*Radio/Industry Attendees Only

TUESDAY, MAY 5

4:30 PM  

Registration open *

5:00 PM – 6:45 PM  

Opening Night Party*
Sponsored by ATO / Red Light Management

EVENING SHOWCASES (7pm-11pm)

The Lounge / PRX Stage – upstairs 

RYAN BINGHAM
FRIKO
TELEHEALTH
STEPHEN WILSON JR.

The Music Hall / NPR Stage – downstairs

THE HOOTERS
MOLLY TUTTLE
ARLO PARKS
TYLER BALLGAME

 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6

Coffee and breakfast snacks available starting at 9 AM supported by Missing Piece Records/Pioneer Management.

9:00 AM  

Registration open*

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM – meeting (The Lounge - upstairs)

GIMME THREE STEPS* 
Moderated by Roger LaMay (General Manager, WXPN)
Panelists: Allie Vanyur (Program Officer, Public Media Bridge Fund), Mark Keefe (General Manager, WNRN), Jordan Lee (Executive Director, Radio Milwaukee), Sonali Mehta (Executive Director, NPR Music)
What are the most important steps stations can take to increase impact and financial viability in a changing public radio music landscape. We’ll hear from a range of folks that will suggest each three essential moves to be made.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM – meeting (The Lounge - upstairs)

PROGRAMMING #1 LOCAL*
Moderated by Val Hoeppner (General Manager, WMOT)
Panelists: Desire Moses (WNRN), Hillary Gordon (Director of Marketing, Promotion, and Engagement, and Host, The SoCal Sound)
Engaging and supporting your local music community. We’ll hear from stations about their local music initiatives.

11:30 AM (The Lounge – upstairs) 

Lunch*
Supported by Thirty Tigers, The Cardinals, Secretly Group.

12:00 PM-12:55 PM – Free At Noon (The Music Hall / NPR Stage - downstairs)

BEBE STOCKWELL 

RHIANNON GIDDENS

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM – meeting  (The Lounge - upstairs)

AI - IT'S HERE: NOW WHAT?*
Moderated by Bruce Warren (WXPN)
Panelists: Joel Habbeshaw (New West Records), David Safar (The Current), Stephen Kallao (Contributing Host, World Cafe/WXPN)
When and where should we use it in on-air, on our digital platforms to behind-the-scenes in our business processes, and what will audiences think about it.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM –  (The Lounge - upstairs)

WORLD CAFE® INTERVIEW WITH DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE*
Hosted by World Cafe® host Raina Douris

4:00 PM – 8:00 PM  

Open Dinner Period

EVENING SHOWCASES (8 PM - 11 PM)

The Lounge / PRX Stage– upstairs 

WEIRD NIGHTMARE
CARDINALS
FANTASTIC CAT

The Music Hall / NPR Stage– downstairs

BLESSING JOLIE
KEVIN MORBY
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

 

THURSDAY, MAY 7

Coffee and breakfast snacks available starting at 9 AM supported by Missing Piece Records/Pioneer Management.

9:00 AM  

Registration open* 

9:3O AM - 10:30 AM– meeting  (The Lounge - upstairs)

RETHINKING ARTIST DEVELOPMENT IN NONCOMMERCIAL RADIO*
Moderated by Kyle Hauser
Panelists: David Safar (The Current & Carbon Sound Minneapolis), Element Everest-Blanks (HYFIN Milwaukee), Chris Kellogg (KEXP Seattle), Liza Levy (Salt Lick)
Artist Development is often considered part of a station’s mission. In the summer of 2025, a hands-on summit hosted by the Music District brought stations together to explore practical applications and effective programming. The summit modeled artist development in real time through two writing camps: one with Concord Music and Soundsync Music focused on sync licensing, and another with Salt Lick Incubator centered on traditional artist songwriting. Industry experts and working musicians advised stations as they developed pilot initiatives tailored to their communities and capacity.

This session will highlight key themes, practical examples, and early concepts that emerged from the summit, and open a conversation about how stations might approach Artist Development in ways that align with their goals and resources.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM– meeting  (The Lounge - upstairs)

ONE ON ONE WITH BRANDON FLOWERS* 
Lead singer of The Killers premieres and talks with World Cafe's® Raina Douris about his career and new solo album.

11:30 AM (The Lounge – upstairs) 

Lunch*
Supported by Beggars Group, Sub Pop, Sony Music.

12:00 PM-12:55 PM – Free At Noon (The Music Hall / NPR Stage - downstairs)

MON ROVÎA
MEDIUM BUILD

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM– meeting  (The Lounge - upstairs)

BURNING QUESTIONS WITH JIM MCGUINN (WXPN)
Panelists: Michelle Rutkowski (WXRT), Lesley James (KXT), Brad Savage (WAPS), Erica Collins (Q Prime), Michelle Feghali (Sub Pop), Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie)—plus YOU.
A fast-paced conversation covering what’s keeping radio, labels, managers, and artists up at night. What’s working? What’s broken? Questions come straight from the “Hat of Chaos,” creating an unpredictable, candid hour of insight, debate, and real talk across AAA.

2:30 PM - 3:45 PM– meeting  (The Lounge - upstairs)

NON-COMMVERSATION WITH ANI DIFRANCO*
Hosted by Dan Reed, WXPN
Dan Reed talks with Ani Difranco, and Ani answers your questions!

3:45 PM – 8:00 PM  

Open Dinner Period 

EVENING SHOWCASES (8 PM - 11 PM)

The Lounge / PRX Stage– upstairs 

ALEX AMEN
BUFFALO TRAFFIC JAM
FREAK SLUG
THE ANIMEROS

The Music Hall / NPR Stage – downstairs

BROTHER WALLACE
HANNAH COHEN
BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE

 

FRIDAY, MAY 8

Hot breakfast available starting at 9:00 AM supported by Republic Collective. 

9:00 AM  

Registration open 

10:00 AM - 11:45 AM – meeting  (The Lounge - upstairs)

The Music Meeting
Hosted by Margo Chobanian (Host and Program Director, The Colorado Sound)
Plus the announcement of this year’s “Rita Houston Spirit Of NON-COMM” award.

12:00 PM-12:55 PM – Free At Noon (The Music Hall / NPR Stage - downstairs)

GAIL ANN DORSEY
HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER

 

Schedule subject to change.