by Adelie Salagnac
Over the past few days, we’ve been sharing interviews with the bands and panelists coming to this week’s Launch Music Conference. But what is it? Well…
Hundred of bands will gather to Lancaster, PA for a one-of-a-kind conference and festival. The Launch Music Conference, running from April 21st to April 24th will be the theatre of many performances, panels, workshops, parties and seminars, attracting nearly 200 artists over the weekend. This year on its 8th edition, the Launch Music Conference and Festival has seen hundreds of artists showing up each year, including bands such as Panic! At The Disco, Twenty-One Pilots, Foxy Shazam, or Atreyu – yes, it’s “Go Big Or Go Home”… A go-to for any music lover.
Jeremy Weiss, founder of LAUNCH, was kind enough to chat with me about the conference and the festival – a chat that was both interesting and pleasing. He says: “Whether you are sincerely devoted to pursuing a career as a performer or in the industry, or just casually interested in how things work, I suggest you get a badge and stick your head in our fantastic conference panels and discussion. With the weekend badge, you can also hit the town at night, and see dozens upon dozens of fantastic performances from artists from across the US, and abroad! For the music enthusiast, LAUNCH’s nighttime festival is heaven!”
With top-notch guests like Jen Kellogg (The Entertainment Institue), Kevin Lyman (creator of the Vans Warped Tour), Eric Tobin (Hopeless Records), Mike Ziemer (Third String Productions), and many, many more, the Launch Music Conference will bring to the city the greatest professionals of the music industry.
“We are extremely proud of our educational conference portion,” Weiss says. “The networking, learning, and fraternizing, in my opinion, puts Launch among the top conference in the country. The conference enjoys over a thousands active participants over the course of the program.”
The Launch Music Conference will cover a wide array of topics, including artist management, publishing, touring, event management. There will be something for everyone, no matter what you are looking for – a well-rounded look at today’s music industry. Organized in partnership with the Entertainment Institute, the educational part of the Launch Music Conference reflects both the most relevant and current subject matter, while additionally amplifying the most effective methods and practices in relaying this information.
After seven explosive editions, the Launch Music Conference is going to be bigger and better than ever this year. Launch finally has managed to stage a showcase centered around urban music – a big first for the conference. Yazz the Greatest and hip-hop artist PnB Rock, best known for his collabs with Fetty Wap, will both be performing, along with various artist selectees. “This has been a major goal of ours,” comments Weiss, “pursuant to fulfilling our mission to represent as many genres of music as possible.”
Weiss goes on and highlights the fact that this edition will boast the highest number of individual performances, with exactly 221 live performances, across 18 stages. This year’s conference will feature, between many others, premier country artist Jon Pardi, punk/hardcore superstars Ice Nine Kills, acoustic pop duo the Weekend Riot, indie phenoms Hot Jam Factory, hard rock/blues greats the Balkun Brothers.
When asked about the performance he is most excited about, Weiss is hesitant – as we all are, considering the amount of amazing performers who will grace us with their presence. “I always approach this question with some trepidation, as I believe that all of our performers are worth seeing,” he says. He admits however that there are quite a few performances he is really looking forward to- Bayside, Yazz, PnB Rock, Intervals, Ice Nine Kills, Stacked Like Pancakes. The list of artists is endless – and so is the list of reasons why the Launch Music Conference has been, is, and will be, a hit.
“Launch is about several goals, really,” says Weiss. “The top priority is results. This can take many different meanings, however. We look for our attendees to make meaningful, valuable connections, and for them to garner insights and knowledge that can be put to immediate, productive use.”
Hoping for the attendees to forge relationships with the invited industry professionals, the participating venues, the press outlets, the participating brands, the other would-be professionals and bands, Launch wants to bring people together.
Weiss adds: “Launch also serves the central PA area, its residents and businesses; we strive to produce a delightful events for them as well. And when we stage 221 artists, across all genres, across 18 stages, man, we hope for one hell of a party!”
How could you say no to one of the biggest party of the year? “I can say with total confidence, Launch is the best bang for your buck in the nation!”
Tickets and info at http://www.launchmusicconference.com/
