[Photo courtesy of the Ohio Music Industry Summit’s Instagram]

By Kourtney Gierke, Contributor

[Editor’s Note: As of 4:36 p.m. today, the Closing Night Concert and keynote panel with Julien Baker and TORRES has been cancelled.]

The weather’s getting warmer, the school year is coming to an end, and of course, the annual Music Industry Summit is right around the corner. Ohio University’s Music Industry Summit is a three-day conference taking place in the heart of campus. The summit, organized by Josh Antonuccio, director of OU’s School of Media Arts & Studies, features educational panels, interviews with artists and music industry leaders, individual mentoring sessions and even exclusive concerts.

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Speaking of concerts, some great musicians are headlining the Music Industry Summit. Tuesday, March 25 kicks off the summit with a performance by Charles Wesley Godwin, the West Virginian country-folk artist. Next up on the lineup is hip-hop legend DJ Premier with his own set at the Music Industry Summit Opening Night Party on Wednesday, March 26. Thursday, March 27 concludes the summit with a performance by Julien Baker and TORRES, indie singer-songwriters. Additionally, each performer will have their own keynote session earlier in the day.

The local music scene will be showcased as well. The Music Industry Summit is featuring opening performances on Wednesday and Thursday from Athens based artists J-Tolb and Jillian Kay. J-Tolb, the jazz-inspired hip hop musician, will perform on Wednesday. On being given the opportunity to perform, he said, “I have been an attendant since my first year on campus, so I think this moment is a testament to my growth both as a person and as an artist.”

Jillian Kay, 20-year-old alternative pop artist, will perform on the final day of the summit. When asked what we can expect from her performance, she wrote, “The majority of the set will be originals of mine,” further saying she is most excited to perform her original “Every Night,” written about Athens, Ohio.

On Thursday, ACRN will host a breakout session panel about building and sustaining a DIY music scene. This panel is perfect for a wide audience, as it will explain how to establish and maintain a regional art scene.

Many ACRN alumni will also speak at the panel, including music journalists Chris Deville, Rob Harvilla, Jill Mapes and content manager Sarah Kloboves. In their mentoring sessions, panelists will work one-on-one with three attendants, providing discussion and industry insight in their work.

After the summit, be sure to attend the after party. The official after party is hosted by Women In the Music Industry and will take place on Thursday at 8 p.m. with a special “y’allternative” theme.

From enjoying a wide variety of concerts to learning from music industry professionals, this year’s Music Industry Summit will offer a lot to see and a lot to learn. We hope to see you there!