More In Music Holds Inaugural Conference with D Smoke and Dozens of Industry Professionals

More In Music was established by Noelle Chesnut Whitmore in February 2019. Motivated by a desire to impact her community and instigate positive change, she saw the need to educate, especially young people, on the values of hard work, history, God, and perseverance. Combining her love for music with her commitment to giving back, More In Music was created to fulfill this vision.

More In Music is a multi-faceted nonprofit, with a mission to More In Music aims to bridge generation gaps through skill workshops, panel discussions with industry pros, networking events, mentorship programs, internships, podcasts, and digital programming. Using her connections formed for years working at companies like Goldenvoice and The Recording Academy/GRAMMY Awards, and, as CEO of the Peace & Purpose Agency, running marketing campaigns for clients like Netflix, BMW, and AFROPUNK, Whitmore has invited a list of speakers and panelists from all over the industry, including Merck Mercuriadis, the founder and CEO of Hipgnosis Song Fund, and dozens of other executives from all sectors of the industry.

Daniel “D Smoke” Farris is a three-time GRAMMY-nominated musician, actor, and author. This untraditional triple-threat is in the midst of completing his 3rd full length album; is the lead of the short film, “Play Hard”, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival; guest stars in Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown; and has a young adult novel that’s soon to be published.

Dedicated to making the music industry more accessible through education, mentorship, and more, multi-faceted nonprofit More In Music is an invaluable resource for aspiring professionals. This weekend, More In Music hosted the inaugural More In Music Conference at Cal State Northridge in Los Angeles, welcoming hundreds of current and aspiring music industry pros to network, engage in panel discussions, and attend workshops, all designed to give actionable advice and provide crucial context for those who wish to make a career in music. 

Among the topics covered included data analysis in the music industry, A&R, artist management, breaking onto the scene as an artist, and navigating the industry as a professional, and notable speakers included L.A. hip-hop fixture DJ Hed, artists Fana Hues and Kenyon Dixon, producers like Ichiban Don and Killah B, and professionals from companies like Live Nation, Def Jam, TikTok, Spotify, CAA, Warner Records, UnitedMasters, YouTube, and more. 

As day turned to night, the More In Music Conference gave way to the More In Music: Sound Mind Summit, a free event focused on wellness and mental health, and featuring a headlining performance from L.A. rapper D Smoke. Presented by the L.A. Department of Mental Health’s Take Action LA (“Take Action for Yourself, Take Action for Others, and Take Action for your Community”), the Sound Mind Summit featured Fireside Chat with Dr. Carroll Brown and D Smoke about mental wellness best practices for artists, and created   a supportive space for open discussions on mental well-being while connecting students and the community with valuable resources.

Uniquely among conferences of this type, More In Music was executed and organized by a Cohort of students, who work edin tandem with the More In Music team, a group of expert Industry Facilitators, and the More In Music Advisory Board to produce the event in its entirety. The conference was a valuable learning experience for students, providing college students and the Los Angeles community-at-large with the opportunity to gain exposure to careers in the music industry, and learn from some of the most accomplished executives in the business.

Though the conference has successfully wrapped, More In Music’s mission–to inspire all generations of music professionals, who will help the industry reach a more equitable and ethical future–continues. More In Music is always looking for partners, donors, and volunteers who are passionate about educating others, inspiring the youth, and transforming the culture. Please visit MoreInMusic.org for more information about getting involved. More In Music partners have the opportunity to play a crucial role in shaping the future of music.

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