Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun will be part of inaugural New Music Seminar, playing Pianos on Monday night (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Webster Hall (and other venues)
125 East 11th St.
June 17-20, registration $399 (students $249)
Individual concerts: free – $45 (most $20 and under)
212-353-1600
newmusicseminar.com
The inaugural New Music Seminar is dedicated to supporting all kinds of music based on talent and merit alone, “without regard to its financial resources or connections.” As its name implies, it’s a mix of live performances from up-and-coming bands in addition to workshops, lectures, panel discussions, and seminars. Taking place June 17-20 at Webster Hall and other venues, NMS ’12 gets under way Sunday afternoon with a pair of Songwriters Hall of Fame presentations, followed by an opening-night party with the Fiery Sensations, Samantha Slithers, Evan Shinners, the Pierces, Hoodie Allen, and others, along with DJ sets by Andy Rourke of the Smiths. Things get going early Monday morning with opening remarks by Tom Silverman of Tommy Boy Records and Michael J. Huppe of SoundExchange, followed by the keynote address delivered by Bob Pittman of Clear Channel and Sean Parker of Founders Fund. Over the next several days, Peter Asher will conduct “BMI Presents the Songwriters Movement,” with demonstrations by Desmond Child, Ammar Malik, Billy Mann, and Sandy Vee; Yancey Strickler will host “Kickstarter: Amanda Palmer’s Kickstarter Million and What We Can Learn from It”; various radio program directors and brand managers will team up for “The Gods of Radio: Going Beyond Simulcasting”; and ReverbNation’s Jed Carlson will address the question “How Do You Start a Buzz?” There will also be a Meet the Authors event on Tuesday featuring the writers of a dozen books about the music business. In addition to the special programs at Webster Hall, which require registration of $249 to $399, there are dozens of individually ticketed and/or free concerts, including Alice Smith at City Winery, Ziggy Marley and Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew at Irving Plaza, the Mingus Big Band and Terence Blanchard at the Jazz Standard, Rosie Flores, Mare Winningham, and Garland Jeffreys at the Living Room, Electric Sun at Cameo, Travis Porter at S.O.B.’s, the Great Apes at Cake Shop, NinjaSonik and the Dirty Pearls at Santos Party House, and Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun at Pianos.