The Recording Academy®(internationally known for the GRAMMY® Awards) has partnered with RocketHub to organize and present an expert panel discussion on crowdfunding. This innovative event will empower musicians with the knowledge necessary to understand how to leverage their existing network of friends, family and fans for funds, awareness, and authentic feedback.

Our own fearless leader, Brian Meece summed up crowdfunding as "a new spin on an established idea: Beethoven + Social Media = Crowdfunding for the modern musician. Welcome to the re-birth of patronage" - and The Recording Academy loved it.

The panel will consist of two RocketHub Co-founders, Brian Meece and Vlad Vukicevic (me), who will discuss the current crowdfunding marketplace, the ins-an-outs of successful crowdfunding projects, and future trends in this burgeoning movement. Joining us will be three musicians and successful crowdfunding pioneers, Kate Dawson, Gustavo Rodriguez, and Alfonso Velez, to discuss their personal experiences with this new and powerful approach. The panel will be moderated by Richard James Burgess, a music industry veteran and author of the seminal “The Art of Music Production.”

Please join us tomorrow if you're in the Washington D.C. area - the event is open to The Recording Academt members and the public:

Music Box: Crowdfunding - The New Independent Music Model Event

LOCATION:

The George Washington University

103 Funger Hall

2201 G Street N.W.

Washington, D.C.  20042

DATE:

Thursday, November 4, 2010

TIME:

5:30 PM – Check In

6:00 PM – Panel Discussion

8:00 PM – Panel Ends/Wrap-Up

PANELISTS:

Richard James Burgess, Moderator

Smithsonian Folkways

Brian Meece

Co-founder, RocketHub

Vladimir Vukicevic

Co-founder, RocketHub

Kate Dawson

Singer/Actress

Gustavo Rodriguez

Singer/Songwriter

Alfonso Velez

Singer/Songwriter

This is a wonderful collaboration between an organization that has been helping artists for over fifty years, The Recording Academy, and our quickly-emerging grassroots platform that is giving artists the ability to connect with and leverage fans like never before, RocketHub. I have grown up admiring The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Awards – it is an honor to be working together to help musicians. For more info and to register, click here.

A little more info about The Recording Academy:

"Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thegrammys), MySpace (www.myspace.com/thegrammys), Twitter (www.twitter.com/thegrammys), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/thegrammys)."

-Vlad