Santa Monica, Calif. — On Saturday, May 16, 2015, the annual conference IMSTA FESTA L.A. convened at the new state-of-the-art SAE Institute Hollywood, held by the International Music Software Trade Association with support from The Recording Academy® Producers & Engineers Wing® and select pro-audio manufacturers. More than 500 music and audio enthusiasts were in attendance to meet with peers and exhibitors and to explore the facility. This annual conference celebrates pro-audio software and hardware manufacturers and promotes the theme “Buy the Software You Use” with a daylong program featuring demonstrations, panels and networking.
The day kicked off with a candid keynote conversation spotlighting four-time GRAMMY®-winning producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. Moderated by P&E Wing Managing Director Maureen Droney, the discussion had Jerkins sharing informative and inspirational anecdotes that spanned the history of his career.
The Professional Panel Series included two P&E Wing programs — “Pathway to a GRAMMY,” an overview of The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Awards process, and “Leaders of the New School,” a conversation with today’s hitmakers. The GRAMMY panel included Recording Academy staffers Yvonne Faison, Jeriel Johnson, Joseph Langford and Sean Riley, and Leaders of the New School featured producers Rahki, Rob Knox,Sak Pase and Scoop Deville, with P&E Wing Sr. Project Manager Deston Bennett serving as moderator.
Closing the day was an interview with GRAMMY-nominated artist/producer DJ Khalil, moderated by Jeriel Johnson, the Academy’s Project Manager, R&B, Rap & Reggae. Khalil also served as a guest judge of the IMSTA songwriting contest, awarding a talented music professional the opportunity to record a demo in Santorini, Greece. Visit www.imsta.org for additional coverage of the conference.
The event is part of a tour, with additional 2015 conferences scheduled for Chicago (7/25/15), New York (9/26/15), and Toronto (10/17/15) later this year.
“IMSTA FESTA LA 2015 was a great opportunity to hear from top music professionals and network with the southern California recording community,” stated Droney. “The response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to the upcoming events in Chicago and New York.”
Photo Caption: GRAMMY®-winning producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins speaks to the crowd in a candid keynote conversation at IMSTA FESTA L.A. at the new SAE Institute Hollywood. Photograph courtesy of The Recording Academy®. © 2015.
