What are the biggest challenges facing music creators today? How has the music industry evolved in the wake of the global pandemic? What is the best advice for young women who want to break into the music business? Those are just a few of the critical topics explored in a dynamic session recently presented by SiriusXM and Pandora in conjunction with the All Things Go Music Festival.
Highlighting innovative women in media and music, the All Things Go Creator Summit on Sept. 30 brought together music and entertainment industry executives, artists, journalists and more to discuss today’s most important trends and issues facing creators across the industry.
“As a Black Woman working in this industry, I have faced many peaks and valleys that have shaped who I am today. It’s my mission to not only impart knowledge to others so that they have the tools needed to succeed in their careers but also to pull up a chair and invite them to the table. I feel like that’s exactly what we did and accomplished at the All Things Go Creator Summit,” said Lauren D. Williams, Vice President of Marketing Strategy for SiriusXM and Pandora. “Even though I was a panelist for this wonderful event, I too walked away feeling inspired and motivated to be fearless and strive for more. Sitting alongside absolute legends to share our personal experiences working in this industry with the minds of future was an absolute honor.”
Held in front of a packed crowd at the Eaton Hotel in downtown Washington D.C., the summit brought together an amazing lineup that featured: artist Empress Of; Jen Malone, music supervisor for hit television shows “Euphoria” and “Atlanta”; Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Jenn Decilveo; Lauren D. Williams, vice president marketing strategy at SiriusXM and Pandora; pop singer Maude Latour; agent Kiely Mosiman of Wasserman Music; Marisa Fair, director industry relations and artist marketing at SiriusXM and Pandora; and indie artist Bartees Strange, among others.
The Creator Summit featured panels focused on today’s landscape in the music industry, the opportunities and challenges facing women creators, and how fan preferences are constantly reshaping how the music industry seeks to reach fans. In particular, speakers focused on how to break through at a time when a single viral social media post, or addition to a Pandora playlist can help define a career trajectory. In a fireside chat, Bartees Strange discussed his broad range of musical influences, and how his music is defined in part by his life path being born in England, raised in small-town Oklahoma, and now calling Washington D.C. his home.
Lori Majewski, on-air host of SiriusXM’s Feedback, Fierce: Women In Music, and Lust For Lists, moderated the Innovative Women in Music panel.
“Moderating the Women In Music panel was such an uplifting experience! I always enjoy being in the company of fierce women who cheer each other on, and that was absolutely the case that night — both on and off the podium I know the panel discussion was a hit, because when I looked out into the audience, I failed to see even a single person on their phones! That never happens!” recalled Majewski. “And upon its conclusion, women and men of all ages swarmed the stage to follow up with more questions and to share their experiences. I can’t wait to do it again next year!
The Creator Summit was a fantastic prelude to the All Things Go music festival, which again this year rocked the D.C. region with a sold-out all-day festival featuring performances by Lorde, Mitski, Bleachers, King Princess, Maude Latour and others.
Check out the video below for a look at the evening – and stay tuned for details on next year’s event!