ArtsQuest is proud to announce the return of its Music Industry Conference, now in its second year, taking place Aug. 2\u20134 at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Taking place during the nation\u2019s largest free music festival, Musikfest, this three-day event brings together music educators, emerging artists, industry leaders and students for an immersive, hands-on experience that bridges education and the music industry.<\/p>\n
Building on the success of its 2024 debut, the 2026 Music Industry Conference expands with new interactive programs, a larger scope of presenters and even more opportunities for attendees to learn, perform and connect.<\/p>\n
Unlike traditional conferences, sessions at the Music Industry Conference blur the lines between classroom and stage. Plans currently include opportunities for attendees to engage in hands-on workshops, live coaching sessions, mentorship roundtables and technology labs designed to put real-world music industry tools and experiences into action. Conference strands will include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Production and Live Event Operations \u2013 sound, lighting, staging, event safety and tour management logistics, advances in production technology<\/p>\n
\u2022 Performance and Artist Development \u2013 coaching, booking gigs, networking, branding, creative risk-taking, physical and mental health and collaboration across genres<\/p>\n
\u2022 Music Business and Entrepreneurship \u2013 talent buying, contracts and negotiation, marketing\/EPKs, financial literacy for musicians and entrepreneurship and startup models<\/p>\n
\u2022 Innovation and Future Trends \u2013 AI, inclusive design, Web3, inclusive design in music, audience engagement and new learning models including modern\/popular music education<\/p>\n
Featured Additions in 2026<\/p>\n
\u2022 Band Showcase Program: Selected youth and emerging bands (ages 10\u2013adult) will receive coaching, perform on an official Musikfest stage and receive live feedback from talent buyers, agents and producers.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The Green Room Mentorship Lounge: One-on-one and small group mentorship with industry veterans, modeled after NAMM\u2019s \u201cNetworking with the Pros.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Museum Collaboration: A pop-up exhibit in partnership with the Museum of Music Technology highlighting the history of sonic innovation.<\/p>\n
How to Get Involved<\/p>\n
APPLICATIONS OPENING SOON for those who want to be involved in this year\u2019s conference:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Band Showcase \u2013 Applications opening soon, apply by Feb. 15 for the chance to receive coaching, perform on a Musikfest stage and get feedback from industry experts.<\/p>\n
Registration<\/p>\n
Conference registration opens in spring 2026. Pricing tiers will be available for educators, students, professionals and family members. A modest honorarium will also be provided to presenters in recognition of their time and expertise.<\/p>\n
Why It Matters<\/p>\n
\u201cOn behalf of both F-flat Books and West Chester University, I am thrilled to be partnering with the team at ArtsQuest to bring another year of high-quality, industry-driven professional development and live music experiences to industry professionals and educators,\u201d said Dr. Sarah Gulish, assistant professor of Expansive Music Education Practices at West Chester University and CEO of F-flat books. \u201cWe so desperately need experiences that bring industry and education together, and I can\u2019t think of a better place to do it than at ArtsQuest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEMEAPP is excited to be back for the second annual Musikfest Industry Conference! We had a great experience presenting at the 2024 event, where we met some truly interesting and inspiring people,\u201d said Lisa Platow from The Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project. \u201cThis time around, we\u2019re planning a mix of sessions\u2014some geared toward educators, others for industry pros\u2014and we\u2019ll be bringing a few gems from our collection to make our presentations hands-on and interactive. Education is a core part of what we do, and we\u2019re proud to support a conference that brings people together to share ideas, spark creativity, and celebrate musical innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMusic Will\/Association for Popular Music Education is thrilled to be a part of the 2026 Music Industry Conference,\u201d said a representative of Music Will\/APME. \u201cThis is an incredible opportunity to connect industry and education professionals around the shared goal of making music more accessible and relevant to today\u2019s world. By bringing our work into this space, we hope to inspire and empower young people to see themselves in the music industry, not just as performers, but as creators, innovators and leaders. We believe this collaboration will have a lasting impact on the next generation of music-makers and the communities they serve.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thrilled to once again enrich the Musikfest experience with this Music Industry Conference,\u201d said ArtsQuest\u2019s Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan. \u201cArtists, entrepreneurs, educators and creatives of all kinds will find meaningful conversations around current topics designed to deepen their understanding of the space where performance and industry intersect now as well as providing context to the music industry of tomorrow. Musikfest offers the ideal palette from which to stir these creative and elevating dialogues.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information and to apply for conference programs, visit Musikfest.org or contact Marissa Guarriello at marissa.guarriello@austin.utexas.edu or Grace Obert at gobert@artsquest.org.<\/p>\n
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Megan Bodmer at mbodmer@artsquest.org.<\/p>\n
Contributed article<\/p>\n
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