By Jordyn Taylor
The D.C. Music Summit has returned for its sixth annual music conference hosted at Anacostia High School on March 22-23.
The two-day conference was filled with industry panels, live performances from local artists, hearty food, and more. This year, the conference focused on highlighting the importance of community for sustainability in the music industry, exemplified by the slogan, “It Takes A Village.”
Thus, the conference kicked off with an old-school pep rally to welcome all guests and visitors to the nation’s capital. Performances from Malik Dope, The Experience Band & Show, and Nia Monae garnered large applause from the crowd. Guests networked and danced the night away in anticipation of the next morning’s events.
Blanche Coleman, an up-and-coming artist from Atlanta, came to the conference in hopes of sowing his roots into the live music scene and connecting with artists attending the conference.
“When I came to visit during the 2022 conference, I was blown away by the love that this community has for music and true artistry. I wanted to tap into that this year and build a base, so that when I move here in August, I am hitting the ground running and collaborating with people here,” Coleman said.
Dr. Catherine Smith and Leslie Pridgen host their “The Business of Music” workshop in an Anacostia High School classroom. Guests were encouraged to take notes and ask many questions. (Photo/Instagram @2infinite.jpg)
Founded in a warehouse in 2016, the DC Music Summit serves as a collaborative space for artists, industry professionals, and music enthusiasts to come together, exchange ideas, and celebrate the entrepreneurial opportunities that lie in D.C.’s musical landscape.
With the support of Jonna Humphries and Aerica Banks, Dior Ashley Brown launched the summit in hopes of targeting underserved communities and businesses by strategically making the conference accessible to creative minorities, high school children, and underground independent artists.
“I started it [DC Music Summit] because I wanted to empower my creative community to see what was right in front of them. I was concerned about my community. We were not able to pay our rent and thrive. They were blossoming into great artists, but we also had to pay these rents and it was just crazy,” said Brown.
“As an artist, I was going to all these conferences, but I wasn’t seeing myself there. I didn’t see a lot of brown faces. I didn’t see us in the marketing materials. Not saying that you couldn’t go, it just didn’t seem like there weren’t any people of color represented. And I just really, it just was like, I wanna create something like this,” Brown finished.
Day two of the conference started bright and early at 8 AM with guests enjoying bagels, coffee, and chattering about the events of the night before. Nessa Dove, a D.C.-based guitarist, awoke many attendees with the playing of a guitar rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.
A highlight of the summit is its emphasis on the need for shared knowledge and learning through its series of educational panels, touching on the power of music therapy, how to reach out to libraries and sync licensing agents, music copyright law, and more.
The spotlighted panel for the conference was the ‘Music Industry A-Z’ panel, featuring founder Dior Ashley Brown, Tamara Wellons, Eric “E Z” Tommy, Sandra Basanti, Caroline Phillips and hosted by Little Bacon Bear. The panelists talked about how to make money as an artist, how to stay true to your artistry, and the challenges facing artists going into the next century of music.
Beyond education and networking, the Summit also celebrates the artistry of its participants. Performers from various genres graced the stage, captivating audiences with their talent and creativity. (Photo/Instagram @2infinite.jpg)
DJ Heat, named a Top TikToker of 2021 by the Washingtonian, was this year’s keynote speaker for the conference. As a proud resident of Washington, DC, DJ Heat spins for the Washington Mystics and Washington Wizards basketball teams at the Capitol One Arena.
She talked of the importance of community and love for your craft, as well as how her identity as a Black woman and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community shaped her throughout her time forging a path for other female DJs.
“The D.C. community has always been so kind and loving to me throughout my journey. To receive my flowers today for that work means more to me than I can even say right now,” the DJ shared.
In between panels, guests could support local businesses like Be Empowered Clothing and R Street Studio, which were hosted in a mini pop-up shop. Anacostia High School students could be spotted volunteering for the event, helping out with equipment, or moving chairs for panels.
The conference wrapped up in the evening with performances by Kontrolled Khaos, Dumi Right, and Determine 2 Crank. Guests left with goodie bags and invitations to next year’s conference. As the year progresses, the DC Music Summit is excited to host local events to promote artistry in the DMV. To learn more about future events, please visit here.
