Measure of Music 2021 Closing Remarks
Measure of Music was a three-day music & data conference & workshop/hackathon with 1000+ viewers, participants & contributors. The entire event was done for less than $250, took less than 3 months to plan, ran on Zoom, and was live-streamed to YouTube Live for spectators. Read more about it on measureofmusic.com. Below are the closing remarks founder, Christine Osazuwa delivered at the end of the first Measure of Music.
*****
It’s been an incredible weekend.
Though the topics were what you always hear about at music conferences, like marketing, labels, career, tech, etc. the conversation was so rich. Discussions on diversity in those making music and those working in music, the changing nature of genre; demystifying the monolith misconceptions on markets like Nigeria, and how to take care of the artists we love with discussions around personal finance and empowering artists with data and bespoke services.
The richness of this conversation was entirely because of our amazing panelists & participants.
With over 20 countries represented, this event was majority-minority for gender & race for speakers and participants.
People showed up to talk about what they know best without asterisks or othering.
You can have a panel with all women and NOT call it a “Women in blank” panel (we did that!) You can have a panel without any White people on it and not call it a “Diversity in blank” panel (again, we did that too!)
For two speakers this weekend, this was their first-ever public speaking engagement. they were both women under 30 years old. the speakers (and participants) ages ranged from early twenties to 40+ years old because all voices are valuable. All people have something important to say regardless of seniority & title.
Growing up it was so rare to look up and see myself… anywhere, especially as a little Black girl who grew up in the Baltimore suburbs going to Fall Out Boy shows.
I don’t know if he’s watching but back when I was at UMG, a colleague I admired was the first to ever ask “what do you want to do in music?” and it was the first time I said out loud to anyone “I want to change the music industry.”
This event is an example of what I meant.
This event was for the little girls with guitars, the first-generation Americans, the Women in tech, the STEM students that love music, but most importantly, it was for everyone.
Things are certainly getting better but there are still plenty of places that there is a supreme inequity in voices.
I hope this showed that music talent (and pop music) doesn’t just come from Europe & Anglo markets. I hope it showed the viability of data in music as a career and that people in those roles also create work just as meaningful, impactful & innovative as their colleagues with more traditional industry roles.
But really, I hope it showed that the music industry and the tech industry can be safe spaces.
So, this is a little slice of what I hope the future of music and tech can look like, and thank you to everyone involved for making this happen.
Watch the full talk here: