A Look Back at the Groundbreaking CD Baby DIY Musician Conference
As we venture into the vibrant landscape of the music industry in 2025, let’s take a moment to appreciate the milestones that paved the way for independent . One event that stands out is the inaugural CD Baby DIY Musician Conference, which took place a decade ago in October 2015. This conference, the first of its kind, united musicians from the globe in Chicago, offering them tools, ideas, and practices to manage and promote their careers independently. The event was a resounding success and served as a stepping stone for many in their journey towards musical success.
Conference Highlights
The conference brought together over a thousand musicians from twelve countries, spanning a multitude of backgrounds and genres. The aim was singular – to provide with actionable advice that they could use to manage their careers independently. CD Baby CEO Tracy Maddux viewed the conference as a crucial event for introducing artists to tools to monetize their music, promote themselves, and build their music careers.
Speaker Lineup
Renowned speakers at the conference included live music producer Tom Jackson, who has worked with pop icons like Taylor Swift, and respected session drummer Martin Atkins. They were joined by leading voices from advocacy platforms and services like Pledge Music, Kickstarter, and Berklee Online.
Chicago: The Perfect Host
The choice of Chicago as the conference venue was strategic. The city’s lively music scene, although not as renowned as Nashville, Austin, or New York, is diverse and dynamic. According to Kevin Breuner, VP of Marketing at CD Baby, the city was teeming with exciting things happening in the community, making it the perfect backdrop for this landmark event.
The DIY Musician Conference was a notable event that generated a significant response from the music community, paving the way for similar future events.
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