By Michael Kornfeld

While AcousticMusicScene.com is my labor of love, I also am a communications and public relations strategist. As such, I will be among the panelists discussing “Music Marketing, Publicity & Press: The New Media Revolution” during the third annual Singer-Songwriter Cape May. The music business conference is set for Friday and Saturday, March 26-27, in the historic Victorian-lined New Jersey seaside resort community.

SS Cape May will feature two afternoons of music business keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, mentoring and demo-listening sessions, exhibits and performance critiques at Congress Hall and Harrison Conference Center, as well as two evenings of artist showcases at various venues. Singer-songwriters Steve Forbert and Nicole Atkins present musical keynotes on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Attendees also will have plenty of opportunities for networking with other singer-songwriters, musicians and music industry professionals.

Although the media landscape is certainly in a state of flux, independent singer-songwriters may have more options for promotion these days than ever before. I hope to help SS Cape May attendees set the right course and navigate through the many channels available to them to reach and connect with their target audiences. Traditional print and broadcast media outlets (and their online counterparts) continue to play vital roles in boosting awareness and visibility, while the Internet and social media afford artists a wealth of new opportunities. Talented artists with some promotional and social media savvy, or the smarts to surround themselves with the right people, can strike a responsive chord through strategic public relations and creative communications.

In addition to the Friday afternoon panel discussion on “Music Marketing, Publicity and Press,” panels and workshops will delve into such topics as “The New Music Paradigm for Singer-Songwriters,” “Marketing Your Music for Film & Television,” and “Publishing, Licensing, Copyrights and the PROs.” Bill Pere, who heads the Connecticut Songwriters Association, will discuss “Tripling Your Audience with Targeted Songwriting,” while his wife, Kay, leads an hour-long vocal workshop. A producers’ panel and an interactive “Artists Helping Artists” session also are slated.

Showcasing artists and panelists will receive credentials for the conference, while non-performers and those not selected to showcase may register to attend the daytime events for $75. Evening showcase performances will be free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.sscapemay.com.

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Earlier this month, I participated in panel discussions on “The Future of Music and the Music Industry” and “Publicity, Marketing and Promotion” at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s National College Radio and Webcasting Conference in New York City. I have been a panelist at IBS Conferences, as well as at the annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference, for a number of years. I serve as vice president of NERFA’s board of directors.