On April 17, the Relix Music Conference successfully united executives, musicians, and industry professionals at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville in Nashville, Tenn., for the first time in Music City, U.S.A., for a day of exploratory conversations, quality networking, tender celebrations and, of course, live music.

The primer conference, now in its fourth iteration, welcomed an array of panels over the course of its two days. The first day included conversations on branding, navigating the influx of new disruptive technology, the intersection of mental health and music, and an illuminating conversation with iconic musician Peter Frampton.

Relix Magazine’s Dean Budnick moderated a panel titled Sound Check: The State Of The Business Part 1 that encompassed many different topics currently affecting the industry, including how artists can get creative in the digital world, how to navigate the influx of new disruptive technology, ways independent venues are partnering with out-of-the-box brands and much more. Panelists included Aaron Frank of AMFM, Dayna Frank of First Avenue Productions and National Independent Venue Association, Ad.Ventures’ Josh Rowe, Spotify’s Mary Catherine Kinney and Tara Moore of PSBM. 

Later Iconic guitarist and songwriter Frampton sat down with music journalist Holly Gleason for a career-spanning conversation where he discussed his work with his bands The Herd and Humble Pie, the intersection of prog-rock and hard rock, meeting George Harrison for the first time, his relationship with David Bowie among other insightful experiences.

Greg Knight Music’s Greg Knight led a conversation that featured Mark Weiss of 237 Global, Brian Schwartz of 75 Management and MAC Presents’ Marcie Allen. The three panelists discussed how to make brand partnerships feel authentic, create relationships with brands and the need for artists to control their data.

The panel Where Is My Mind: Mental Health & The Music Industry moderated by Backline’s Hilary Gleason, sparked a thought-provoking conversation featuring musician Andy Frasco, Gibson Gives’ Erica Krusen, Michele Augis of The Neal Casal Music Foundation and Tatum Allsep of the Music Health Alliance. The group talked about decreasing stigma around mental health conversations, allowing people to process grief, and how the industry can work together to help provide community care and the resources available through various organizations.

Soul-Americana fusion singer Autumn Nicholas and country duo BOWEN * YOUNG went on to perform concerts presented by the Americana Music Association on the venue’s patio.

Peter Shapiro of Dayglo Presents, tvg Hospitality’s Ben Lovett, Live Nation Entertainment’s Tom See and Chrissy Hall of Ryman Hospitality Properties also came together for a conversation titled Point A to Point Z: Optimizing the Fan Experience about the fan experience putting on shows from announcements to ticket sales and what live music experiences can learn from the hospitality industry.

During the evening, emcee Andy Frasco joined in a unique spelling bee-inspired game to the conference’s jam-packed first day.

Enjoy videos from April 17’s programming, and more selects from the first day of the event below.

Special thanks to our sponsors

Access Industries
AmericanaFest
Arnett Designs
BlockParty
Can’d Aid
Conscious Alliance
Do615
Dos Hombres
Etix
Evolv Technology
Gibson
HUB International Ltd
Lagunitas
Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC)
Meyer Sound
Morgan Stanley
Prism
Royal Potato Family
RYTHM
School of Rock
The Orchard
TN Entertainment Commission
Virgin Hotels
Wasserman