2018 - Nashville, TN
1500 musicians. Three life-changing days. One big indie family.
Between August 24-26, 2018, CD Baby played host to a huge gathering of independent musicians from around the world. These artists arrived in Nashville ready to have a ton of fun, work smarter, and learn from one another.
Along the way they discovered that DO IT YOURSELF doesn’t have to be as lonely as it sounds. That’s what this event is all about: Actionable industry education, access to the best brands in the music biz, and an indie community that welcomes musicians of all ages and genres. Check it out!
Conference
"Pitch Us Your Song" with NPR's Bob Boilen
NPR’s Bob Boilen hosts the “Pitch Us Your Song” session, where brave attendees get critiqued or encouraged in front of a huge live audience! Bob enlisted the help of Greg Gallo (Big Deal Music Group), Hilary Saunders (No Depression), and Alex Stefano (Big Yellow Dog Music) to deliver useful advice for selected songwriters.
"Turn Your Pain Into Art" with Ariel Bloomer
Worried you’re not pretty, young, cool, or connected enough to make it in music? In this inspiring session, Ariel Bloomer tears down your hang-ups, talks through the tough stuff, and gets to the bottom of what it means to be a relevant artist today. First, you “Turn Your Pain Into Art.” Then you turn your art towards the people who need it most.
Evening Events
Sponsors
In addition to one-on-one mentorship and dozens of impactful sessions where artists walked away with a plan of action for their music, attendees could also chat throughout the weekend with representatives of the best brands in the music industry, including Berklee Online, Spotify, YouTube, SoundExchange, Music City Songstar Awards, Spire, Shure, Akimi, Crosley, Stashimi, Reverb, GigSalad, and many more.
Sponsorship at the DIY Musician Conference is about much more than product demonstrations and sales. It’s about sharing advice, making a direct connection, and finding the right service or tool for every artist.