In the Headlines...
CMJ Music Marathon 2004
By: Cassie McCombs
The 2004 College Music Journal Music Marathon was a successful event
again this year, featuring independent bands and artists and various
companies addressing the college demographic. CMJ Music Marathon is an
opportunity for aspiring artists to be directly heard by industry
professionals and fans alike.
Thousands of independent artists performed October 13 through October 16 at well-known venues located throughout the city. While some artists are veterans of the industry, others were fairly new. Artists who performed at this year’s marathon included Straylight Run, Sparta, The Donnas, Sonic Youth, The Decemberists, Martin Luther, Ted Leo, Violet9 and Gratitude, to name a few. A complete listing can be found at www.cmj.com.
“The great thing about CMJ is the direct communication between people within the industry, performers and fans. Everyone is here because of their love for music and a desire to create a broader network and better music,” said Matt King, an event participant from Belmont University in Nashville, TN.
Also included in the listing of events were dozens of panels centralizing on controversial topics within the industry. Music downloading was a common topic, with the main discussion panel held on October 15th. Well known industry professionals from all over the country attended the event, as well as participated in the panels. Brian Wilson spoke about his newest release, “Smile” on the 14th. Collaborators and contributors to his album also joined the discussion. Al Franken was the keynote speaker, addressing politics, music and the radio industry.
Along with the shows and panels,
marathon participants were also invited to private screenings of films
during the week. Trey Parker and Matt Stone were at the screening of
‘Team America: World Police’ and participated in a question and answer
session with the audience after the film. ‘Eulogy’ was also privately
screened during the week.
With the purchase of the necessary Music Marathon badges, entrants and attendees were also able to attend the DigitalLife expo that was being held at the same time.
CMJ hosts a music fest at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio June 9-11 2005. More information can be found at www.cmj.com/rockfest.
Those interested in exhibiting, performing or attending CMJ2005 should monitor www.cmj.com for more information about admission badges and prices.