October 4
✱
Pittsburgh, PA
✱
Emerald City PGH
✱
October 4 ✱ Pittsburgh, PA ✱ Emerald City PGH ✱
9:30AM
Doors Open and Attendee Sign-In
Opening Remarks from Bryce Butler
10AM – 10:05AM
Speaker
Founder, Beatland USA
10:15AM - 11AM
Signal Strength
Does Radio Still Matter?
In a world driven by algorithms, viral clips, and streaming playlists, where does radio fit in — and why does it still matter? We dive into how radio continues to influence culture, break artists, and build loyal communities. From major-market commercial formats to community-powered public stations, this panel explores how traditional platforms are adapting, what artists should know when approaching radio, and why the human voice behind the mic still holds power in 2025.
Panelists
Kiki Brown, Kyle Smith
11:15AM - 12PM
Behind the Placement
How Songs Get Chosen (and Paid)
Every artist dreams of hearing their music on screen — but how does that actually happen? We’ll discuss the world of music sync licensing: how placements happen, what music supervisors listen for, and how artists and rights holders can prepare their music for sync success. From podcast scoring to TV and film licensing, this conversation will break down the creative and business sides of sync — including how to pitch, protect your rights, and build lasting relationships with music supervisors and media producers.
Panelists
Gallo Locknez, Melissa Collins
Your Network Is Your Launchpad
12:15PM - 1PM
The Power of Lateral Networking
When people talk about networking, they usually think “up the ladder.” But what if the most powerful connections are right next to you? This panel will explore the art and impact of lateral networking — building authentic relationships with peers, collaborators, and community members who are growing with you, not above you. Whether you're looking to book shows, start a company, or build a fanbase, the relationships you build at your level might just be the ones that take you further than anything else.
Panelists
Orlando Watson, Frzy
Lunch Break/Networking
1PM
Hooks, Feels and Fire
3:10PM - 3:55PM
Inside The Producer’s Mind
Great songs don’t happen by accident — they’re built with intention, creativity, and collaboration. In this conversation, we’ll unpack the journey of making music and dive into songwriting structure, sonic identity, collaboration workflows, and the balance between art and commercial appeal.
Panelists
Ryan M. Tedder, INEZ
4:05PM - 4:55PM
The Business Behind the Artist
Real Talk on Management
Behind every successful artist is someone helping steer the vision, make the calls, and manage the chaos. This will be a candid conversation about the realities of artist management — what it takes to build trust, make strategic moves, and grow a career in an ever-changing industry. We’ll talk about how managers balance creative freedom with business goals, marketing tactics, navigate label conversations, plan releases, book shows, and protect their artists — and themselves.
Panelists
Michael Carroll, Carly Bruce
5:05PM - 5:50PM
Keynote
Virtual Fireside Chat with Shawn Barron
Panelists
Shawn Barron
Moderator
Bryce Butler
Co-Owner of EZMNY Records
From A&R leadership at major labels (Atlantic, Motown, Empire) to co-founding EZMNY Records (home of R&B sensation Leon Thomas) with multi-platinum artist Ty Dolla $ign, Shawn Barron has spent his career shaping the sound and structure of modern music. In this keynote fireside chat via Zoom, Shawn sits down to share his journey through the industry — from artist discovery and label strategy to entrepreneurship and legacy-building.
Lodging
There are many hotels in the Downtown Pittsburgh area that are within walking distance or are very close to our conference venue, Emerald City. We encourage all attendees coming from all areas of the country to research and explore overnight lodging in an effort to make your journey to the conference as easy as possible!
We are currently in discussions with the Omni William Penn Hotel regarding possible room rates for our conference attendees. The hotel is a six minute walk from Emerald City.
If you are interested in booking an overnight stay to attend the conference, then please email us at criticalventuresllc@gmail.com with the subject line “Booking at Omni William Penn” and let us know how many rooms and dates you want to stay.
Our inaugural event will be hosted by Emerald City! Founded in 2021, Emerald City is a 12,000-square-foot coworking, event, and social space - dedicated to catapulting Black entrepreneurs and businesses to wealth and regional success. The mission of Emerald City is to prioritize Black entrepreneurship and black professionals in Pittsburgh through resources, education, and opportunities.
