Check-in and grab your credentials for the Summit. After, peruse the Resource Table, which will feature materials with information about useful tools and platforms for music creatives and professionals.

Marcella Simien will lead a 10-minute breathwork and centering experience designed to ground the room, calm the nervous system, and prepare attendees for a day of inspiration and creative exchange.

Opening remarks from Erin Frankenheimer (Executive Director, Memphis Chapter) and Tim Kappel (President, Memphis Chapter).

To kick off the Creators Summit and set the tone for an afternoon of connection, we’re launching a Group Speed Networking activation designed to welcome attendees into a low-pressure, high-energy environment. This structured format allows creators at all comfort levels to ease into networking while still making meaningful, purposeful connections.

Participants will rotate through small-group conversations organized by focus areas across the music ecosystem, giving them the opportunity to meet peers, exchange ideas, and identify potential collaborators. To help guide each group, Recording Academy Memphis Chapter Board Members will serve as lead conversationalists at each table, offering industry insights, answering questions about the Academy’s work, and sharing their own perspectives as creators and professionals.

This activation is all about building early momentum, breaking the ice, and ensuring every attendee feels anchored, welcomed, and ready to engage throughout the rest of the Summit.

A deep dive into one of the most urgent topics for today’s music makers: understanding how to generate real, sustainable income from your creative work. This conversation will break down the modern revenue ecosystem – from mechanical royalties and publishing administration to digital monetization, platform strategy, and emerging creator economy opportunities.

Moderated by Charles Seaton (Crosstown Arts), the conversation will feature Lindsey Major from The MLC and Christina Stevison (formerly of Connect Music and now with Google/YouTube). The panel will offer actionable insights and real-world guidance to help creators identify revenue streams, claim the royalties they’re owed, and position themselves for long-term financial success in an evolving industry landscape.

This session will dive into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of music creation—and what’s being done to protect human artistry in the process. Featuring Reid Wick, with Advocacy Committee Co-Chair Karin Bliznik and S&C Committee Co-Chair Suzannah Powell, the conversation will unpack current legislation the Recording Academy is championing to ensure fair protections and recognition for music creators in the age of AI.

Attendees will also hear from artists and songwriters through short video testimonials about AI’s impact on creativity, take part in a digital letter-writing moment to their respective legislators advocating for stronger AI protections, and end with a “popcorn” songwriting experience led by S&C Committee member Enrique Chi – a powerful reminder that human creativity remains the true innovation.

In Partnership with S&C Wing and Advocacy

After a brief tour of Southern Grooves Studio, Matt Ross-Spang will dive into his creative and technical process—sharing how he approached remixing a song from Elvis Presley’s catalog and his recent work with St. Paul and the Broken Bones. Attendees will get a look behind the board, hear insights from real session files, and participate in an open Q&A. This is a rare chance to learn directly from one of the region’s most celebrated producers and engineers in his own creative environment.

Note: Due to limited capacity, you must RSVP for this breakout session.

In Partnership with P&E Wing

A fireside chat between Elizabeth Cawein, Talibah Safiya, and Mayor Paul Young focused on the importance of the arts—specifically music—to the City of Memphis: creativity, workforce, cultural tourism, and economic development.