On Friday, May 9th as part of the 2014 Music Summit, Canadian Music Week presented a panel discussion called Keys To Success: The EDM Boom, at the Toronto Marriot Hotel, where the past and future of Dance Music, and the concept of Branding as "Patronage of the Arts", were among the topics discussed. Appearing on the Panel: Dina LaPolt's epiphany came as a member of a panel discussion on negotiating record deals, after which she tossed her band's demo tape, and worked her way through law school by booking clubs and teaching guitar. She is now one of the most respected players in the music industry. In addition to her Law Firm representing creators in the areas of music, film, television, new media, fashion, radio and book publishing, Dina is also an artist rights activist, often becoming involved in legislative matters that affect the rights of her clients and advocating on their behalf. She has represented such artists as Steven Tyler, Motley Crue and the estate of Tupac Shakur, as well as co-producing the Academy Award-nominated documentary TUPAC: RESURRECTION. Dina moderates the Panel. Shelly Finkel's experience in the music business dates back to the 1960's, when he ran the Action House nightclub, where bands such as Cream and the Doors performed, followed in 1973 by the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, a rock festival with the Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead and the Band that drew a record-setting 600,000 people. He has also discovered Vanilla Fudge and Mountain, and promoted concerts for numerous artists. He then became an incredibly successful boxing promoter and manager for more than 30 years. In 2010, Shelly returned to his first love, music promotion, where he is now Head of Acquisitions for SFX Entertainment, at the forefront of Electronic Dance Music. Ryan Kruger has been promoting and producing music events, more than 600 since 1993, when he founded Destiny Events. He is the longest running rave promoter in North America, and helped organize twenty years of the World Electronic Music Festival, held annually in Northern Ontario. Ryan is now the Managing Director of Electronic Nation Canada, the dance music division of Live Nation Canada, where he works at the forefront of the Electronic Music Community, with artists like Aviicii and Riva Star. Patrick Moxey initially earned his cred in hip-hop by signings of Jay-Z, NERD and Beenie Man, but then fell in love with Electronic Dance Music, eventually leaving his cushy major label gig to found Ultra Records and Ultra Music. Ultra's roster currently includes such artists as Pitbull, Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris and Kascade. He has previously worked with the Crystal Method and Deadmau5, among many others. His artists have been nominated for, and won, Grammy awards, their YouTube channel has more than 1.5 million subscribers, and Ultra has now merged with Sony Records, making Patrick one of the most powerful people in the industry, justifying Rolling Stone Magazine naming him one of the 50 Most Important People in EDM. Mike Tunnicliffe has been an entrepreneur, a Media Agency CEO, a global account leader for major consumer brands and Fortune 500 companies and a senior executive leader for 2 top 5 media agencies; all of which has given him experience with brands and agencies in almost every major global market. He also works to save the planet, sitting on the board of not-for-profit group Rock the Earth, looking to "defend the planet one beat at a time". Mike currently works extensively with SFX Entertainment, who own and operate some of the biggest names in dance music events and festivals worldwide. Dean Wilson's global entertainment company, Three Six Zero Group, is helping facilitate the cross-pollination between EDM and pop. Their first client was Calvin Harris, signed in 2007. After Three Six Zero partnered with Roc Nation in 2010 Harris teamed with Roc Nation artist Rihanna to take over the charts with "We Found Love". This collaboration has led to others, including Sebastian Ingrosso and Alesso with OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder. Three Six Zero Group and Roc Nation also host an annual charity event to benefit Los Angeles Children's Hospital Orthopedic Center as a post-Grammy event, which has featured such artists as Rihanna, Calvin Harris, deadmau5, Michael Woods, Kylie Minogue, Timbaland + Demetrius, and DJ Reflex. Dean's company is also named in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 50 Most Important People in EDM. Questions discussed by the Panel included wondering what each panelist's game plan was 15 years ago at the birth of the EDM movement, the difficulties in Branding EDM, and the definition of the term "Sell Out."

• published: 14 Jun 2014
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