Winter Music Conference Announces Second Wave of Programming, Partners & Activations for 35th Annual Event March 16-19 at Faena Forum


Wednesday, February 12th, 2020 |

Winter Music Conference Announces Second Wave of Programming, Partners, and Activations for 35th Annual Event, March 16-19 at Faena Forum in Miami

First-Ever Signed On The Spot Competition Now Open for Submissions
Participating Labels Include Afro Acid, Anjunadeep, Armada, Big Beat, Circus Records, Deadbeats, Dim Mak, Enhanced Music, Erase Records, Mixmash, Nervous, Ovum, Revealed Recordings, Sunclock, and More TBA

Speakers Include Arabian Prince, Arthur Baker, Carl Craig, Chris Lake, J. Worra, Jason Bentley, Joseph Capriati, Josh Wink, Junior Sanchez, Luke Solomon, Morgan Page, Nic Fanciulli, Paul Johnson, Roger Sanchez, Seth Troxler, Simon Dunmore, SOFI TUKKER, Tommie Sunshine, Tracy Young, UZ and More TBA

Exhibitors Include Arturia, Allen & Heath, Denon DJ, Eventide, Guitar Center, IK Multimedia, iZotope, Jamstik, Novation, Pioneer DJ, and PLAYdifferently 

IDMA Nominations Announced and Voting Open: wintermusicconference.com/idma/
Three Tiers of WMC Badges On Sale Now: wintermusicconference.com
Enter Signed On The Spot: wintermusicconference.com/sots/

The 35th Annual Winter Music Conference (WMC) announced today its next wave of interactive programming, influential partners, and brand new activations for the three-day event taking over Faena Forum in Miami, FL on March 16-19, 2020. Recognized as the longest-running conference of its kind spanning over three decades, WMC has been at the forefront of shaping the most important conversations and industry trends in dance music. This year’s event will feature insightful programming with top talent across industries like gaming and streaming, debut brand-new offerings including Guitar Center’s exclusive pop-up shop, the Signed On The Spot competition, Miami Music Week (MMW) Oasis at the Generator, and more.

International Dance Music Awards (IDMA) Nominations and Legacy Award Winners Announced – The 2020 IDMA nominations have been tabulated and voting is now open until February 29, here. Winners will be announced over an invite-only cocktail reception on Thursday, March 19 at Pao Terrace in Faena Hotel.

As part of the IDMAs, the Legacy Awards began in 2019 to recognize artists that have made extraordinary contributions to the world of electronic music. These ten artists have been selected by the IDMA advisory board based on years active, number of releases, and overall influence on the genre.  

2020 Legacy Award winners include: Carl Cox, DJ Craze, Danny Tenaglia, DJ Heather, Honey Dijon, Kevin Saunderson, Josh Wink, Markus Shulz, Marshall Jefferson and Sasha

Signed On The Spot (SOTS) – Submissions are now open to submit unsigned original tracks for a chance to be reviewed and heard by some of the top labels in electronic music. SOTS is in partnership with Guitar Center, who in addition to helping emerging producers from around the country to join, will provide a $500.00 shopping spree to all category winners.

SOTS will award one winner per genre the following prize package: Guitar Center $500 Gift Card, Novation (Launchkey Mini MK3, Launchpad Mini MK3 or Scarlett Solo – Audio interface),  iZotope – Ozone Standard, Arturia – KeyLab Essential 49 (White) and Akai MPK Mini. To enter Signed On The Spot, visit wintermusicconference.com/sots/.

MMW OASIS Programming – Generator Miami will play host as the new social hub for Winter Music Conference, open from Monday through Friday. Daily pool parties, networking events and more will include the following for badge holders and invited guests: 

Monday, March 16 (12pm – 6pm)

Guitar Center presents the WMC Warm Up Pool Party in conjunction with Nervous Records, Moody Recordings, and Sunclock
Featuring: Junior Sanchez, Jaceo, Mike Weiss, DJ Vivona, Vedic and Ben A

Tuesday, March 17 (12pm – 8pm)

Beatsource x Discogs pool party and networking event
Featuring: Craze, Taimur Agah, Diego Martinelli, Styles, and more TBA

Wednesday, March 18 (12pm – 8pm)

Beatport x Classic Records pool party and networking event
Featuring: Felix Da Housecat, Luke Solomon, Simon Dunmore, Kim Anh, TK and more TBA

Thursday, March 19 (12pm – 8pm)

Ingrooves x Next Music Pool Party (12pm – 4pm) featuring: Josh Wink, Jason Bentley, Bambooozle (Eli From Soulclap) and Oz McGuire
IDMA Cocktail Reception (8pm – 11pm) by invitation only

Winter Music Conference 2020 Second Wave of Programming (more TBA)

*Indicates newly announced panel/panelist

Keynote – The Art of Visual Content: How Ultra Records Built A Monster Channel

  • Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s Global Head of Music
  • Patrick Moxey, President and Founder of Ultra Records, Ultra Music and Ultra International Music Publishing
  • SOFI TUKKER, GRAMMY-nominated dance music duo

Mainstage, Fireside Chat, and Industry Panels:

*Spotify Presents: From a Great Idea in the Studio, to Music Streaming success. 

*UZ: Crossing Genres and Mastering Your Performance + Special DJ Set

*Next Music Presents: Music Discovery Goes Mobile – How to Find A New Audience With Mobile Gaming

*The Viability of Vinyl: The Business and Essentials of Today’s Growing Vinyl Market

*I Like To Score: How To Get Started In Film and Television

*Creating Authentic Partnerships: How Brands And Artists Can Create Credible and Lasting Marketing Relationships

*AFEM Presents: How Do Creators & Rightsholders Get Paid When DJs Play Their Music In The Mix?

*Press Play: The Impact and Future of Playlisting

*Viberate Presents: Data science – Can Social Media and Streaming Metrics Be the Deciding Factor Between Profit and Loss

*Twitch 101 – How Artists Can Build a Fan Base and Make Money Livestreaming on Twitch

*Asia Rising: Strategies For Entering One Of Dance Music’s Hottest Markets

*Social Marketing Abroad: Creating Social Media Strategies For the Asian Market 

*Time To Jack: The House Music Blueprint

21 Years of Defected Records: How to Build a Brand That Lasts

Talent First: Navigating the Talent Buying Field 

Rise of the Underground: How Detroit Shaped the Global Techno Market

Beyond Instagram: TikTok, Triller, Lasso and the future of music social media

Up All Night: The Future of Nightlife Marketing 

How America’s Secondary Markets Are Creating World-Class Festivals

Global Dancefloor: How Dance Music Is Crossing Borders and Genres

Music Modernization Act of 2018: What You Need to Know to Get Paid Under the New Law

How to Build Multiple Revenue Streams as an Artist

SoStereo Presents: Brands, Music, and the Content Explosion 

The full list of WMC panels and speakers by day is here: https://wintermusicconference.com/panels/

WMC 2020 Media Partners (more TBA)

*Indicates newly announced Media Partner

*Area of Electronic, Data Transmission, Decoded Magazine, DJ Mag & DJ Mag North America,

*Area of Electronic (AOE), Beatportal, Data Transmission, Decoded Magazine, DJ Mag (UK, North America, Asia, Brasil, France, Latinoamérica, México), DJ Times, Earmilk, EDM.com, *Electronic Groove, Fusicology, Ibiza Sonica, Magnetic Magazine, *Metropolis on KCRW, *Mixmag (Asia, Brasil, China, India, France, Japan, Russia, Spain, South America, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, UK, USA), *Revolution 935FM, *This Song Is Sick

WMC 2020 Educational Partners 

IO Music Academy, School of Audio Engineering (SAE), The DJ Coach, Scratch DJ Academy, University of Miami Frost School of Music, University of Utah David Eccles School of Business (Entrepreneurship Program) 

WMC 2020 Sanctioned Events Partners (more TBA)  

*Indicates newly announced Sanctioned Events Partners

WMC will offer Plus and Pro-level badge holders access to some of the best MMW parties on the beach, downtown and Wynwood. WMC will once again work with some of the top promoters in the electronic space, including 747 Presents, *Apex, *Armada Music, Denial Events, *Descend Records, *Electric Ibiza, *Embrace, Epic Pool Parties, *Essential, *Humans Alike, *Jonathan Cowan Presents, *SBE, Seven Lines, *TreehouseThe full list of WMC Sanctioned Events is here: https://www.miamimusicweek.com/events/wmc

WMC 2020 Brand & Label Partners (more TBA)

*Indicates newly announced Brand & Label Partners

*Afro Acid, Allen & Heath, *Anjunadeep, *Armada, Arturia, Beatport, Beatsource, *Big Beat, *Circus Records, *Deadbeats, Defected Records, Denon DJ, *Dim Mak, Discogs, *Enhanced Music, *Erase Records, Eventide, IK Multimedia, Ingrooves, Jamstik, *Mixmash, Nervous Records, Next Music, Novation, Nomatic, *Ovum, Pioneer DJ, PlayDifferently, Revealed Recordings, Spotify, Traxsource, *Sunclock, Ultra Music Russell Athletic, VIRPP

WMC 2020 Hotel Partners (more TBA)

*Indicates newly announced Hotel Partners

Badge holders will be eligible to receive room discounts at the following hotels:

The Royal Palm South Beach, Mondrian South Beach, Croydon Hotel, and more TBA. 

“WMC has been the breeding ground for so many memories and lasting friendships in the business, it’s value is immeasurable. Of course, serving the dance music community by helping to educate, inspire, and shape future priorities is essential, but add to that the tropical backdrop of Miami and the onset of Spring for an unparalleled live stage for the new crop of dance music at clubs and pool parties throughout the week.”

– Jason Bentley, Metropolis host, DJ, Music Supervisor

“I first went to WMC ’87, the year I started Big Beat. It was an incredibly inspiring congregation of indie labels, DJs, artists, songwriters, producers and dance music lovers dedicated to breaking and discovering new music. WMC has been instrumental in furthering the dance and electronic cause; keeping the community connected, vital and relevant, and serving as an amazing springboard for talent. It’s a fantastic crucible for the future of dance music. Long may it live.”

– Craig Kallman, CEO & Co-Chairman: Atlantic Records, Founder: Big Beat Records

“Before there was Ultra Music Festival, there was The Winter Music Conference, the annual coming together of the dance music tribes. Miami in March is a fundamental place to be from a business perspective, and has always given me endless opportunities for discovering new partnerships and talent. WMC brings together the dance music industry and surrounding culture like no other event in America.”

– Matt Colon, Director, North America: YM&U Music

All WMC 2020 badges can be purchased here – https://wintermusicconference.com/register/

Apply for WMC 2020 media credentials here – https://wintermusicconference.com/press-application/
*applications close Friday, February 28

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Testimonials

Winter Music Conference is my ground zero. It has always provided the perfect storm of opportunity and excitement for up and coming artists, including myself back in 2003, where I first caught a glimpse of how it felt to have an audience respond to my work. Over the years, I’ve always made it a point to have WMC in my calendar because that’s the spot where everyone congregates and you can feel it in the air. Creativity, brother and sisterhood, FUN and most of all the chance to come together as a community and celebrate the reason we are all here—the music.”


Kaskade

DJ/Producer

I feel fortunate to have been part of the first-ever WMC. Over the 35 years, it has grown to give us an international forum where we exchange music and ideas. As an attendee and host of many of the award shows, I am proud each time I see new young talent emerge and then become world-renowned. We all have so many Winter Music Conference moments of hearing a seminal breakthrough record for the first time as well as a new DJ with star quality. Magical moments in my career.


Daniel Glass

Glassnote Records

I’m so glad to see WMC rebooted with such thoughtful content and first-class curation. It’s been a long time since the industry had a must-do American event and this is it. The reborn WMC!


Patrick Moxey

Ultra Music

Before there was Ultra Music Festival, there was The Winter Music Conference, the annual coming together of the dance music tribes. Miami in March is a fundamental place to be from a business perspective, and has always given me endless opportunities for discovering new partnerships and talent. WMC brings together the dance music industry and surrounding culture like no other event in America. I’ve been attending WMC for nearly 20 years, and I’m very much looking forward to experiencing its evolution in 2019.


Matt Colon

Director, North America - YM&U Music

Miami has always been a place I’ve considered home and WMC was essential for me and the label in many ways. From showcasing our new music to keeping up with all the new artists and releases. It was the official kickoff of the year and I’m happy to see it thriving again.


Louie Vega

DJ/Vega Records