SEE WHAT YOU MISSED IN 2005! HOTEL INTERCONTINENTAL * BUCKHEAD 3315 PEACHTREE ROAD NE, ATLANTA, GA (subject to change) PRE-CONFERENCE KICK-OFF! All Attendees - Please join us for a special screening of RIZE in celebration of the release of the soundtrack! Tuesday, August 2nd @ 7pm AMC Buckhead Backlot #6 3340 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta (Peachtree at Piedmont, Inside Tower Walk) Wednesday, August 3rd 1:00pm - 5:00pm Windsor Ballroom Foyer REGISTRATION Lanyards sponsored by SESAC Badges sponsored by THE ROYALTY NETWORK DiscLive will provide free audio copies of the sessions to all attendees! 1:30pm - 2:45pm Windsor Ballroom AB DECLARING INDEPENDENCE: In the wake of major label consolidation, the Internet and other factors, a growing number of artists are taking the independent route. And in many cases, they're opting to stay on that course. Indie artists and label executives outline their roadmaps to creative and financial success. Moderator: Ivory Jones, Editor, Billboard/Airplay Monitor Panelists: Buckshot, Artist, Duck Down Records TJ Chapman, CEO, TJ's DJ's Record & CD Pool Anthony David, Artist, Brash Music Richard Dunn, Artist Development/A&R, Brash Music Dru Ha, Manager & CEO, Duck Down Records Rob Jackson, Artist, Blackout Music Danny "Blaq" Tran, COO, Baylo Entertainment 3:00pm - 4:15pm Windsor Ballroom AB Sponsored by the Recording Academy CENTS AND SENSIBILITY: All the cutting-edge music in the world doesn't mean a thing without a sound financial plan and legal guidance. Spend face time with several gurus of capital and entertainment law and learn how to understand the legal ins and outs, raise funds, spend wisely and account for everything accurately. Moderator: Kendall Minter, Attorney, Minter & Associates, LLC Panelists: James Chippendale, President, CSI Entertainment Insurance Walter Coulter, Financial Advisor, American Express Sean Glover, Director of Royalty Administration, Sound Exchange Omara Harris, Attorney Rasheed Muhammad, VP Music Private Banking, Sun Trust Banks Inc. Daniel Stuart, Attorney, Manatt, Phelps and Phillips 4:30pm - 5:45pm Windsor Ballroom AB REGGAETON: FAD OR LASTING FORCE? The music industry's current hot commodity is the Latin rap/reggae hybrid, Reggaeton. Rap icons Jay-Z and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs are jumping into the mix with Latin rap divisions and reggaeton-formatted radio stations are popping up coast-to-coast. Key players in the reggaeton movement will assess the reasons behind the music's burgeoning popularity, its appeal to the urban rap audience and its ultimate staying power. Moderator: Raphael George, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rap, Rhythmic Chart Manager, Billboard Magazine/Billboard Radio Monitor Panelists: Hector "El Bambino", Artist, GoldStar Music DJ Kazzanova, Music Director, WCAA-FM New York Gus Lopez, President, Machete Music Anthony Perez, President, The Roof Records/Perfect Image Productions Ricky Ricardo, Clear Channel Radio Tony Touch, Artist, EMI Latin 6:00pm - 8:00pm Venetian Ballroom & Garden WELCOME RECEPTION Co-sponsored by AURN & GSAT/The Lowery Group with LIVE performances by HECTOR "EL BAMBINO" BUCKSHOT & YUNG KING PINZ Thursday, August 4th 9:30am - 4:30pm Windsor Ballroom Foyer REGISTRATION 10:00am - 11:15am Windsor Ballroom AB BRANDING POWER: Marketing experts and corporate reps discuss strategies for aligning urban artists with corporate America. This panel will also explore how to pitch companies for sponsorship and how to effectively use a successful corporate partnership to raise an artist's profile. Moderator Erin Patton, President, The Mastermind Group Panelists: Edward P. Foy Jr., CEO, eFashion Solutions, LLC Hiriam Hicks, CEO, Artist Factory Scott Hunter Smith, Director, Coca-Cola Global Brand Team, Coca-Cola Company Solomon Smallwood, Madison Smallwood Financial Munson Steed, CEO/President, STeed Media Group/Rolling Out Urban Style Weekly 11:30am - 12:45pm Windsor Ballroom AB THE DIGITAL DIALOUGES: Ringtones. Downloads. Mobile distribution vs. Online. In this digitally driven age, there are more avenues than ever to get your music heard and sold. Providers, carriers, label execs and traditional retailers square off on their roles in the digital evolution. Moderator: Terry Bello, Founder, Groovenation/ Soul Lounge Panelists: Jonathan Dworkin, Vice President, A&R, Lagardere Active North America Andrea Jacobs, Royalties/Digital Specialist, EMI Music Group/ AJ Media Group Mike Johns, CEO, Urban World Wireless LaSean Smith, Sr. Product Manager/Media Solutions, Motorola 1:00pm - 2:30pm Venetian Ballroom LIVE ARTIST SHOWCASE AND LUNCH: Feast your eyes and ears on the freshest, hottest new talent on the R&B and Hip-Hop fronts including: Compozitionz, Strategic Alliance Entertainment DuVal, Carolantic Management Group Justyn Matthew, Decade Records/AJM Records Michelle Renee, Jadamour Music Rhymefest, RCA J Records Smitty, RCA J Records 2:30pm - 3:45pm Windsor Ballroom AB ASCAP SUPER PRODUCERS WORKSHOP: Successful producers/ songwriters share their perspectives on the state of the industry, how to break into and stay in the business plus what's ahead musically. Moderator: Greg Street, Morning Personality, V-103 Panelists: Johnta Austin Warryn Campbell Anthony Dent Dre & Vidal Timbaland 4:00pm-5:15pm Windsor Ballroom AB BETWEEN THE SHEETS: Traditional radio's long-running love affair with consumers is being compromised by the iPod, satellite radio, the internet and cable radio. Executives from the various sectors discuss how to share the consumer's bed- and still remain profitable. Moderator: Kevin Fleming, Editor/Publisher, The Urban Buzz Panelists: Kevin Black, Interscope Atri Chatterjee, VP Marketing & Business Development, Mercora Lisa Ivery, PD of the City, XM Satellite Radio Tosha Love, APD/MD, WVEE-Atlanta Reggie Rouse, PD ,WVEE-Atlanta Lamonda Williams, Director Urban Programming, Music Choice 5:15pm - 6:15pm Venetian Ballroom LIVE ARTIST SHOWCASE & HAPPY HOUR Q Bella Dirty Rose Diamond D, Vibe Records Mike Murphy, Vibe Records 6:00pm - 8:00pm Buckhead Grand 3338 Peachtree Rd. 2nd Floor BMI presents...Fun In The Sun Pool Party Featuring: DJ Ruckus 9:00pm - 11:00pm Venetian Ballroom Boss Entertainment presents a live artist showcase by Pookie and Lucci. Join the party for free food and drink and receive a laminate when walking into the performance. 12:00 am 10th floor (Jennifer Day Suite) Hotel Intercontinental JENNIFER DAY WEBCAST & PARTY Sponsored by Ron Eckstine Management Combining the innovative elements of live wireless webcasting and entertaining, this event stars Jennifer Day performing and hosting a webcast and party for all conference attendees. Free drinks and refreshments for all badge holders and their guests. Friday, August 5th 11:00am - 2:00pm REGISTRATION Lanyards sponsored by SESAC 11:00am - 12:15pm Venetian Ballroom EXPERT CONVERSATION: How do I secure publishing and distribution? What do I look for when hiring a pr/marketing consultant? Here's the chance to query experts from all sectors of the music industry. Following a brief introduction, conference attendees can cruise among roundtables manned by key industry players in the fields of publishing, distribution, promotion, public relations, A&R and radio programming. Moderator: Gail Mitchell, Senior Editor R&B/Hip Hop Billboard Panelists: Chris Ayears, Director of urban Sales & Marketing, Fontana Distribution John Battaglia Jr., Founder/ President, Rockstar Image Gordon Chambers, Songwriter/ Producer, Chamber Music Sean Garrett, Producer, HITCO Music Shawn Holiday, VP/GM, HITCO Music Bryan Leach, Vice President of A&R, TVT Records, Inc. James Leach, Director/ Writer/ Publisher Relations, SESAC Kawan "KP" Prather, Sr. VP of A&R/Sony Urban Music Steve Pritchitt, GM, Fontana Distribution Helen Shelton, Executive Vice President, Ruder Finn Arts & Communications Counselors Blue Williams, President, Family Tree Entertainment Jennifer A. Williams, Owner, J. Sharpe Agency PR 12:30pm - 2:00pm Windsor Ballroom AB THE TEEN BEAT 411: What do teens really crave when it comes to R&B/Hip-Hop music? Get a candid look at what shapes their tastes, how they acquire music, their take on the ringtone explosion as well as other lifestyle habits of this coveted demo. Moderator: Gail Mitchell, Senior Editor R&B Hip/Hop, Billboard Teens: Danielle J. Anderson Simone O. Davis Adriano Gomez Avery McCombs Amber Twine Brian Vickers Brittany White 2:00pm - 4:00pm FREE TIME 4:00pm - 5:00pm Windsor Ballroom AB THE BILLBOARD Q&A The "Wait" is Over! Billboard's Gail Mitchell interviews Atlanta's hottest duo THE YING YANG TWINS! 7:00pm COMPOUND (1008 Brady Avenue) THE BILLBOARD R&B/HIP HOP AWARDS SHOW Join us as we honor the best in R&B and Hip-Hop including special Founder Awards honorees CHAKA KHAN and A TRIBE CALLED QUEST with LIVE PERFORMANCES BY YING YANG TWINS FATTY KOO CHRIS BROWN KEYSHIA COLE & APPEARANCES BY DONELL JONES DE LA SOUL JAGGED EDGE CLARENCE SMITH Hosted by RUSS PARR Music by DJ DRAMA Please note: Compound's dress code is strictly enforced during regular "club hours". If you plan to stay at the club after the awards, please note: No sneakers, athletic gear or hats. Appearances by: 4mula 1, Dallas Austin, Bone Crusher, Tamyra Gray, Brian McKnight, Oowee, Marianela Pereyra, Pitbull, Lil' Scrappy & more!