES FOR ENTERTAINMENT
This panel of leaders will discuss the hardware and software, including sensory interfaces, applications, and infrastructures, that are enabling immersive content creation for virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), augmented reality (AR), and cinematic reality (CR). How are these tools being used to generate new forms of reality by bringing digital objects into the physical world and bringing physical world objects into the digital world? The panel will focus on what is available in the market today. What are the available apps, content, devices, and headsets? What is the current state of consumer adoption?
PANELISTS:
Jared Goodman, AR/VR Commercialization Lead, Google
Patrick Flanagan, Audio Architect, THX Ltd.
Lee Simpson, Head of TV & Entertainment, ustwo
Alexander Rea, Creative Technology Officer, DDB
MODERATOR: Michael Gold, CEO & Co-Founder, Holojam
Jared Goodman
Patrick Flanagan
Lee Simpson
Alexander Rea
Michael Gold
THE MELTING POT OF OTT, CABLE, AND LINEAR TELEVISION
The lines between linear television and OTT services are blurred more than ever with digital services offering network/cable streams with DVR capabilities. Alternately, traditional linear services have their own apps and are buying into OTT services and content. What does this say about the viewing habits of today’s consumers? Are broadcasters and distribution companies responding effectively? Where do advertisers fit in?
PANELISTS:
Jonathan Skogmo, Founder & CEO, Jukin Media
Bernarda Duarte, Director, Content Acquistion, Roku
Domenic DiMeglio, SVP of Distribution and Operations, CBS Digital Media, CBS Interactive
Moderator: Colin Dixon, Founder and Chief Analyst, nScreenMedia
Jonathan Skogmo
Bernarda Duarte
Domenic DiMeglio
Colin Dixon
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm
SAFRA HALL
INVESTING IN VIDEO INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGIES
This panel of investors, who are actively investing in digital media companies, discusses the latest investment trends, valuations and recent deal flow with a focus on video innovation and technologies.
PANELISTS:
Sim Blaustein, Partner, Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments
Sophie Liao, Managing Partner, Oyster Ventures
Andy Weissman, Managing Partner, USV
Rick Heitzmann, Founder & Managing Director, FirstMark Capital
Todd Klein, Partner, Revolution
MODERATOR: Mike Vorhaus, President, Magid Advisors
Sim Blaustein
Sophie Liao
Andy Weissman
Rick Heitzmann
Todd Klein
Mike Vorhaus
INNOVATION IN MOBILE: WHAT DEVELOPMENTS WILL FUEL FUTURE GROWTH?
The mobile video market continues to grow at a record-breaking pace. This panel will discuss what is required today to make and distribute successful video content for IOS, android, and emerging mobile platforms. How important are storytelling, creativity, and innovation? What developments are expected to fuel future growth in the market?
PANELISTS:
Rachel Yeomans, Digital Strategy Director, Saatchi & Saatchi New York
Peter Soldinger, Senior Director of Creative Strategy, Fullscreen
Shane Rahmani, Chief Business Officer, CH Media
Benoit Vatere, CEO & Founder, Mammoth Media
Moderator: Gretchen Tibbits, Former President & COO, LittleThings, Founder, GMT Consulting
Rachel Yeomans
Peter Soldinger
Shane Rahmani
Benoit Vatere
Gretchen Tibbits
12:45 pm - 2:00 pm
VIP LUNCH (INVITE-ONLY)
VIEW FROM THE TOP: TV & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY DEALMAKERS ROUNDTABLE
This panel of leading television and entertainment executives will discuss the future of the video business as it continues to grow and reach new heights. What kind of deals are being done today? How is the business evolving as digital services take a bigger piece of the original content pie and broadcasters and studios go direct to consumer with their own services? What does media consolidation mean for the business? What does the future hold?
PANELISTS:
Allison Goldberg, SVP & Group Managing Director, WarnerMedia Investments, WarnerMedia
Marty Moe, President, Vox Media
Tom Christie, Chief Operating Officer, Showtime Networks
Christy Tanner, Executive Vice President & General Manager, CBS News Digital
Moderator: Ned Sherman, Counsel & Director, Manatt Digital / Founder, Digital Media Wire
Allison Goldberg
Marty Moe
Tom Christie
Christy Tanner
Ned Sherman
FIRESIDE CHAT WITH BLOOMBERG DIGITAL
Jean Ellen Cowgill, General Manager of TicToc / Global Head of Strategy & Business Development, Bloomberg Digital
Moderator: Sahil Patel, Senior Reporter, Digiday
Jean Ellen Cowgill
Sahil Patel
THE RISE OF ESPORTS
Competitive gaming tournaments have been packing stadiums and drawing record viewers online for some time, and are increasingly becoming part of the network and cable television mix. What do the next few years look like for the growth of Esports programming in television broadcast? How are esports rights deals likely to evolve after the restructuring of the Riot deal with Disney/ESPN+ and the announcement of Overwatch-Twitch deal? What is the opportunity for shoulder and behind the scenes content? When will we see the first mainstream cross-over talent? What is the expected esports monetization mix in the years to come?
PANELISTS:
David Clevinger, Senior Director, Product Strategy, Esports & Sports, IBM Watson Media
Seth Ladetsky, SVP, Sales & Head of Digital Sales Strategy and Revenue, Turner Sports
John Lasker, Vice President, Digital Media Programming, ESPN
Moderator: Daniel Schnapp, Partner, Sheppard Mullin
David Clevinger
Seth Ladetsky
John Lasker
Daniel Schnapp
THE EVOLUTION OF BRANDS, CONTENT, AND MARKETING
Content marketing is essential to building and maintaining a loyal consumer base. Today more than ever, brands need to produce engaging, shareable content to connect with consumers. This panel will provide examples of how brands are creating engaging content and building social community and the impact it has on customer relationships and brand loyalty.
PANELISTS:
Soniya Monga, Global Agency Partnerships, Snap
Sarah Stringer, SVP, Head of Innovation, Carat US
Moderator: Paul Kontonis, Chief Marketing Officer, WHOSAY
Soniya Monga
Sarah Stringer
Paul Kontonis
THE FUTURE OF NEXT GEN OTT AND MONETIZATION
While Netflix continues grow its market share, there are a growing number of video services with programming and business models designed for targeted audiences that are gaining traction. This panel of experts in Over-the-Top (OTT) monetization will discuss monetization strategies being used by successful services today, both subscription based and advertiser supported. What’s working and what’s not? How is programming being designed and rolled out to attract and retain new audiences? What are some of the best strategies for monetizing video content in the OTT ecosystem?
PANELISTS:
Bill Sondheim, President, Cinedigm Entertainment Group
Thai Randolph, EVP & General Manager, Laugh Out Loud
Jeff Shultz, Chief Business Officer, Pluto TV
Moderator: Rick Howe, The iTV Doctor, Interactive TV Today
Bill Sondheim
Thai Randolph
Jeff Shultz
Rick Howe
VOICE-ACTIVATED AI FOR MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
Voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) is going beyond telling you the weather and turning on your lights – it’s now helping you navigate media and entertainment experiences. What is possible when media and entertainment companies begin to tap the power of voice-activated devices? How are consumers reacting to the new technologies, including Amazon Echo, Google Home and voice-based set-top boxes, consoles and smartphones? What does the future hold for this exciting area of innovation?
PANELISTS:
Doug Robinson, CEO, Fresh Digital Group
Grady Miller, VP, Strategic Growth, National Research Group
Rob Aksman, Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Brightline
Chuck Fletcher, Chief Technology Officer, Barbarian
MODERATOR: David Berkowitz, Head of Marketing, Storyhunter
Doug Robinson
Grady Miller
Rob Aksman
Chuck Fletcher
David Berkowitz
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
AFTERNOON BREAK
VIEW FROM THE TOP: ORIGINAL VIDEO CONTENT LEADERS ROUNDTABLE
Quality video content is in demand with digital, television and cable networks competing to capture and retain viewers. This panel of industry experts will discuss the formats, genres and storytelling techniques that are in most demand, how competition is driving innovation and creativity and the winning formulas for success.
PANELISTS:
Evan Shapiro, Founder, eshapTV
Emma Cooper, Global President, Non-Fiction, Pulse Films
Rafi Fine, President and Co-Founder, FBE
Daniel Tibbets, President & General Manager, El Rey Network
Moderator: Sahil Patel, Senior Reporter, Digiday
Evan Shapiro
Emma Cooper
Rafi Fine
Daniel Tibbets
Sahil Patel
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
SAFRA HALL
8:30 am - 9:30 am
REGISTRATION
WELCOME & INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
Trends to Watch in Games and Entertainment
In our opening session, NY Games’ Chair Ned Sherman will highlight several key trends to watch in games and entertainment.
SPEAKERS:
Ned Sherman, Counsel/Director, Manatt Digital; Founder, Digital Media Wire
Ned Sherman
Opening Presentations
Visionary presenters give their perspectives on the future of the games business followed by Q/A.
The Future of Gaming and Robotics
Presenter: Nader Hamda, CEO, Ozobot
The State of Interactive Entertainment in 2018
Presenter: Joost van Dreunen, CEO & Co-Founder, SuperData Research
How Blockchain is Changing Business Models
Presenter: William Quigley, CEO, Clearstone Ventures, OPSkins, and WAX
Nader Hamda
Joost van Dreunen
William Quigley
VIEW FROM THE TOP: THE FUTURE OF THE DIGITAL GAMES MARKET
Industry leaders discuss the future of the games industry as the business continues its transition towards a multi-platform future. What does it take to make a successful game these days across platforms? What emerging platforms will be the most important in the years to come? How do you acquire and retain users and make money in this increasingly complicated gaming universe?
PANELISTS:
Michael Chang, SVP Corporate Development, NCSOFT West
Julian Walshaw-Vaughan, VP of Engineering, Developer, Roblox
Tim Fields, CEO, Kabam
Jon Radoff, CEO & Founder, Disruptor Beam
MODERATOR: Eric Goldberg, Managing Director, Crossover Technologies
Michael Chang
Julian Walshaw-Vaughan
Tim Fields
Jon Radoff
Eric Goldberg
FIRESIDE CHAT WITH DR. SONGYEE YOON, PRESIDENT, NCSOFT
SPEAKER:
Dr. Songyee Yoon, President, NCSOFT
Interviewer: Mike Vorhaus, President, Magid Advisors
Dr. Songyee Yoon
Mike Vorhaus
11:00 am - 11:30 am
MORNING BREAK
GOT GAME? STRATEGIES FOR GAMER CONTENT ACROSS THE VIDEO ECOSYSTEM
This panel will discuss the growth of game-related content on video platforms, the networks that provide the content, and the communities of gamers around the world that are tuning in great numbers to view gameplay videos, trailers, original series, live streams, and news. What are the opportunities — both for marketing and monetization — to connect with the gamer generation through video content?
PANELISTS:
Amber Allen, CEO, Double A
Dan Murray, President, Skybound Interactive
JR McCabe, Chief Digital Officer, Poker Central, PokerGO and ESP Gaming
Curt Marvis, CEO & Co-Founder, QYOU Media
MODERATOR: Johanna Salazar-Cumming, Co-Founder & Chief Media Disrupter, Two Goats, Inc.
Amber Allen
Dan Murray
JR McCabe
Curt Marvis
Johanna Salazar-Cumming
Blockchain Gaming Revolution
This panel will discuss how ICOs and blockchain disrupting the gaming and entertainment industries.
PANELISTS:
Stu Levy, Founder, TOKYOPOP, POP Comics, POP Crypto
Wes Levitt, Head of Strategy, Theta
William Quigley, CEO, OPSkins, and WAX
Moderator: Paul Sweeting, CEO, Editor & Co-Chair, Concurrent Media & RightsTech
Stu Levy
Wes Levitt
William Quigley
Paul Sweeting
GAMING REALITY: AR/VR, Mixed Reality
This panel of leading game and entertainment executives and investors will discuss the future of AR/VR/MR for the game and entertainment industries. What investments are being made by VCs? What are brands, movie studios and media companies doing in AR/VR/MR? What’s happening with mixed reality location based experiences? What does the future hold?
PANELISTS:
John Sutyak, Executive Vice President of Business Development, Digital Development Management
Stephanie Llamas, Head of XR, SuperData Research
Chris Donahue, Senior Director, Strategic Alliances, AMD
MODERATOR: Brian Pass, Partner, Sheppard Mullin
John Sutyak
Stephanie Llamas
Chris Donahue
Brian Pass
CREATIVITY RULES: MAKING SUCCESSFUL GAMES FOR MOBILE PLATFORMS
This panel will discuss how to make a successful game for iOS, Android and emerging mobile platforms. How important is creativity? What are the metrics that matter when judging product success?
PANELISTS:
Tom Rassweiler, VP of Content Reinvention, Arkadium
Tiffany Zhong, Founder & CEO, Zebra Intelligence
Amir Lotan, Creative Director and Head of Production, FTX Games
Moderator: Josh Brooks, SVP, Brand Strategy & Marketing, Jam City
Tom Rassweiler
Tiffany Zhong
Amir Lotan
Josh Brooks
12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
LUNCH BREAK
GAMES & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY DEAL-MAKERS ROUNDTABLE
This panel of leading game and entertainment executives will discuss the future of the game business as it continues to grow and reach new heights. What kind of deals are being done today? How is the business changing as more entertainment brands and talent are getting involved in the business? What does media consolidation mean for the business? What does the future hold?
PANELISTS:
Colin McCafferty, Managing Partner, McCafferty & Company LLC
Paul Martino, General Partner, Bullpen Capital
Matthew Wang, Managing Director, Evercore
Jon Goldman, Managing Partner, Skybound; Venture Partner, Greycroft
MODERATOR: Ned Sherman, Counsel/Director, Manatt Digital; Founder, Digital Media Wire
Colin McCafferty
Paul Martino
Matthew Wang
Jon Goldman
Ned Sherman
FIRESIDE CHAT WITH SIMON SIM, PRESIDENT, NETMARBLE U.S.
SPEAKERS:
Simon Sim, President, Netmarble US
INTERVIEWER:
Annie Pei, Associate Producer, CNBC
Simon Sim
Annie Pei
2018: The Year Brands Finally Noticed Game Advertising
From new engaging ad formats and platforms and even new types of games, brands are realizing the value of advertising in game environments. Driven by a desire to engage with consumer in more organic and native ways and, importantly, in brand safe environments, game advertising is taking off by leaps and bounds. Hear from IAB Game Committee leaders from Activision Blizzard Media, Electronic Arts, Unity and Zynga who will discuss today’s game advertising landscape and what we might expect in the years to come.
PANELISTS:
Lee Garfield, Global Lead, Private Programmatic, Zynga
Vida Mylson, Sr. Director of Brand Sales and Marketing, Electronic Arts
Jonathan Stringfield, Global Head of Business Marketing, Measurement, & Insights, Activision Blizzard Media
Moderator: Susan Borst, Vice President, Mobile, IAB
Lee Garfield
Vida Mylson
Jonathan Stringfield
Susan Borst
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
AFTERNOON BREAK
THE FUTURE OF ESPORTS: THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BRANDS, AGENCIES & MARKETERS
Providing a potent mix of real-life spectatorship and digital entertainment, today the worldwide phenomenon of competitive gaming counts over 200 million spectators annually and presents a unique, new avenue in the entertainment market. This panel will discuss best of brand activations of eSports teams, leagues, competitive gamers and streamers. What is the opportunity for brands, agencies and marketers?
PANELISTS:
Damon Lau, Head of Esports, United Talent Agency
Craig Levine, Global Chief Strategy Officer, ESL
Ari Segal, President & COO, Immortals LLC & Los Angeles Valiant
Matt Edelman, Chief Commercial Officer, Super League Gaming
MODERATOR: Harold Goldberg, Founder & Editor in Chief, Video Games Critics Circle
Damon Lau
Craig Levine
Ari Segal
Matt Edleman
Harold Goldberg
GAMES CRITICS ROUNDTABLE
Our annual panel of influential game industry writers discuss the hot topics of the day.
PANELISTS:
Matt Gerardi, Former Games Editor, A.V. Club
Kimari Rennis, Intern, New York Videogame Critics Circle
Dan Ackerman, Section Editor / Reviews – PCs & Laptops, CNET
Sherri Smith, Staff Writer, Tom’s Guide
MODERATOR: Harold Goldberg, Founder & Editor in Chief, NY Video Games Critics Circle
Matt Gerardi
Kimari Rennis
Dan Ackerman
Sherri Smith
Harold Goldberg
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
SAFRA HALL
8:30 am - 9:30 am
REGISTRATION
9:30 am – 9:40 am
EVENTS HALL
WELCOME & INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
PRESENTER:
Paul Sweeting, Co-Founder, RightsTech Project; Founder & Principal, Concurrent Media Strategies
OPENING PRESENTATIONS & FIRESIDE CHAT: RIGHTSTECH SUMMIT
PRESENTERS:
Pete Mathias, Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs Program, Bertelsmann
Vaughn Mckenzie-Landell, CEO & Co-Founder, JAAK
Pete Mathias & Vaughn Mckenzie-Landell
Topic: Pioneering Music Blockchain Pilot: Learnings & Application For The Wider IP Industries
The complexities of copyright and IP management have the music industry in a stranglehold, affecting creators, rights holders, and those who license music – but blockchain offers a potential solution, a unified framework to collaborate on a single view of rights. London-based tech start-up JAAK is laying the foundation for an industry-wide solution with their blockchain-based rights network KORD, with the goal of providing a single global view of intellectual property information. With a successful pilot including key music industry players behind them, the potential gains are huge and extend beyond music into broader IP and content industries. JAAK CEO Vaughn McKenzie-Landell and Bertelsmann’s Pete Mathias discuss the outcomes of the music pilot and the wider implications for the creative sector.
Pete Mathias
Vaughn Mckenzie-Landell
10:10 am - 10:50 am
EVENTS HALL
VIEW FROM THE TOP: CRYPTO, CODE AND COPYRIGHTS: THE FUTURE OF MEDIA RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
Media and technology industry leaders offer a big-picture view of the current state of media rights management and licensing for rights owners and users, how technology is changing the way rights are cleared and paid for, and whether new technologies such as crypto and A.I. can make rights markets more efficient, scalable and transparent.
PANELISTS:
Deep Ghumman, Principal, Advisory Services, EY
Lillian Ruiz, COO & Co-Founder, Civil Media Company
Jarrod Dicker, CEO, Po.et
Jesse Grushack, Co- Founder, Ujo Music
Moderator: Christopher Kenneally, Director, Business Development, Copyright Clearance Center
Deep Ghumman
Lillian Ruiz
Jarrod Dicker
Jesse Grushack
Christopher Kenneally
PRESENTATION: EVE SUSSMAN
Eve Sussman, Artist
Eve Sussman
Artist Spotlight
Eve Sussman is a Brooklyn-based artist working in film, video, and installation. Sussman will present a preview of 89 seconds Atomized, a re-invention of her well-known video artwork, 89 Seconds at Alcázar. 89 Seconds at Alcázar is a continuous seamlessly looping video that imagines that space and the characters in Diego Velazquez’s painting Las Meninas. It was first shown at the 2004 Whitney Biennial. All editions of the piece are in museums (MoMA, Whitney) or private collections. Sussman is now appropriating her last artist proof to make a new work: 89 seconds Atomized, and presenting it to the crypto community via an interactive project on the blockchain in collaboration with Snark.art. The artist will tell the back-story of this project and give a preview of this blockchain experiment.
Eve Sussman
11:15 am – 11:45 am
MORNING BREAK
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
EVENTS HALL
The Enumerated Manuscript: Unique IDs, Metadata and Registries
Machine-to-machine rights management requires machine-readable rights data. A look at how different media industries are tackling the challenge of assigning standardized, machine-readable identifiers and metadata to creative works, how those data are registered and made available, and the relationship between private registries and public records.
PANELISTS:
Jacob Varghese, Founder & Director, Noctil
Daniel Doubrovkine, CTO, Artsy.net
Michael Simon, President, Rumblefish; CEO, Harry Fox Agency LLC
Mario Pena, Product Manager, Safe Creative Ltd.
Moderator: Maurice Russell, CEO & Founder, Media Rights Management
Jacob Varghese
Daniel Doubrovkine
Michael Simon
Mario Pena
Maurice Russell
Staking a Claim: Authorship, Attribution, and Authentication
From photographs and paintings, to musical work sand poetry, the value of many types of creative works lies in their attribution and provenance. But the lack of reliable records of ownership and authorship makes buying and selling them risky and leaves authors and creators uncredited and often unpaid. This panel will examine how entrepreneurs are leveraging blockchain and other technologies to create verified records of a work’s origin and history.
PANELISTS:
Jessica Sobhraj, CEO, Cosynd
Robert Norton, CEO & Co-Founder, Verisart
Jackson Turner, Partner, Soundchains
Drew Waters, Vice President, VEVA Sound
Moderator: D.K. Smith, CMO & Co-Founder, dxDigital.com
Jessica Sobhraj
Robert Norton
Jackson Turner
Drew Waters
D.K. Smith
One of a Kind: Engineering Digital Scarcity with Blockchain
Digital technology did away with scarcity, upending many media industry business models. But the economics of scarcity may be poised for a comeback thanks to blockchain. This panel will explore how artists, entrepreneurs and developers are leveraging blockchain technology to create new businesses around digital collectibles, limited editions and unique digital assets.
PANELISTS:
Stu Levy, Founder, TOKYOPOP, POP Comics, POP Crypto
Misha Libman, Co-Founder & Head of Product, Snark.art
Mark Willis, Co-Founder & Chief Design Officer, Texel
Alex Bulkin, Co-Founder & Chief Alchemist, CoinFund
Moderator: Paul Sweeting, CEO, Concurrent Media, Editor & Co-Chair, RightsTech
Stu Levy
Misha Libman
Mark Willis
Alex Bulkin
Paul Sweeting
12:45 pm - 2:00 pm
VIP LUNCH (INVITE-ONLY)
View From the Top: Copyright Reform in the U.S. and Europe
Copyright legislation in the U.S. and Europe is poised to bring the most sweeping changes in decades to how media content is distributed, licensed, and used. Industry leaders, policymakers and legal experts will discuss how the changes will the changes affect artists, rights owners, content users, and consumers, and where the debate goes from here.
PANELISTS:
Sarah Howes, Director & Counsel, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
Ben McEwen, Commercial Director, ICE (London)
Alisa Coleman, Chief Operating Officer, ABKCO Music & Records, Inc.
Keith Kupferschmid, CEO, Copyright Alliance
Moderator: Adrienne Fields, Director of Legal Affairs, Artists Rights Society (ARS)
Sarah Howes
Ben McEwen
Alisa Coleman
Keith Kupferschmid
Adrienne Fields
Fireside Chat with Merck Mercuridias and Nile Rodgers of Hipgnosis
Fireside Chat with Merck Mercuridias and Nile Rodgers of Hipgnosis
Merck Mercuridias, CEO, Founder, & Managing Partner, Hipgnosis Songs Ltd
Nile Rodgers, Grammy Award-Winning Producer, Songwriter, Musician, and Singer
INTERVIEWER:
Robert Levine, Author, Freelance Writer
Merck Mercuriadis
Nile Rodgers
Robert Levine
Mixes, Mashups and UGC
Many users of copyrighted works in mixes, mashups and user-generated content go uncounted and uncompensated. Others never happen because they can’t be licensed. This panel will explore how entrepreneurs and developers are tackling some of the most confounding and complex challenges in rights management.
PANELISTS:
JJ Rosen, EVP of Music Strategy & Industry Relations, Splice
Jonathan Skogmo, Founder & CEO, Jukin Media
Noah Becker, President, AdRev
Rasty Turek, CEO, Pex
Moderator: Chauncy Jackson, President, Siri Music Group
JJ Rosen
Jonathan Skogmo
Noah Becker
Rasty Turek
Chauncy Jackson
What’s it Worth? Investing in Rights and Royalties
Leaders from the worlds of finance, startups, and venture capital provide an overview of the M&A and investment climate for rights management companies, and discuss the valuation of rights and royalties and their potential as an asset class in their own right.
PANELISTS:
Daniel Dewar, Founder, Paperchain
Pete Mathias, Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs Program, Bertelsmann
Virginie Berger, Managing Partner, DBTHCap Ventures
Moderator: Sun Jen Yung, Partner, Head of Digital Media, Nfluence Partners
Daniel Dewar
Pete Mathias
Virginie Berger
Sun Jen Yung
Show Me the Money: Bringing Transparency to Residuals and Royalty Payments
The music business has its notorious “black box” money problem, but creators and licensors in many rights-based industries lack effective tools to track the money their works generate as it makes its way back upstream. This panel will examine how entrepreneurs, developers, artists and agents are trying to bring greater transparency to the system of accounting and payments.
PANELISTS:
Danny Anders, CEO & Founder, ClearTracks
Razi Rais, Subject Matter Expert (Blockchain), Microsoft
Cédric Cobban, President and Founder, PeerTracks Inc.
Eugene Mopsik, CEO, American Society for Collective Rights Licensing (ASCRL)
Moderator: Christopher Kenneally, Director, Business Development, Copyright Clearance Center
Danny Anders
Razi Rais
Cédric Cobban
Eugene Mopsik
Christopher Kenneally
DIY Tools and Financing for Artists
Artists and entrepreneurs discuss how technology is enabling creators to manage and finance their own careers and retain control of their work.
PANELISTS:
G. Thomas Esmay, Director of Business Development, SingularDTV
Rick Goetz, Marketing Director, ONErpm
Cheryl Potts, Founder & CEO, Cleerkut
Dae Bogan, CEO & Founder, TuneRegistry
Moderator: Georgii Speakman, Founder, OUT.LI.ER
G. Thomas Esmay
Rick Goetz
Cheryl Potts
Dae Bogan
Georgii Speakman
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
AFTERNOON BREAK
A.I.: What to Make of Machine-Made Art?
Courts say monkeys can’t own copyrights, but what about machines? As artificial intelligence systems increasingly are used to create music, photographs, news articles, and artworks, who or what owns the copyrights? If not that machine then whose creative input controls and how should it be credited? Can an A.I. system join a CMO?
PANELISTS:
Christopher Sprigman, Professor, NYU School of Law, Co-Director, Engelberg Center on Innovation Law and Policy
Taishi Fukuyama, Co-founder, COO, Amadeus Code
Ahmed Elgammal, CEO, Artrendex
MODERATOR: Edward Klaris, Managing Partner, KlarisIP
Christopher Sprigman
Taishi Fukuyama
Ahmed Elgammal
Edward Klaris