CMJ 2012 Conference Highlights
Sure bushels of showcases chock full of emerging artists garner the most press coverage at CMJ, but let's not forget the real bread and butter of the conference: panels. I track new releases every week, and most of the artists that play CMJ will come through LA in the next six months. Plus, if I see them for fun at a venue here I won't have to deal with packed crowds, and juggling singing along with networking. However, it will be awhile before I get another chance to watch top industry professionals debate the finer points of this fast-paced, dynamic, competitive music business. I went to as many panels, round tables, and career counseling sessions as I could at CMJ this year, plus the entirety of the college day conference. It took up the majority of 4 days straight: conference all day, music all night. No sleep 'till Brooklyn after a red-eye Monday night. However, lucky for you, dear readers, if you missed CMJ and actually got a healthy amount of sleep the other week. ...