Now in its fourth year, the Tampa Music Conference brings together the movers-and-shakers of the local and national hip-hop music industry for an evening of networking, discussion and performance. The 2007 event features guests panelists Mike Clarke and Mike Watts of Swisha House, a Houston-based, independent Southern rap record label that's represented artists like Slim Thug and Chamillionaire; BMI's Jerry Vila; Michael "Blue" Williams, who founded Family Tree Entertainment and helped manage the careers of hip-hop and R&B performers such as Macy Gray, Jagged Edge, Nick Cannon and, most famously, Outkast; Original Man Entertainment Group's Tracy Randall; Wendy Day of Rap Coalition, a nonprofit that keeps artists from being exploited; DJ Sandman of TampaHipHop.com and WSSR-95.7 "The Beat"; Domino, the manager/producer/DJ of hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics; and B.E.T. VJ Mad Linx. Each will give his or her professional point-of-view on a variety of topics, including "Digital Distribution" and "Overseas Marketing and Promotion." Evenin' Ridahz, Rated R and Urban Soul perform afterwards. Wed., June 6, 5-10 p.m., The Event Factory, 7565 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, $30 in advance/$40 day of event, 813-385-0357, tmconf.com; an after party occurs from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Full Moon Saloon, 1613 Seventh Ave., Ybor City.
This article appears in May 30 – Jun 5, 2007.