Music Cities Convention

October 11-12, 2018

Music Cities Convention is the world’s first event to explore the relationship between city planning, strategy, development, and the music industry. From venue and community space development to education, employment, event provision, licensing, regulation and demographics, music industries impact a number of issues prevalent in city planning, strategy, regulative and legislative aspects. Music Cities Convention will bring together the top minds from municipalities, regions, academics, consultancies and the music industry to discuss, debate and introduce new thinking, action, and structure to develop more vibrant, global cities.

This editions' theme is Diversity & Improving our Cities and Communities through Music.

It will be the 7th edition of Music Cities Convention and 3rd to be held in the USA.

Three hundred delegates, from all over the world, will participate in two full days of presentations, panels, and roundtable sessions as well as a lot of networking opportunities and live music!

You will also get the opportunity to immerse yourself in Louisiana's Zydeco, Cajun & Creole Country, and attend the amazing Festivals Acadiens et Creoles taking place from October 11-14, 2018.

#MusicCitiesLafayette

Hotel Deals

DoubleTree by Hilton

Nights Available: October 9-13
Nightly Rate: $109 for 2 double beds or $119 for 1 king bed (available until September 25)
To Book: Click here or call +1-337-235-6111 and use the group code MUS

Comfort Suites

Nights Available: October 10 - 13
Nightly Rate: $99, all suites and includes a free hot buffet breakfast (available until sold out)
To Book: Call 337-456-8390 and ask to make a reservation in the MCC group, Music Cities Conference

Courtyard by Marriott

Nights Available: October 10 - 13
Nightly Rate: $112 (available until September 28)
To Book: Click here

Conference Schedule

Wednesday, October 10
Opening Reception – Cajun Jam at the Blue Moon Saloon

Thursday, October 11
9:15 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Main Convention
Thursday Evening Reception – Lafayette Musical Showcase

Friday, October 12
9:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Main Convention
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Festivals Acadiens et Creoles

Saturday, October 13
10:30 a.m. - 7:45 p.m. Festivals Acadiens et Creoles

Sunday, October 14
10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Festivals Acadiens et Creoles

Conference Speakers

Joel Robideaux, Mayor-President, Lafayette, Louisiana (USA)

Gillian McDaniel, Senior Director of Entertainment in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sport (Jamaica)

Carmen Gloria Larenas, Artistic Director, Teatro del Lago & Manager, Journalist & Ballet Dancer (Chile)

Al Bell, Former Chairman & Owner, Stax Records/Former President, Motown Records Group/Chairman & CEO, Al Bell Presents (USA)

Abed Hathot, Co-Founder, Palestine Music Expo (Palestine/USA)

Sharon Yazowski, Executive Director, Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation (USA)

Laura Simpson, CEO and Co-Founder, Side Door (Canada)

Pena Schmidt, Music Producer (Brazil)

Tara Hernandez, President, JCH Properties (Louisiana, USA)

Joey Stuckey, Official Music Ambassador, Macon Georgia (USA)

Adriana Kertzer, Design Entrepreneur, Attorney, Digital Product Manager, and Author (New York, USA)

Greg DeShields, Executive Director, PHL Diversity, Philadelphia Visitors & Convention Bureau (USA)

John Sommerlad, Director of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and Director of Business and Community, Tamworth Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia

Margaret M. Lioi, CEO, Chamber Music America (New York, USA)

Nolfris “Slim Kuttar” Williams, Musician, Music Executive & Former Pro Basketball Player (Louisiana, USA)

Clara Barbera, Director for Student Affairs, Diversity and Inclusion at the Valencia Campus, Berklee (Spain)

Jordan Lee, Program Director, WYMS 88NINE Radio Milwaukee (Wisconsin, USA)

Anya Burgess, Owner, Sola Violins & Performer, Bonsoir Catin & the Magnolia sisters (Louisiana, USA)

Alyssa Kelley, Project Manager, Artspace Projects, Inc. (Minnesota, USA)

Warwick Sabin, Senior Director for U.S. Programs at Winrock International, Arkansas House of Representatives and is running for mayor of Little Rock in the 2018 election (Arkansas, USA)

Johnathan Peter Williams, Founder/CEO, Quality of Life Services & Founder/President, Love of People Non-profit (Louisiana, USA)

Cary Clarke, Executive Director, Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington (Oregon, USA)

Tim Scott, Jr, Artist-In-Residence, Charlotte Center City Partners (North Carolina, USA)

Kelly Wells, Executive Director, KDHX (Missouri, USA)

Dr. Liana Valente, National Federation of Music Clubs Representative to the United Nations Department of Public Information & Classical Voice Area Coordinator, Howard University (Washington DC, USA)

Sari Delmar, Program Director, For Those Who Tour, The Participation Agency (New York, USA)

Matt McArthur, Founding Executive Director, The Record Company, Boston (Massachusetts, USA)

Kate Durio, CREATE Lafayette & Assistant to the Mayor-President, Lafayette, Louisiana (USA)

Sung Cho, Founder & CEO, Chartmetric.io (California, USA)

Kath Davies, Economic Resilience Project Manager (Creative Economy), Kirklees Council (UK)

Herman Fuselier, Music and Entertainment Writer, Daily Advertiser and Times of Acadiana, and Host of

Zydeco Stomp on KRVS 88.7FM (Louisiana, USA)

Austin Barrow, MAD/Murphy Arts District, El Dorado Festivals & Events (Arkansas, USA)

Mike Henry, CEO, Paragon (Colorado, USA)

David Dudley, Executive Editor, CityLab (New York, USA)

Sherri McConnell, Assistant to the Secretary for Special Projects & Public Policy