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Otis McDonald
Producer, Multi-instrumentatlist

• otismacmusic.com
• instagram.com/wearenovation/

From the mind and ears of producer/multi-instrumentalist, Joe Bagale, comes a sound that is fresh but tangibly rooted in nostalgia. The name is Otis McDonald. The mission? Good Music. IN 2015, Bagale released 80 tracks for free, under the name Otis McDonald. Released as copyright free music, exclusively through the YouTube audio library, by 2016 these tracks had been downloaded over 3 million times, and appeared in over 3.5 million videos all around the world with an astonishing total of 7.6 billion views. in 2019 bagale released a full length album,
"People Music," in collaboration with his youtube subscribers, took over the lease for studio d at the historic hyde street studios, in san francisco and in 2020 he launched a weekly live stream where he creates a brand new track on the spot and releases every week on all streaming platforms.
Whether it's performing, writing, producing, or coming up with new ways to engage with his fans, otis mcdonald plans on giving the world a dose of the past while always looking to the future.

Otis McDonald
Recording Engineer, Producer; Director of Music Recording and Scoring Skywalker Sound

• skysound.com
• instagram.com/leslieann.jones/

A recording and mixing engineer and record producer for over 40 years, Leslie has held staff positions at ABC Recording Studios in Los Angeles, the Automatt Recording Studios in San Francisco, Capitol Studios in Hollywood, and now Skywalker Sound where she continues her career recording and mixing music for records, films, video games, and television, and producing records primarily in the Classical genre.She is a past Chair of The Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees and is the recipient of 7 GRAMMY Awards, including 4 for Best Engineered Album-Classical and 1 for Best Immersive Audio Album. She serves on the Advisory Board of Institute for the Musical Arts, the Board of Directors of the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.), and she is an Artistic Advisor to the Technology and Applied Composition degree program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Leslie was also inducted into the NAMM TEC Hall of Fame in 2019 and is a Heyser lecturer. She was also the recipient of the 2022 G.A.N.G. Lifetime Achievement Award.Leslie chaired the committee that wrote “Recommendations for Hi-Resolution Music Production, published by the Producers and Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy, and is also a member of the Library of Congress’ National Recording Preservation Board.

Cigarbox Man

• otismacmusic.com
• instagram.com/wearenovation/

Cigarbox Man is a songwriter/producer/Luthier/DJ. He calls his music “Sustainable Rock.” He is known for playing a slide guitar built with his own bare hands using recycled materials, and for fusing together rock, delta blues and psychedelia. His musical journey has taken him from the subways of Santiago, Chile to one of the main stages of Lollapalooza CL, and now to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he and his musical dream team released their first album together las year.

Trovarsi

• trovarsiofficial.com
• instagram.com/trovarsiofficial/

Trovarsi is an LA-based music composer/producer, live electronic artist, educator, and streaming YouTube host. Over the past decade, Trovarsi has released her music on a wide variety of notable electronic music labels. Her work transcends genres, cultures, and boundaries, yet also authentically and reverentially embraces many creative traditions. With a hybrid blend of modular and analog synthesizers, drum machines, and Ableton, Trovarsi embraces Afrofuturistic electronic expression while remaining firmly planted by her musical roots.
Trovarsi is the curator and host of Transduction Signal on DubLab Radio, a monthly interview/performance show highlighting unique live performance artists, composers, and producers in electronic music.
She is also co-founder of the Southern California Synth Society, whose purpose is to educate and facilitate interest in electronic music through synthesizers, modular DIY builds, and community events. She also founded the international streaming festival Frequency Shift, featuring female and gender-expansive electronic artists.
Whether performing in the LA underground or on global streaming platforms, Trovarsi continues to push the boundaries of electronic music.

Nahuel Bronzini

• studioburgundio.com
• instagram.com/elburgundio/

Nahuel Bronzini is a two-time Grammy Award-winning music producer, arranger, and mixing engineer from Argentina, now thriving in the SF Bay Area. Known as a hidden gem, he collaborates with top regional talents, including Fantastic Negrito, whose Grammy-winning albums he meticulously engineered. Nahuel is the go-to for R&B legends Tony Toni Toné for string arrangements and studio work.A versatile artist, Nahuel excels in string arrangements, horns, pop, folk, and chamber ensembles, bringing multifaceted disciplines to elevate each song. He performs live both as a solo artist and with other acts, joining Cigarbox Man in 2022.Nahuel also collaborates with audio companies, contributing to innovative audio solutions. Currently, he is part of Google’s Pixel Audio team, pushing the boundaries of audio technology. He holds degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Escuela de Música Contemporánea, and studied audio and acoustics at Universidad de Tres de Febrero. He has served as Governor of the Recording Academy’s SF Chapter and is active in the Audio Engineering Society.

Briget Boyle

• instagram.com/brigetsongs/
• instagram.com/brigetsongs/

riget Boyle is a professional vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter based in Oakland, CA. She is the production manager and an educator at ModernTone Studios in Lafayette, CA, where she recorded her latest solo album, Heartbreak Residue. With over 25 commercial recording projects to her name, Briget’s career began in Los Angeles, CA, influenced by her parents’ music industry background and early experiences working with her father, Tim Boyle, in Hollywood’s film scoring studios.She started writing songs at 12 and studied Music Performance & Composition at the College of Santa Fe. There, she discovered Balkan folk music, leading to performances with Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble, Brass Menažeri Balkan Brass Band, and True Life Trio. Briget also founded an independent record label, a queer musician collective, and built a vocal coaching practice, contributing significantly to various Bay Area world music ensembles. Her unique musical perspective is reflected in her dynamic voice and songwriting.

Michael Romanowski

• coastmastering.com
• instagram.com/coastmastering

Michael Romanowski is a highly acclaimed mastering engineer with five Grammy wins and nine nominations. Based in Berkeley, CA, he owns Coast Mastering and co-founded The Tape Project, an analog tape label. He is a Trustee of the Recording Academy San Francisco Chapter and serves on multiple national committees.Starting his career in Nashville, Michael moved to the Bay Area in 1994 to apprentice at Rocket Lab with Paul Stubblebine. He became chief mastering engineer for Sausalito’s Plant Mastering in 1999, and in 2001, reunited with Stubblebine to build new mastering rooms at Coast Records. In 2007, he acquired the business, expanding it to include Coast Recorders, which later became Coast Mastering in Berkeley.Michael’s expertise extends to immersive audio, having designed a 9.1.6 capable room, which received a TEC Nomination in 2020. He co-founded The Tape Project in 2006, producing high-quality analog tapes. Michael also teaches at San Francisco State University and SAE, and guest lectures internationally.His extensive credits include working with artists such as Alicia Keys, Al Green, Peter Frampton, Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett, Earth Wind & Fire, Kane Brown, and many others, as well as soundtracks for “Dune” and the Star Wars Trilogy.

Warren Huart

• producelikeapro.com
• instagram.com/producelikeapro

Warren Huart is an English music producer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist basedin Los Angeles. He has played a fundamental part in the creation of many platinumselling and billboardsoaring albums, as well as the development of many of today’smost successful artists’ careers. He also has the Produce Like A Pro video series,which offers recording tutorials to beginners as well as Spitfire Music, a one-stop musichouse focusing on licensing music for film and tv.Warren is known for his hardwork ethic, positive attitude and respect for the artist’svision. Many of his long termrelationships have turned into close friendships. With over20 years of experience in the ever expanding music industry (record production,engineering, mixing and songwriting), as well his extensive knowledge of both modernand vintage musical equipment and instruments, Warren manages to create the mostdiverse sound around

Jacob Light

• https://moderntonestudios.com/jacob-light/
• instagram.com/jacoblightguitar/

Jacob Light is a record producer, audio engineer, session musician, and studio owner based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 25 years of experience, he has worked with bands and solo artists both on stage and in the studio, contributing to hundreds of commercial recordings and collaborating with top industry professionals.Jacob is known for his versatility, attention to detail, and substantive approach to music production. He collaborates with indie artists, bands, and record labels to create records that resonate with music fans, enhancing both the songs and the performers. His credits span various genres, including rock, punk, blues, country, folk, and pop, featuring artists like Tess & The Details, Briget Boyle, Michael Murphy, Tom Rican, Kat Van Morgan, Ava Toton, and Eudora Rose.Originally from Tel Aviv, Israel, Jacob began playing guitar at age 11 and trained under esteemed instructors from the Jerusalem Academy of Music, Berklee College of Music, and Rimon School of Music. By his early 30s, he had performed over 1,200 live shows and collaborated with producers such as John Naclerio and Yotam Ben Horin, recording with bands like Kill The Drive and Stanga.Jacob founded ModernTone Studios to help musicians achieve their goals, combining major label production quality with indie spirit to create high-quality recordings that capture unique sounds and styles. Whether working with solo artists or bands, Jacob is dedicated to bringing their music to life.

Piper Payne

• piperpayne.com
• instagram.com/lacqueristhebestmedicine/

Piper Payne is a Mastering Engineer based out of Nashville, TN, where she works on albums for independent artists and major labels.Piper Payne lives for quality and equality in audio.Piper Payne, a Mastering Engineer based in Nashville, TN, is known for her dedication to audio quality and equality. After moving her mastering studio to Nashville, she ventured into vinyl manufacturing, opening Physical Music Products, which, through Piper's innovations, has set industry leading turn times and quality benchmarks. As a former National Trustee of the Recording Academy and Co-Chair of the P&E Wing Steering Committee, Piper actively promotes diversity and inclusion in the industry. With a background in music and a focus on technical excellence, she approaches mastering and manufacturing as a blend of feel and precision. Piper shares her expertise in mastering and recording as an esteemed audio professor and frequent guest lecturer. Her impressive discography includes notable artists like Janis Ian, Madame Gandhi, Dolly Parton, The Go-Go's, and more.

Matt Boudreau

• mattboudreau.com
• instagram.com/matt_boudreau/

Matt Boudreau is a seasoned audio engineer with 30 years of
experience in the audio world. He has worked on projects for
Green Day, Alanis Morrisette, and Deafheaven and for the last two years has been mixing in Dolby ATMOS. Boudreau's passion for sound extends beyond the studio; he is also the host of the acclaimed Working Class Audio Podcast, where he interviews top professionals in the audio field, offering valuable insights and advice for aspiring engineers. Boudreau brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every project he undertakes.

Steve Horovitz

• stevehorowitzmusic.com

Critically acclaimed as "One of the foremost figures in the field" Composer Steven Horowitz is the executive director of Technology and Applied Composition (TAC) program at SFCM, a position he took over in January, 2024. Horowitz comes to SFCM after 23 years as Audio Director at Nickelodeon/Paramount where he worked on scoring hundreds of beloved video games as well as garnering him Webby, Kid Screen and BDA awards. Horowitz is well known for his original score to the Academy Award nominated film Super Size Me, and his compositions have also appeared in television series like I Bet you Will and Casino Cinema for MTV Networks. Horowitz was honored with a GRAMMY award in 1996 for his engineering work on the album True Life Blues, the Songs of Bill Monroe. In addition to his work in visual media, Horowitz also has a robust catalog of original albums (35) and concert music. He is also the author of The Essential Guide to Game Audio: The Theory and Practice of Sound for Games on Focal press, and newest book The Theory And Practice Of Music For Games, published January 2024.

Sonia Mokhtari

• sfcm.edu/study/faculty/sonia-mokhtari

Sonia Mokhtari is a French-American Creative Audio Designer and Award-winning Composer known for enhancing user experiences in games, films, and social media through her signature sounds and music. She studied Jazz and Classical music at the Conservatories of Vienne and Lyon, and holds an M.F.A in Music & Sound for Visual Media, a B.A in Music Education, and a certificate from Berklee College of Music. Currently a Senior Audio Designer at Zynga, Sonia has also worked with EA (The Sims 4), META, and Calm, and has scored over 30 movie soundtracks. She teaches Music and Audio Technology at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Her inspirations include Ravel, Debussy, Stravinsky, and film and game composers like John Williams and Nobuo Uematsu.

John Cuniberti

• johncuniberti.com
• facebook.com/john.cuniberti

John Cuniberti’s musical journey began in the 70s as a rock drummer in Eddie Money’s band, The Rockets. After the band disbanded in 1973, he transitioned to live sound engineering, mixing for Stevie Wonder and designing a sound reinforcement company. In the early 80s, John became the chief engineer at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, working on albums for the Dead Kennedys and other punk, metal, and alternative bands.By the 1990s, John earned platinum and gold records for co-producing and engineering six Joe Satriani albums, including the groundbreaking 1988 “Surfing with the Alien.” He also developed the REAMP, the first commercially available reamping device. In 2000, John opened a CD mastering suite at The Plant Recording Studios in Sausalito, mastering over 1,000 CDs for artists like Tracy Chapman, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Thomas Dolby, and The Grateful Dead. In 2008, he won a Grammy for his mastering work on “Global Drum Project” by Mickey Hart and Zakir Hussain.After leaving The Plant, John built a home studio, working on projects for Joe Satriani, Sammy Hagar, PJ Harvey, and many others. In 2016, he launched his YouTube channel “OneMic, the minimalist recording series,” showcasing how to record an entire band with one stereo microphone, continuing these recordings in various studios and locations, including Sun Studio in Memphis.

Kenya Moses

• consciousmark.agency
• instagram.com/kenyamoses

Kenya Moses is a multifaceted professional with over 20 years of experience as a music educator, classical musician, Brazilian jazz vocalist, and former professional dancer. She is also a leadership coach and speaker, inspiring arts professionals to reach their highest potential. As a marketing strategist, she has made significant impacts in the music industry.Kenya serves on various professional boards, including the Recording Academy SF Chapter Board, Living Jazz Board of Trustees, and SFUSD Performing Arts Advisory Board. She has delivered over 100 talks and workshops at events like the NAMM Show and the California Jazz Conservatory, covering topics such as AI in music business, digital marketing for musicians, and visionary leadership. In 2024, she was named one of the 100 Women of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal.Kenya is dedicated to inspiring and supporting music professionals through education and advocacy, helping them reach their full potential.

Mark Needham

• markneedham.com/about/
• instagram.com/mark.a.needham/

Mark Needham is a Los Angeles & Nashville based RIAA Diamond selling, Grammy nominated record producer and mixer, whose credits include a diverse array of internationally recognized superstar artists including The Killers, Fleetwood Mac, Imagine Dragons, Dolly Parton, Shakira, Pink, Moby, Chris Isaak and many more. For more information go to: markneedham.com

Joi Rhone

• joirhonepresents.com
• instagram.com/joirhonepresents

Joi Rhone is the CEO of Joi Rhone Presents, an innovative event and artist management company. Born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, Joi’s passion for music led to the founding of Joi Rhone Presents in 2015. The company has since produced over 30 events, with a remarkable 90% sell-out rate. Joi Rhone Presents manages artists such as jazz trio Brown, Sturgis, and Brown, gospel artist Nona Brown, R&B sensation Nate’ the Soulsanger, and serves as Creative Agent for jazz artist Kayla Waters.Joi is deeply involved in her community, having served as Board President of AIDS Project of the East Bay, Treasurer and Board Member of City of Refuge United Church of Christ, and currently on the Board of Living Jazz. She joined the SF Chapter of the Recording Academy in 2017, contributing to the Education Committee and Advocacy Day, and was recently elected to the Board of Governors.Joi Rhone Presents recently secured a placement in the Lifetime movie “Seven Deadly Sins” for Brown, Sturgis, and Brown, and is set to launch the podcast “Joi In The Morning,” further expanding its artist management and event production services.

Jai Josefs

• jaijomusic.com

Jai Josefs is a world renowned songwriting coach. His students have gone on to successful careers in the industry and secured major label record deals, publishing deals, thousands of placements in film and television, and millions of views on youtube. He has taught songwriting at UCLA and at dozens of seminars and conferences throughout North America. His book “Writing Music For Hit Songs” has been endorsed by hit writers including Diane Warren and has been used as a text on contemporary music composition at colleges and universities worldwide.
Jai has also had a successful career in the music industry as a songwriter/producer doing projects for such companies as Universal, RCA, Motown, and Disney and working with such well-known artists as Jose Feliciano, Little Richard, Bonnie Bramlett, and Pam Tillis. In addition, his original songs have been featured in over 100 TV shows on every major network including CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and HBO, as well as in over 20 major motion pictures with such stars as Harrison Ford, Billy Bob Thornton, Jessica Lange, Mark Wahlberg, and Denzel Washington.

John Scanlon

• dolby.com/institute/

With vast experience in audio education and system integration, John develops learning resources at Dolby to empower institutions, artists, and creators using Dolby technologies. He also manages technical aspects of Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision installations worldwide.

Jerome Rossen

• freshmademusic.com

With vast experience in audio education and system integration, John develops learning resources at Dolby to empower institutions, artists, and creators using Dolby technologies. He also manages technical aspects of Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision installations worldwide.

Elaine Ryan

• unicornsync.com
• instagram.com/elaineryanmusic/
• instagram.com/unicornsync/
• instagram.com/syncmusicforachange

Elaine Ryan is the founder of Unicorn Sync, a San Mateo-based sync licensing agency representing independent artists globally. In three years, Unicorn Sync has secured placements in TV shows, digital ads, promotions, and films, including two songs in a film premiered at Tribeca. Elaine travels to LA quarterly for networking and conferences.In 2021, Elaine founded Sync Music for a Change, a non-profit initiative supporting independent musicians and raising funds for charity. She has hosted over 30 online listening sessions with music supervisors, raising awareness and helping indie musicians gain feedback and connections.As a singer-songwriter, Elaine has toured Canada and the US, released two albums, two EPs, and over a dozen singles. Her music has been featured in ads for Amazon Fashion and Yogurette, and in TV shows on NBC and Amazon Prime.Elaine recently completed her self-help/business book, “Living a Music-Centered Life: A Musician’s Guide to Balance, Fulfillment, and Paying the Bills,” and is exploring publishing options.

Matt Levine

• mattlevinemusic.com
• instagram.com/mattlevinemusic

Matt Levine is a renowned composer and producer for games, film, TV, and other media, known for his memorable themes, technical prowess, and collaborative approach. Starting his career in 1995 in San Francisco, he founded Uncle Vector’s Audio Lab LLC in 1998, producing music for diverse clients.In 2000, Matt became Director of Audio Production at Beatnik Inc., working with top artists. He joined Sony Computer Entertainment America in 2005, contributing to 37 titles including The Last of Us, Uncharted 3, and Infamous: First Light.Since 2015, Matt has taught composition and production for video games at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He earned a certificate in Sound, Voice, and Music in the Healing Arts in 2017 and released the sound immersion app Tone Pool® in 2019.Matt is a frequent speaker at events like the Game Developers Conference, SF MusicTech Summit, and institutions including the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Academy of Art University.

Blake Cline

Blake is a vocal coach, tenor and actor who has spent most of his life on stage, in the vocal studio, or behind the scenes assisting singers to experience performing. He got his start as a stage actor and then worked his way to musical theater and performing in original bands. At 17 years old, Blake found his first singing teacher, and began training in art songs, arias, and legit music theater. His fascination for singing in different languages led him to travel to the north and south of Germany where he worked in cabaret theaters performing singspiel, and operetta. Blake started an original country western band in Seattle, Washington between performances. In Brazil, he appeared regularly with the Symphonic Orchestra of Belo Horizonte and the Orchestra of UFMG in Ouro Preto as a soloist in operas, symphonies, and recordings of sacred music. It was in Brazil where Blake first started teaching contemporary singing at the suggestion of a close friend and colleague. Blake has been in San Francisco, California since 2008 and has been active as a vocal coach, songwriter, student, and singer. He has coached many singers in the styles of rock, pop, southern soul, country music, and musical theater. It is Blake’s passion to assist singers in gaining their full expression through the art of music.

Brandon Sales

• dolby.com/institute/
• instagram.com/dolbylabs

As the Associate Music Program Manager at the Dolby Institute, Brandon Nales leads initiatives to engage the emerging music creative community and provide them with resources to create and share their music in Dolby Atmos.

Sami Freeman

• https://www.samifreemanmusic.com
• instagram.com/samifreemanmusic
• gooroomusic.com

Sami Freeman, a San Francisco-based artist, explores emotive soundscapes as a singer, pianist, and composer. Her music blends strings, synths, and keys, reflecting her passion for creating evocative atmospheres. Sami has scored documentaries and films, and recently released 'Space Bath', a 22-minute auditory journey contemplating dreams and mortality.She co-founded Gooroo Music, a Bay Area business specializing in custom music and licensing for brands like Adobe, Netflix, and IHOP x Disney. Outside of music, Sami enjoys surfing in San Francisco's Sunset district and cooking with her husband.

Sonnet Simmons

• 2indie.com

Sonnet Simmons’ original music has landed placements with major brands like Coca Cola, GoDaddy, Nivia, T-Mobile, and Microsoft, and TV shows like Younger, Riverdale, Katy Keene and many more. Former VP of music licensing company Catch The Moon and co-founder of 2Indie Music, Sonnet has been helping thousands of indie artists, singers, songwriters and producers around the world find success in sync. Sonnet is a mom of two toddlers and a Los Angeles native.

Ben Givarz

• dolby.com/institute/

As Sr. Creative Relations Mgr. on Dolby’s Music Partnerships team, Ben leads amplifying the stories of the creative community and music industry using Dolby’s music technologies.

Nate Baglyos

• kaliaudio.com

As Sr. Creative Relations Mgr. on Dolby’s Music Partnerships team, Ben leads amplifying the stories of the creative community and music industry using Dolby’s music technologies.

Guido Salaya

• gsmusic.com
• instagram.com/gsmusicarg/

Guido Salaya is the founder of GS Music, known for crafting high-quality analog synthesizers. An electronic engineer from the University of Buenos Aires, Guido combines technical expertise with a passion for music technology.As a designer of analog synthesizers and integrated circuits, Guido has led innovations in the field. His creations, such as the 7-voice polyphonic e7 synthesizer, feature cutting-edge tuning stabilization technology.Guido is also an assistant professor at the University of Buenos Aires, sharing his knowledge with future engineers. He actively participates in international music expos and collaborates with industry legends.Respected in the synthesizer community, Guido blends analog warmth with modern features, including support for MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE), advancing the expressive potential of electronic music.

Jen Knight

• https://www.instagram.com/mamasaidbandnv
• facebook.com/jenksf

Jen Knight wears a lot of hats. She's made a living with her voice since 2009. As a voice actor she has voiced thousands of projects including national commercials, video games, and singing toys. She walked the red carpet in Beverly Hills with a nomination for best VO in a radio commercial at the Voice Arts Awards and she was the live announcer for President Biden’s APEC gala where she announced London Breed, Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, and best of all, Gwen Stefani. As a vocalist she has sung in bands for over 3 decades and is a founding member of the rock band Mama Said, whose debut album was produced in LA by Jim McGorman of the Goo Goo Dolls in 2021. Mama Said plays shows around the SF Bay Area and has performed at Bottlerock Music Festival three times. In 2023 AI portraits and photoshoots caught her interest. She is a member of the Secret AI Society where she has trained under Jenna Soard, and now offers AI photoshoots to small business owners, entrepreneurs and artists. She is also a certified Life Coach and co-owns musician founded Ohm Coffee Roasters with her guitar player husband.

Stefan Aronsen

• instagram.com/StefanAronsen
• facebook.com/StefanAronsen

Stefan Aronsen has the skills of a Marketing Director and the portfolio of an Art Director. In addition to Balanced Breakfast he has managed multiple tech teams and launched three hotel brands. His specialty is marketing budgets, social media calendars, optimizing websites, running advertising, and creating video and photography assets. He enjoys public speaking, business travel, live music, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Elaine Huang
Founder, Neon Owl + Open Door Sessions

• instagram.com/neonowlco/
• neonowl.co

Elaine Huang founded Neon Owl, a music community and artist collective focused on philanthropy, in March 2015. Neon Owl connects artists, shares stories, and supports global charities. In 2017, Elaine launched Open Door Sessions, events that help artists get discovered and signed. These sessions have expanded to major cities like San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles, and are accessible online, benefiting creatives worldwide. Neon Owl has partnered with festivals like Groove Cruise and featured artists like Habstrakt, BIJOU, and Blanke. As it approaches its 10th year in 2025, Neon Owl remains committed to building an inclusive music community and inspiring positive change.

Saul Spady

• instagram.com/saulspady/

Stefan Aronsen has the skills of a Marketing Director and the portfolio of an Art Director. In addition to Balanced Breakfast he has managed multiple tech teams and launched three hotel brands. His specialty is marketing budgets, social media calendars, optimizing websites, running advertising, and creating video and photography assets. He enjoys public speaking, business travel, live music, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Tommy Speer Jr.

• instagram.com/tommyspeerjr

Oakland native Tommy Speer Jr. has leveraged his deep connections with the inception of electronic dance music in the United States to create a series of thriving businesses that support the culture. As the owner and founder of Vate Creative, an advertising agency and event production company, Tommy oversees the production and management of large scale festivals, block parties, branded stages, and invite only award show events. From personal DJ sets at industry parties to the creation of the Heineken Dome at Coachella, Tommy has been instrumental in merging sponsorship dollars with the beat of the streets for the past 20+ years.

Tiffany Wilson

• https://www.instagram.com/tffnywlsn/
• textmerecords.com

Tiffany Wilson is a Bay Area native with over five years of experience in launching and growing Text Me Records, an indie record label and publishing company in San Francisco. She is recognized as a community leader, driving collaboration through live shows, songwriting camps, and initiatives that prioritize artists and songwriters. Tiffany is passionate about supporting talented artists, especially those who feel isolated, and has been a speaker at The Recording Academy’s Music Publishing Summit and a mentor for womxn in the industry. At Text Me Records, she has played a key role in music education, career development, campaign strategy, securing press coverage, and facilitating over 50 sync licenses with partners like Twitch, YouTube, and Tracklib.
It was in recognizing how often talented artists feel alone and struggle to find resources and guidance that Tiffany became passionate about dedicating herself as a support system. In 2019 she was one of two speakers at The Recording Academy’s Music Publishing Summit in San Francisco, as well as a mentor to a fellow womxn in the industry through their mentorship program in 2022. She’s also gone on to provide contract work in music publishing education to the artists of the LA-based HiFi Labs. At Text Me Records, she’s been a key person in the music education of artists as well as the advancement of their careers. She’s been instrumental in developing campaign strategy, securing press coverage, confirming over 50 sync licenses, and fostering relationships with partners like Twitch, Youtube, Tracklib and more.

Jeff Straw

• www.instagram.com/jeffstrawbranding/
• jeffstrawbranding.com

"In 2024 Jeff already has 3 originals,16 bootlegs, and 60 live DJ/Sax mixes released, with three more confirmed releases before the end of 2024. He’s racked up a total of 100K streams across YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify and Instagram and 250K minutes watched on YouTube alone. Jeff has played well over 100 gigs already this year, notably upcoming Back to Mine showcase in Paris, France, headlining in Denver at the Beacon, his weekly Sindustry Sundays party in SF, headlining Paradisco Afterhours (Denver), and a monthly Saturday event in San Jose at the Continental.He's also a photographer and video creator dedicated to building brands.Jeff offers a range of brand consulting services for music artists and small businesses, leveraging his 25+ year career in the music industry. Jeff has had the pleasure of working with killer brands and artists like DMC World DJ Championships, Canva, and Opel/Opulent Temple, John Summit, Mau P, Thievery Corporation, Invisibl Skratch Piklz, Carl Cox, Claptone, The Crystal Method and many more.Jeff has also worked professionally in the business in licensing, publishing, marketing, music business education, distribution, and retail buying for international brands such as INgrooves, Virgin MegaStore, focus@will, Pyramind, and Icon Collective. He generated millions of dollars for Indie artists and labels through sync licensing and content monetization on YouTube.As an educator, he has taught music business for Icon Collective, Pyramind, and Berklee College of Music Online, as well as lectured and spoken on panels at Music Expo, Balanced Breakfast, SXSW, WMC, Music Business Night School for NARAS (the Grammys), and NARIP events.I absolutely love connecting and providing opportunities for everyone."