artist toolkit
Based on the experience of Berklee's Open Music Initiative 2017 Summer Lab Workshop, this Toolkit will offer recommendations of how other organizations can replicate the activities and conditions, in order to implement similar programming, at various scales and budgets, in diverse backgrounds and communities, toward achieving a similar objective of exploring the intersections between creativity and technology.
Use the links below to navigate through the Toolkit.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Identification and selection of participants, facilitators and sponsors
Ideal conditions and criteria for successful Workshop design and implementation
Training materials, slides and presentation notes
Recommended readings and additional resources
program description
WHo?
A Music Technology Workshop exists for participants of a local creative economy, such as artists, technologists, entrepreneurs, investors, influencers and civic leaders, who would benefit from increased exposure and content knowledge in the innovation sector and emerging technologies.
For example, the 2017 Workshop allowed artists from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago to experience the prototyping and innovation at the Open Music Summer Lab alongside Summer Lab Fellows.
What?
A Music Technology Workshop should unite participants of a local creative economy and encourage collaboration of a variety of skill sets to ideate, develop, and prototype solutions to problems in the music industry using emerging technology.
The Open Music Summer Lab ran in 2017, in partnership with Inter-American Development Bank and IDEO. The Lab set out to explore the edges of derivative musical works, answering, “How might these advances lead to new consumer experiences, and new ways of monetization for creators?”
Where?
The training spaces should be adjacent to the ongoing hackathon or lab, and should be engaging, flexible and have natural light. Ideally, trainings should be able to shift between different rooms throughout the Workshop week, in order to adapt to the types of trainings being given, and to offer a change of scenery. The rooms should also be large enough to allow the participants to move around and collaborate with each other during the sessions.
When?
Technology workshops run concurrently with a hackathon or tech lab. A successful hackathon usually lasts two full days with periods designated for input from mentors, or end users, and a final pitch for evaluation of the teams and products.
During the Open Music Summer Lab, which was a two month program, the Artist Workshop ran during the final week of the Lab. The crossover of the programs allowed the artists to interact with, and observe the Summer Lab Fellows’ project prototypes, and give invaluable insights and feedback.
WhY?
Workshops and labs create a unique space to convene stakeholders within an industry, to explore and ideate on opportunities and challenges, outside of their daily roles and boundaries. Cross-industry participation and diverse feedback, especially the voices of artists and consumers, is key because all perspectives and experiences in the music supply chain must be considered for effective solutions.
Aligned with the Open Music Mission, the Summer Lab explored potential future uses of our open-source API for the uniform identification of music rights holders and creators. The teams were charged with demonstrating new music experiences using blockchain registration, sharing use cases and making recommendations for additional features to the Open Music API based on their experience, and the input of the artists.
How?
A Music Technology Workshop's goals and execution should mirror that of the accompanying lab, tech event, or hackathon. These concepts should be based on relevant opportunities and challenges in the current state of the music industry.
The Open Music Summer Lab focused on concepts that are relevant in the current state of music creation and consumption that includes mashups, remixes, and music created by artificial intelligence, as well as enjoying music in new markets, such as social media and virtual reality. We followed IDEO’s human-centered design thinking methods to rapidly prototype and get user feedback on possible solutions. The combined teams of technologists and artists created opportunities for unexpected ideas and products.
Conditions for A Successful Workshop
Workshop Guidelines
This Music Technology Workshop is designed to focus on musical artists, including performers, songwriters, producers, and engineers, who need support in finding new models for monetizing their works and increasing their income and potential as artists.
Artists should have experience in their local music industry with monetizing their work. They should possess basic knowledge, or at least a strong interest in, digital music financial streams and emerging technologies’ impact on the music industry. Artists should have a demonstrable ability to apply their learnings in their local music economy, and a strong network of other artists and influencers with whom to share their learnings.
This first Workshop focused on three artists from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The artists received individualized training and coaching at the Lab.
The Workshop format could be expanded to serve up to 12-20 artists at a time grouped in teams of 3-5 artists, receiving a comparable experience.
Workshop conditions
Workshop: The Workshop should run in tandem with a hackathon or tech event. A successful hackathon usually lasts 2 full days, with periods designated for input from mentors or end users, and a final pitch where the teams and product prototypes are evaluated.
The challenge for the hackathon is also focused on creative media or the music industry, so that the prototypes align with the interests and needs of the artists.
Artists: Artist exposure to technological prototyping gives a first hand experience at how innovation can create new opportunities for creative expression, artistic collaboration, and monetization of music.
Artists involved in the hackathon can see and experience first hand how innovation can create new opportunities for creative expression, artistic collaboration and monetizing their music.
Artist feedback on prototypes during the hackathon is invaluable to designers and hackers.
Student Fellows: Ideally, the hackathon participants complete an orientation in design thinking and, user-focused methodologies, so they are focused on the experiences and interests of the artists, their end-users
Setup, Equipment and Materials
The training spaces should be engaging, flexible and with natural light. Trainings should shift between different rooms throughout the Workshop week, in order to adapt to the types of trainings being given, and to offer a change of scenery.
The rooms should also be large enough to allow the participants to move around and collaborate with each other during the sessions. Along with the training rooms, there should be adjacent clusters of tables and chairs or couches where participants can meet in smaller groups, to discuss with each other or with the hackers.
The spaces should be equipped with the suggested equipment and resources listed here.
workshop timeline
selection & recruitment process
During the Open Music’s 2017 Summer Lab, programmers, artists, entrepreneurs, and facilitators participated in an eight-week prototyping program that combined creativity and experimentation with cutting edge technology such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
This eight-week experience used the resources and human capital that exists within Berklee, IDEO, and the surrounding Boston community, and set the conditions during which the Music Tech Workshop for artists was held.
We've outlined the skills and criteria that participants and facilitators should possess in order to run a successful Music Tech Workshop within any local economy or ecosystem and described the process to attract and recruit sponsors.
While organizers at the local level may face budget limitations or may have limited technical knowledge and experience, an organization or institution can follow the guidelines laid out in this Toolkit to plan and implement a Music Tech Workshop with similar outcomes and deliverables.
Follow the links below for more information.
Artists | Lab fellows | Facilitators | Sponsors
artist
selection
timeline
Artists
These guidelines are designed to recruit and select musicians and other creative artists who are interested in using emerging technologies such as blockchain to improve their revenue streams and create music in new and innovative ways. The following processes and language can be adopted and applied at the local level.
Incentives
In order to recruit talented and relevant artists, incentives should be considered. These can include:
Other in-kind services or products, for example studio time, or a voucher for a class or program
A certificate upon completion
A stipend, whether financial, or through a gift card
Description
Seeking musical artists and creators interested in learning how to use new technologies, including blockchain, to grow their global reach and to improve your revenue streams. Join local entrepreneurs and innovators to see how technology can help develop you and your artistic career. Interested artists will participate in a 5 day Music Tech Workshop, interacting with new technologies and learning about the global music industry.
application
Our application was used to intake interested artists and to collect information on them in order to evaluate their ability to participate effectively. Criteria should be adapted to be relevant at the local level. PDF here.
advertising
Advertising methods and best practices should be adapted at the local level depending on what is most used by the target audience, and what is typically most effective. While social media was used most prevalently, other forms of communication include:
Local newspaper advertisements
Paper flyers, posters and postcards distributed in key venues such as universities, clubs, recording studios and concerts
Radio and television ads
Press releases
Local influencers and businesses
The following wording was used in the advertisements within social media and beyond. The exact wording would need to be adapted to fit the criteria at the local level, as well as to promote the participating organizations, sponsors, and to market whatever incentives are available.
LinkedIn/FB:
Artists from Jamaica and T&T, APPLY NOW for the Open Music Summer Workshop! Deadline May 19th. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2qmZeTe #OpenMusicInitiative #blockchain #Berklee #IDB
Twitter:
Artists from Jamaica and T&T, APPLY NOW for the Open Music Summer Workshop! http://bit.ly/2qVRWSH #blockchain #Berklee #IDB #Intel
selection criteria
A scoring rubric was used to evaluate each artist and make the final selection. The form can be adapted for use by the organization. PDF here.
acceptance process
Learnings
A report on the selection process written by the Inter-American Development Bank from the original 2017 Music Tech Workshop is available. PDF here.
lab fellows
These guidelines are designed to recruit and select student lab fellows interested in exploring cutting edge technology such as blockchain registration, virtual reality, artificial intelligence and their implications for derivative musical works. The following processes and language can be adopted and applied at the local level.
description
Summer Lab consists of four interdisciplinary teams of five students each from Berklee, MIT and other colleges across the nation and globe. These students will be selected through a rigorous screening process and a one-day makeathon on to gauge their skill sets, personalities and experience.
Application
We used the following application to collect a pool of interested students. PDF here.
advertising
The application was advertised across BerkleeICE, Open Music, and IDEO's social media, and via connections at universities and colleges such as MIT, Rhode Island School of Design, Mass College of Art, and Savannah College of Art and Design.
Sample outreach email:
We're looking for students for a full-time paid lab! This one will explore the technical challenges of utilizing distributed ledgers and the Open Music Initiative API for:
Cataloging, attributing and distributing live DJ mixes
Commercializing mixtapes built from original material and back catalogs
Compensating musicians for visual works using their songs as data
Identifying individuals for their contribution to single tracks in new works
If you think your students would be interested please share: http://open-music.org/apply/
selection process
Fellows were selected via a one-day makeathon, where they spent a day with IDEO designers and Berklee faculty for an action-packed, high-energy dive into the IDEO design-thinking process. Expert facilitators matched students with a talented and diverse team of peers to design consumer concepts that explore the questions above.
Like a hackathon, a make-athon is a fun and intense event where people build, but the tools they use go beyond coding, and skills other than software development are highly valued, too.
acceptance process
Accepted fellows were sent an acceptance letter with an overview and program details. PDF here.
Trainers
& Facilitators
These guidelines are designed to recruit and select trainers and facilitators with experience in music creation, the media industry, emerging technologies or creative design, that are interested in working with and providing trainings to artists in order to develop their skills and mindsets. The following processes and language can be adopted and applied at the local level.
incentives
Financial compensation that is commensurate with the experience and qualifications of each of the facilitators and trainers should be budgeted and advertised. Participation in the Workshops may also be additive to the careers and status of the trainers and facilitators.
description
Workshop facilitators and trainers should have professional education and industry experience in the various workshop topics as well as experience giving engaging lectures and presentations to lead and inspire the artists and provide cutting edge, relevant industry education. For example, this may include advanced degrees in business, design, music law and intellectual property, and direct entrepreneurial experience.
application
Trainers and facilitators who are interested in teaching and leading a session should send CV’s and a cover letter to the Workshop organizer, including examples of past trainings they have orchestrated.
advertising
Advertising methods and best practices should be adapted at the local level depending on what is most used by the target audience, and what is typically most effective. While social media was used most prevalently, other forms of communication include:
Local newspaper advertisements
Paper flyers, posters and postcards distributed in key venues such as universities, clubs, recording studios and concerts
Radio and television ads
Press releases
Local influencers and businesses
Job description posting
Job listing website and services
Selection Criteria
The trainers should have advanced degrees, certification and/or related experience in the specific training topics, and have experience providing engaging trainings or lectures on their area of specialty. They might also meet the following criteria:
Must have at least five years experience working in the music industry
Must be familiar with technology and its use in the music industry.
Must have experience providing training or educational sessions on a professional level.
Acceptance Process
Once trainers and facilitators have been selected, the organization should provide them with a contract signed by the Workshop Organizer outlining the types of training or educational sessions to be provided, the specific format and topics of the training, the numbers of hours, the specific format and topics of the training, and the agreed upon hourly rate and total payment.
Sponsors & Businesses
Sponsorships should be considered as a possibly method of funding the Lab or Music Tech Workshop. The following outline is an example of a sponsorship model used for the 2017 Summer Lab.
Why Sponsor?
The pace of change is accelerating.
Technology development is moving faster than ever. Old markets will be reshaped and new markets will emerge. What will transformational shifts such as decentralized networks, ubiquitous computing, fluid data, and bio-tailoring mean to your business?
Shape the change, get ahead.
Existing organizations are defined by the constraints of current markets, not set up to explore new ones. Instead of asking your company and customers to adapt to new technologies, you’ll use new customer needs and human-centered design to test and shape future business opportunities.
Push boundaries while mitigating risk.
New markets are uncertain and possibilities abound, so you’ll explore these areas efficiently and rigorously via a proven process with shared investment to maximize your chances of success.
Gain value through through the network.
Charting new territories requires expertise, investment, and commitment from multiple perspectives, beyond the walls of any one company. You’ll not only have access to experts, but also to new talent.
Sponsorship Guidelines
General Admission $3K
- Attendance of up to three on Demo Day to see functioning prototypes created during the summer and meet the student creators.
- Company logo displayed at events and name included in press release.
Front Row Seats $10K
- Attendance of up to three at kick-off conference, Midpoint workshop and Demo Day to see functioning prototypes created during the summer and meet the student creators.
- Company logo displayed at events and name included in press release.
Back Stage Pass $25K
- Attendance of up to 5 representatives at kick-off conference, Midpoint workshop and Demo Day and meet the student creators.
- A guest team of up to 5 people selected by your organization will join the lab for a week to observe and participate with teams and IDEO designers.
- Company logo displayed at events and name included in press release
Venue Sponsor $50K
- Placement of your product or service into the core tool set of the Summer Lab.
- Attendance of up to 5 representatives at kick-off conference, Midpoint workshop and Demo Day.
- Meet the student creators.
- A guest team of up to 5 people selected by your organization will join the lab for a week to observe and participate with teams and IDEO designers.
- Company logo displayed at events and name included in press release.
WORKSHoP TRAINING MATERIALS
music tech workshop objectives
The Music Tech Workshop aims to equip artists with a basic understanding of the impacts and possibilities of music technology for future music creation, a foundation in the design thinking methodology, and the fundamentals of creative entrepreneurship. The Workshops were taking place during the final weeks of the Summer Lab. Having the two coincide enabled the Lab fellows to receive important insights from the artists’ interaction and observation with their project prototypes, and the artists to see the technology in action, and how it can be applied in the creative industries.
outcomes
After participating in the Workshop, artists are able to:
Employ design thinking principles in their own creative process
Explain ways that they can apply emerging technologies to enhance their creative process
Define creative entrepreneurship, and identify the ways they implement creative entrepreneurship practices in their own careers
Describe current payment streams in the music industry, and the challenges in the current system
workshop topics
By engaging with the technological prototypes, and simultaneously receiving trainings in the concepts and technologies used in the prototypes, the artists were able to see and discuss the applications of the concepts covered in the training.
The Workshop is enhanced by having it overlap with the Summer Lab. If not possible to implement a two-month long Lab, the Workshop creators should consider including some type of hackathon or prototyping session, in order for artists to experience the practical applications of technology.
workshop content
Design Thinking with IDEO
This is a hands-on training in the principles IDEO uses when designing a new product or experience, specifically in seeking user feedback, and observing user experience. PDF here.
creative headspace
This training covers the fundamentals of creative entrepreneurship, including how successful artists and entrepreneurs develop similar mindsets and use similar best practices, such as collaboration, improvisation, and rapid prototyping. PDF here.
Overview of open music & emerging technologies
This workshop provides an overview of the founding and mission of the Open Music Initiative, and of distributed ledgers and blockchain, and the opportunities they provide for the Open Music Initiative. PDF here. Accompanying video here.
final demo day
This workshop provides an overview of the content provided at the final demo day of the Summer Lab. PDF here.
Professional Artist photoshoot
In this session, the artists received individual photoshoots with a professional photographer on staff at IDEO. These headshots are provided in order to enhance the artists’ digital profiles, and brand as creative entrepreneurs.
post workshop artist evaluation
A post workshop survey used to compile artist reflections and opinions based on their experience at the Open Music Summer Lab. PDF here.
readings
&
Resources
The Summer Lab focused on designing prototypes that illustrate how interoperability between systems in the music industry, using distributed ledgers such as Blockchain, might unlock new possibilities for music creators and consumers of music, while opening up increased opportunities for commercialization and monetization of creative works.
summer lab 2017 plan
Includes Lab purpose, Lab staff roles and structure, timeline, methods, and sponsorship levels. The Summer Lab was sponsored by IDB, Intel and TiVo. PDF here.
Summer lab 2017 overview and recap
For a complete overview, visit the Summer Lab website here.
Click the links for more information on the Teams, Final Projects, Team Blog Posts, or OMI API.
technology resources
Additional resources explaining the technology we explored during the Summer Lab.
Beyond the Bitcoin Bubble via New York Times Magazine
- A primer on Blockchain technology.
Canary In A Coalmine: From Internet of Things to VR to Blockchain How Music Guides Other Industries via Forbes
- An overview of future technologies in the music industry.