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Tuesday, June 3
 

TBA

9:00am CDT

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Tuesday June 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:10am CDT
Speakers
avatar for Bryan Ekus

Bryan Ekus

Executive Director, Making Vinyl
Bryan has 25+ years of experience in business development and strategy in the physical media and renewable industries.  He co-founded Making Vinyl and has experience working with global decision-makers and business and national leaders. Effectively speaks on behalf of trade and industry... Read More →
Tuesday June 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:10am CDT
Renasant Convention Center

9:10am CDT

MEMPHIS’ RICH MUSIC SCENE: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
Tuesday June 3, 2025 9:10am - 9:50am CDT
The journalist Robert Gordon recently wrote: "Nashville is where you go to make a hit that sounds like everyone else. Memphis is where you make a hit that sounds like no one else. That’s what distinguishes the record labels, recording studios, and recording artists that Memphis is known for: They stayed in Memphis to pursue their independent visions outside the corporate headquarters in Nashville and on the coasts." Our opening panel features a who's who of the city's rich scene.

Speakers
avatar for Jeff Powell

Jeff Powell

Vinyl Mastering Engineer, Vinyl Masters
Since starting my studio career in Memphis TN in 1987, I started to learn how to cut vinyl masters on the original STAX lathe that was housed in Larry Nix' mastering room at Ardent Studios in 2008. While learning the craft, I never thought that it would take me over completely and... Read More →
JT

Jim Thompson

Owner & Chief Designer, Eggleston Soundworks
ZI

Zac Ives

Goner Fest
AK

Al Kapeezy "a.k.a" Al Kapone

Memphis Rap Pioneer
PM

Pat Mitchell Worley

CEO, Soulsville Foundation
Tuesday June 3, 2025 9:10am - 9:50am CDT
Renasant Convention Center

9:50am CDT

NAVIGATING UNCERTAINTY: HOW U.S. PRESSING PLANTS ARE COPING
Tuesday June 3, 2025 9:50am - 10:30am CDT
Just when we thought the vinyl pressing industry was getting used to a post-pandemic "new normal," uncertainty prompted by Washington, DC drives the global economy into a frenzy. We'll get an up-to-date pulse on the situation from the heads of five U.S. manufacturers regarding how their businesses are faring. Has there been any ripple effect from tariffs on supply chains, prices, raw materials, etc.?
Moderators
avatar for Tony van Veen

Tony van Veen

CEO, Disc Makers
Tony started his career at Disc Makers way back in 1987, when the company was a vinyl pressing plant in Philadelphia. In the decades since, Tony has navigated Disc Makers through many technology cycles – from vinyl to CD to CD-R, and later to downloads and streaming (through the... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Mark Michaels

Mark Michaels

Chairman/CEO, United Record Pressing
Mark Michaels is the CEO & Chairman of United Record Pressing, LLC, the largest manufacturer of vinyl records in North America, based in Nashville, Tennessee, and its sister company, URP Music Distributors, LLC, a leading one-stop wholesaler of vinyl records serving retailers around... Read More →
avatar for Chad Kassem

Chad Kassem

Owner CEO, QRP/Acoustic Sounds
avatar for Connie Comeau

Connie Comeau

COO, The ADS Group/Copy Cats Media
"Chief Operating Officer at The ADS Group/Copycats Media for 24 years—and loving every minute of it! Leading (working alongside) an incredible team with dedication, loyalty, and a whole lot of hard work, I’m passionate about people and this industry. I thrive on business strategy... Read More →
avatar for Brandon Seavers

Brandon Seavers

Co-Founder & CEO, Memphis Record Pressing
A lifelong Memphian and musician, Brandon Seavers, co-founder and CEO of Memphis Record Pressing, began his dynamic career in 1997 alongside Mark Yoshida when they launched AudioGraphic Masterworks, the Mid-South’s only full-service CD and DVD manufacturing facility. In 2014, the... Read More →
avatar for Ali Miller

Ali Miller

CEO, Furnace Manufacturing
Tuesday June 3, 2025 9:50am - 10:30am CDT
Renasant Convention Center

10:30am CDT

10:35am CDT

NETWORKING BREAK
Tuesday June 3, 2025 10:35am - 11:05am CDT
Tuesday June 3, 2025 10:35am - 11:05am CDT
Renasant Convention Center

11:05am CDT

VINYL INNOVATIONS FUELED BY SMALL TO MEDIUM PRESSING PLANTS
Tuesday June 3, 2025 11:05am - 11:45am CDT
Small to medium-sized pressing plants have different challenges than their larger counterparts, especially amid an uncertain economy. One way they can stay ahead of the curve while best serving their customers is introducing innovation in their production processes, infrastructure and products. The panelists will discuss some of the trends emerging in 2025.
Moderators
avatar for Kevin Da Costa

Kevin Da Costa

Vinyl Manufacturing Consultant & Technical Director, Evolution Music, Evolution Music
I'm a vinyl record manufacturing pressing & production consultant, specialising in supporting companies to develop and grow their record manufacturing businesses: from inception, through design & development of the factory, value proposition & business planning, supply chain development... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Yosef Becher

Yosef Becher

Founder, CEO, Hot Wax
TN

Tom Norwood

Loop Fans
avatar for Dustin Blocker

Dustin Blocker

Chief Creative Officer, Hand Drawn Pressing // VRMA
After spending 17 years as the lead singer the rock band, Exit 380, Dustin Blocker co-founded Texas-based independent record label Hand Drawn Records in April 2011. Spending several years building the community of artists through live events and regional record releases, Blocker and... Read More →
Tuesday June 3, 2025 11:05am - 11:45am CDT
Renasant Convention Center

11:50am CDT

LA FIRES CAME TO 2 BLOCKS FROM OUR VINYL FACTORIES
Tuesday June 3, 2025 11:50am - 12:10pm CDT
In January 2025 several fires completely large swaths of the sprawling Los Angeles metropolitan area. The flames came within blocks of these two boutique pressing plants. Hear what was going through minds. Btw, among those from our industry who lost homes include mastering/cutting legend Bernie Grundman, who Making Vinyl honored in 2019 with a Lifetime Achievement Award, renown mixing engineer Bob Clearmountain, and AIX Records owner Mark Waldrep. . 
Speakers
avatar for Bryan Hollon

Bryan Hollon

Co-owner, Vinyl Ceremony
Bryan Hollon, known as Boom Bip, is a Mercury Award-nominated music producer and one-half of the bands Neon Neon and Belief. He started his career in the ‘90s, building a reputation in Cincinnati through vinyl sampling, DJing, and his local radio presence, introducing downtempo... Read More →
avatar for Alberto Lopez

Alberto Lopez

Owner, Belu Music Press
After 3 years of preparation, Belú Music Press opened its doors for business in January 2024, aiming to primarily serve independent artists and musicians in California and the Southwest. Founded by Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, Juno, Platinum and Gold award nominated and/or winning producer... Read More →
Tuesday June 3, 2025 11:50am - 12:10pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

12:10pm CDT

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR A DISASTER? CRISIS PLAN TIPS
Tuesday June 3, 2025 12:10pm - 12:55pm CDT
In February 2020, a factory explosion in California left the global vinyl manufacturing industry with only one lacquer supplier, an early critical step in the record-making process. Somehow the remaining Japanese supplier has ramped up production to keep kept the entire eco-system afloat. But even they're one tsunami away from putting all production at a standstill.
Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI) is the oldest and largest nonprofit that helps organizations around the world prepare for and recover from disasters by providing education, accreditation, and thought leadership in business continuity, disaster recovery, cyber resilience and related fields. Ray Seid will provide tips of how to protect your operation if disaster occurs.
Speakers
RS

Ray Seid

Disaster Recovery Institute International
Tuesday June 3, 2025 12:10pm - 12:55pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

12:55pm CDT

VIDEO PRESENTATION
Tuesday June 3, 2025 12:55pm - 1:00pm CDT
Tuesday June 3, 2025 12:55pm - 1:00pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

1:00pm CDT

LUNCH
Tuesday June 3, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Tuesday June 3, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

2:00pm CDT

HOW SUSCEPTIBLE ARE YOU TO A CYBER ATTACK
Tuesday June 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CDT
The ultra-competitive vinyl manufacturing industry is heavily reliant of electronic delivery of everything from music files to contracts with suppliers and customers. Are your computer systems adequately protected from a cyber attack?
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Dennis Leber

Dr. Dennis Leber

Owner, Leber Consulting LLC
Tuesday June 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

2:20pm CDT

HOW RECORD STORES BECAME COMMUNITY CENTERS
Tuesday June 3, 2025 2:20pm - 2:50pm CDT
Clifton Muhammad just finished his MBA when he inherited a record store from his uncle, who passed away. Clifton's first inclination was to sell the business but then his wife Connie Anderson suggested he reconsider. Their store The Record Track has become an important pillar of their Chicago community, in a similar manner that Goner Records and Shangri-la Records have been in Memphis for years.
Moderators
avatar for Michael Palm

Michael Palm

Associate Professor of Cultural Studies and Media and Technology Studies, University of North Carolina
Michael Palm is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He's writing a book about the contemporary vinyl economy and the labor of making and selling records today.
Speakers
avatar for Clifton Muhammad & Connie Anderson

Clifton Muhammad & Connie Anderson

Owners & Operators, The Record Track
JM

John Miller

Owner, Shangri-La Records
EF

Eric Friedl

Goner Records
Tuesday June 3, 2025 2:20pm - 2:50pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

2:50pm CDT

GEN Z'S PASSION FOR VINYL
Tuesday June 3, 2025 2:50pm - 3:05pm CDT
Speakers
avatar for Ryan Mitrovich

Ryan Mitrovich

General Manager, Vinyl Alliance
Talk to me about Vinyl Alliance membership!The Vinyl Alliance is a membership-based association bringing together companies from across the complete vinyl value chain. Our members span the globe, from North America to the UK, Europe and beyond. We engage in advocacy, research, best... Read More →
Tuesday June 3, 2025 2:50pm - 3:05pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

3:05pm CDT

BY THE NUMBERS: VINYL MARKET UPDATE
Tuesday June 3, 2025 3:05pm - 3:20pm CDT
A leading researcher gives us their latest global forecast of the rapidly changing vinyl market.
Speakers
avatar for James Duvall

James Duvall

Principal Analyst, Futuresource
The Principal Analyst leading the Home Entertainment team at Futuresource Consulting, James Duvall is responsible for overseeing the delivery and development of the entertainment services spanning across home video, TV, gaming and music. Across music, James and the team deliver a... Read More →
Tuesday June 3, 2025 3:05pm - 3:20pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

3:25pm CDT

HOW VANTIVA BECAME CONECTIV
Tuesday June 3, 2025 3:25pm - 3:30pm CDT
Tuesday June 3, 2025 3:25pm - 3:30pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

3:30pm CDT

COFFEE BREAK
Tuesday June 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Tuesday June 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

4:00pm CDT

VRMA'S ANTI-PIRACY UPDATE
Tuesday June 3, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CDT
The rapid rebirth of vinyl over the past decade has been exploited by nefarious parties internationally. Our speaker has been tracking the illegal activity for the VRMA. 
Speakers
avatar for Greg Schoener

Greg Schoener

Vice President, The ADS Group (Copycats Record Pressing)
Tuesday June 3, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

4:20pm CDT

INTRODUCING 'THERMAL BEETS RECORDS', ICELAND'S FIRST FACTORY SINCE 1982
Tuesday June 3, 2025 4:20pm - 4:35pm CDT
Maybe it's osmosis, but the co-founder of Making Vinyl is actually getting in the game. Thermal Beets Records was organically born where else but Making Vinyl? Coming back from Making Vinyl Europe in the fall of 2022, I had to switch planes in Iceland. The quality of the in-flight entertainment knocked me out. All I knew were The Sugarcubes, Björk and Sigur Ros. I thought to myself, if any place in the world might need a pressing plant it might be Iceland. I had just made a mental note of the plant-based material I heard about for the first time days earlier in Offenbach at the conference. At next year's events in Minneapolis and Haarlem, I found my co-founders. We manufactured our first record in October 2024, a sampler for Iceland Airwaves, featuring the music of nine local musicians playing at tits 25th festival. But we're not making vinyl, lol.
Speakers
avatar for Larry S Jaffee

Larry S Jaffee

Co-Founder, Making Vinyl
Larry Jaffee, the author of Record Store Day: The Most Improbable Comeback of the 21st Century, is a New York-based journalist whose writing has been appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, among numerous other publications. Music has been Jaffee’s passion since... Read More →
Tuesday June 3, 2025 4:20pm - 4:35pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center

4:35pm CDT

DUST AND GROOVES: ADVENTURES IN RECORD COLLECTING
Tuesday June 3, 2025 4:35pm - 5:00pm CDT
Photographer Eilon Paz has travelled the world to capture a total portrait of global record collecting culture in his definitive Dust & Grooves project. Ten years since his best-selling Dust & Grooves Vol. 1,  Vol. 2: Further Adventures in Record Collecting demonstrates that vinyl is more than a format—it’s a lifestyle. Dust & Grooves celebrates everyday collectors alongside music royalty. Four Tet, Questlove (The Roots, The Tonight Show, Jay-Z, D’Angelo), jazz icon Ron Carter (Miles Davis bassist 1963-1968), comedian Eric Andre, punk filmmaker Don Letts, A-Trak, Floating Points, Stones Throw Records founder Peanut Butter Wolf, Nabihah Iqbal, Quantic, DāM-FunK, and the family of the late BBC DJ John Peel are just some of the collectors captured across both volumes – with over 150 collectors in the new Vol. 2 alone. Paz has rare insight into
 the cultural impact of records, the resurgence of vinyl as a luxury product, and how collectors, DJs, and music lovers shape the industry’s future.
Speakers
avatar for Larry S Jaffee

Larry S Jaffee

Co-Founder, Making Vinyl
Larry Jaffee, the author of Record Store Day: The Most Improbable Comeback of the 21st Century, is a New York-based journalist whose writing has been appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, among numerous other publications. Music has been Jaffee’s passion since... Read More →
avatar for Eilon Paz

Eilon Paz

Founder, Dust & Grooves Editions
Founder of Dust & Grooves | Creator of Stompbox Books | Creative Mind | Book Publisher | Mixed Media Creator
Tuesday June 3, 2025 4:35pm - 5:00pm CDT
Renasant Convention Center
 
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