Music BC is proud to present How-To From Home - a digital series dedicated to helping musicians and music professionals master their approach to digital strategies, tools and concepts. Each episode will bring industry experts, artists and creative professionals that specialize in the digital music space to take part in in-depth discussions, share knowledge and examine real-world case studies.

The Virtual Performance Age - Where Are We Now? (PART 1)

Industry Forum For Artists & Online Presenters

Hosted by Tyler Bancroft (Said The Whale, Be Good Artist Management)

Virtual performances have become the main vehicle for artists and DJs to connect with their audiences and communities, are these presentations here to stay? How has the industry evolved, and what are the latest tools & strategies to entice viewers? What can different music communities and genres teach each other? Discussions will also explore the tenability of future hybrid models with audiences in person and online, live vs. pre-recorded, and which streaming platforms are currently moving the needle - what does the data tell us? We sit down with industry members, promoters and event producers to reflect on the state of the concert business one year on from lockdown - where are we now, and how far have we come?

Friday, March 12th

11:00AM - 12:30PM

Tickets $10

$5 for Music BC members

Email Kentya at kentya@musicbc.org for your member discount code.

Hosted by Tyler Bancroft (Said The Whale / Be Good Artist Management)

Tyler Bancroft is a founding member of JUNO award winning Vancouver-based band Said The Whale. Throughout it's decade-plus career, the group have amassed a loyal following across Canada and beyond, achieved several top-5 radio songs including a #1 hit at the Alternative format, and sold over 70,000 records. Tyler has been instrumental in the professional development of the band, and has helped them gain a reputation for employing creative out-of-the-box marketing techniques and using technology to create unique levels of access to the band. Tyler’s deep involvement in the business and marketing side of his career made for a seamless segue into artist management. After spending two-years in project management at Light Organ Records, he founded Be Good Artist Management as a banner under which to manage Said The Whale and a small roster of developing acts.

Blake Coppelson (Founder/CEO of Proximity)

Recognized for creating one of the largest outlets for sharing electronic dance music (EDM) in the world, Blake Coppelson is Founder/CEO behind the popular digital platform, Proximity. Bringing the platform to fruition at the age of 17, Coppelson has amassed a renowned reputation with the brand - having one of the strongest followings in the music industry with over 8.7 million subscribers and 4 billion views on YouTube. Proximity has played important roles in major label marketing plans such as DJ Snake & Justin Bieber's "Let Me Love You" with almost 1B views contributed, as well as playing a key role in the success of Galantis' "Runaway (U & I). Blake continued to evolve the brand by creating his own record label in 2017 supporting roughly 200 musicians and signing over 400 records. In 2020, Proximity also took advantage of the lockdowns by creating the first ever 3 day long online music festival called "Digital Mirage” with over 2M attendees and 550,000 dollars raised across the 3 renditions.

Sacha Miller (Owner, Work Late Agency)

Sacha Miller is the owner of Work Late, a boutique agency specializing in music festival properties and brand marketing and publicity. Work Late has provided a variety of services for Canada's largest festivals and events including Canadian Music Week, Festival d'été, POP Montreal, WayHome Music & Arts, NXNE and more. Services include innovative event activations, digital marketing, creative content development, integrated sponsorships, onsite media management and publicity.

Dhruv SK (5X Festival / Snakes x Ladders)

From Hyderabad, India, Dhruv has recently moved to Vancouver and brings with him a wealth of experience in event management, marketing and AR + VR . He is currently the A&R at Snakes x Ladders and also works closely with the team at 5X Festival.

5X is a global brand and online community that champions South Asian youth culture for ages 16-35. We bring the liberated spaces of social media into a real, physical experience. Our flagship Surrey festival, taking inspiration from both SXSW and Afropunk, features the best of South Asian music, art, fashion, and film.

Ashley Donald (Production Operations Manager, Sofar Sounds)

Ashley is a sound engineer, producer, and content creator from Washington, D.C. Currently, Ashley works as a Production Operations Manager at Sofar Sounds while also taking on freelance projects. During her free time, you can find her hiking with her dog Gio, playing Zelda, and spending time with friends and family.

Topics for discussion:

- industry members, promoters and virtual event producers sit down to reflect on the state of the concert business one year since lockdown

- discuss the success, reach and impact of virtual events / presentations

- outline some of the tools, strategies (and some of the struggle) presenters are using in their event broadcasts

- compare perspectives from different sectors, what can the electronic sector teach other parts of the industry pivoting?

- Introduce and discuss some of the newest platforms helping move the needle for artists / presenters going virtual

Our forum of industry representatives will also be available to take questions from the audience during a 30-min breakout Q&A period.

Thank you Creative BC, The Province of British Columbia, FACTOR and the Government of Canada for their support in this initiative.