AUSTIN, Texas — More than 1,000 independent artists are spending the weekend learning from some of the best in the business.
For the first time, digital music distribution company CD Baby has brought its "DIY Musician Conference" to Austin. The event runs through Sunday afternoon at the Hilton Austin on East Fourth Street.
The Roots' Questlove spoke Friday and rapper DMC, from iconic hip-hop group Run-DMC, is speaking Saturday night.
There's a mix of talks and workshops spread throughout the weekend, covering performance, royalties and more music industry topics to help independent artists learn how to move their careers forward.
"We have everything. People from Spotify and YouTube presenting, helping artists understand how they can better use those platforms to advance their music," Kevin Breuner with CD Baby said.
"I came to this conference to learn a little bit more about the knowledge of music and just anything I can't do and that I want to learn how to do," Camryn Taylor, a singer-songwriter from Pflugerville, told KVUE.
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The conference also features a number of Texas-based speakers and presenters, including musicians Alejandro Escovedo and Gina Chavez, freestyler SaulPaul, David Messier of Same Sky Productions, video director/producer Traci Goudie, drummer/producer Stephen Belans, Caren Kelleher of Gold Rush Vinyl and talent buyer Mike Henry.
Bob Boilen from NPR's "All Things Considered," label founder and video producer Shan Dan Horan, songwriter Judy Stakee and Afrofuturist SassyBlack are also leading workshops throughout the weekend.
The DIY Music Conference previously took place in Nashville and Chicago, and the organizers said they're looking to bring it back to Austin next year.
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