BTW 2022 CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
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Butch Vig
"Artist" is the single word which best describes producer, mixer, composer, and multi-instrumentalistBorn in Viroqua, Wisconsin, his parents Doc and Betty exposed Butch to a variety of music and fine arts culture during his youth. While attending the University of Wisconsin Madison, where he received a degree in filmmaking, Vig focused on experimental music composition - an area that would serve him well into the future. While at the UW, Butch jumped into the local music scene and joined the band Spooner as its drummer. Unlike most drummers, content to bang out the rhythms, Vig pursued music composition with the band and stepped behind the studio glass to shape the recorded sound as a producer.
After graduating from the UW, Butch co-founded Smart Studios and began producing and mixing albums. His perseverance as an independent producer in Madison carried far beyond Wisconsin's borders, as artists from around the country began to hear the clear, edgy, hard rock sound shaped by Butch's productions. His work with Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins and Soul Asylum in the 90s has been hailed by music critics and authors who have placed his work at the top of the decades best recordings.
Additionally, Vig has created many exciting remixes for such prominent artists as U2, Beck, Korn, Alanis Morrissette, Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails. In 1995 Vig returned to performing and writing with a band he formed that goes by the name of Garbage. The multi-platinum, Grammy Nominated band has achieved worldwide critical and commercial success as it ushered in yet another new direction for rock music.
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Craig AndertonAuthor/musician Craig Anderton is an internationally recognized authority on musical technology. He has authored over 35 books, mastered hundreds of tracks, played on or produced over 20 albums, played Carnegie Hall, written over 1,000 articles for magazines like Guitar Player, Keyboard, Sound on Sound, Electronic Musician, Pro Sound News, Mix, and several international publications, as well as lectured on technology and the arts in 38 US states, 10 countries, and in 3 languages. He co-founded Electronic Musician magazine and has also consulted to leading companies like Gibson, Microsoft, Steinberg, Roland, Acoustica, E-Mu, Peavey, Alesis, Akai Professional, Native Instruments, Cakewalk, Ableton, Avid, and literally dozens more.
His musical career started with appearing on Swiss TV when he was 9 years old, and includes three years of touring and recording with the group Mandrake in the 60s, doing session work in the 70s, producing a string of classical and other instrumental records in the 80s and 90s, and at the turn of the century, playing with German electronic group Rei$$dorf Force and guesting with Air Liquide. A frequent collaborator with Public Enemy bandleader Brian Hardgroove, they've worked on several production projects as well as the "power duo" EV2, with Brian on drums and Craig on Gibson's HD6X digital guitar. He still does rare appearances as an EDM solo artist.
After a 4.5 year stint at Gibson (which was only supposed to last a year, but you know how it is), Craig is back to his former gig of consulting to companies, doing workshops, and writing books. More books in the Musician's Guide to Home Recording series (published by Hal Leonard) will drop in 2019, and he'll be following up his 2018 music video project, Joie De Vivre, with more music and videos on his YouTube channel.
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Rob DzRob Franklin, also known as Rob Dz, is the Media Projects Bubblerarian for the Madison Public Library. As a Kennedy Center certified teaching artist for the Making Justice program, his primary focus is on creating workshops on Hip Hop, Spoken Word and Personal Branding as positive forms of self-expression. Rob has held residencies with Madison youth in elementary, middle, and high schools, community centers, the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center and Juvenile Shelter Home, Neighborhood Intervention Program, Madison Jazz Consortium and with The Black Star Drum Line. As a musician, he has performed with the likes of Nas, Eminem, Common, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez and others. In 2017, he was inducted to the American Folklife Center at the Library Of Congress and The National Museum of African American History and Culture as a member of The Story Corps program.
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Fett
Independent Producer / EngineerFett is an independent music producer and engineer, author, music career coach, co-founder of the Azalea Music Group in Nashville, and recording/mixing engineer for the 2015 Australian #1 Country Album: Jason Owen's Friday Night. He helps artists and songwriters reach their fullest sonic and emotional impact with the recordings he produces, and also teaches them how to do it themselves. Fett is the author of the popular book Fett's Mixing Roadmap: A Step-by-step Guide To Mixing Music In The Studio and host of the popular MixingMastery.com online video course. He is the former Technology Editor for Performing Songwriter magazine, and occasional journalist for CMA Close Up, Drum! and Keyboard magazines. His diverse list of clients includes Davy Jones of the Monkees, Grammy-winning songwriter Don Henry, and international guitar virtuosos Tommy Emmanuel and Muriel Anderson.
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Chris Tso
Merchandising and MarketingChris Tso's 35 years in the business began on the famed "Music Row" on 48th street in NYC, working for Manny's Music, Sam Ash, then on the West Coast with Musicians Friend, Guitar Center, and Amazon. He's grateful that he's been able to turn his love of the gear into a career that provides deep insights into the music products industry. As VP of Merchandising, Marketing, Product Information Management at Full Compass in Madison, WI. Chris and his teams are responsible for the product assortment (+800 brands), Marketing, (print and digital), and Product Information Management that manage the product pricing, specifications, and digital assets. Full Compass is a 45 year old dealer and distributor of Pro Audio, Pro Lighting, and Video gear.
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Martinez WhiteMartinez White, Emmy Award recipient, founding member of the Wisconsin Association of Black Men and CEO of Intuition Productions, upholds the belief that "Dreams Are Made To Be Achieved™". As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., White's mission is to empower one billion people to join his Dream Circle by self-actualizing their dreams & living their most abundant destiny. Living in Mombasa, Kenya and volunteering at Alicia Keys' Keep A Child Alive campaign's BOMU Medical Center, fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic forever changed White's world perspective. As a licensed investment advisor, White teaches clients how to create intergenerational financial freedom, regardless of socioeconomic class. He believes artrepreneurship, the monetization of artistic gifts, is the best defense against institutionalized racism. Based on this belief, at just sixteen years old, White emerged from a single-parent home of six children in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Against all odds, White earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and Afro-American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as a PEOPLE and Chancellor's Scholar at a mere twenty years old. A DJ, filmmaker, and author, White inspires us all through the power of his unparalleled style of multimedia storytelling. "If You Want It Done Right, Get M. White."
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Nancy Moran
Artist Development CoachNancy Moran is an experienced recording artist, touring singer/songwriter, and artist development coach. The co-founder of Azalea Music Group in Nashville, she teaches artists, writers, composers, and aspiring music moguls how to design, develop, and pursue their own authentic (and profitable) music careers. As an independent artist she released four solo CDs. She also released two CDs and toured nationally as a member of the musical comedy troupe The Four Bitchin' Babes. After playing everything from bars to performing arts centers for over two decades, she created UltimateBookingAndTouring.com where she teaches online to touring musicians worldwide.
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StacktraceStephen Paul Banik (born September 21, 1976), known professionally as Stacktrace, has been involved in recording since the early nineties. He began his professional career as a touring keyboard player in 2003 for major label artists in Nashville, including 2 tours in the opening act for multi-platinum recording artist Rascal Flatts. As a sideman, he performed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America and had several TV appearances on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Steve's many production credits include a Billboard #1 and RIAA-certified gold award as a co-writer for American rapper Logic. Steve has also produced for Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Jack Harlow, Russ, Ari Lennox, Method Man and many others. Steve holds a Bachelor of Music degree and is a graduate of the Music Engineering Technology program at Ball State University. Steve owns and operates Stacktrace Music, a music composition, performance and engineering company. Steve is also the co-founder of Eleven Music Career Center, helping independent musicians pursue music professionally and profitably.
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DJ Pain 1Known for his production on Young Jeezy's platinum-selling album The Recession, producer Pacal "DJ Pain 1" Bayley stays busy. His journey started in the late 90's while cultivating hip-hop sensibilities through visual art, DJing, and beat-making. He balanced a career in youth service/teaching with creating music, oftentimes marrying the two - he co-founded the first hip-hop performing arts program housed in an institute of higher education in Madison. Once he decided to focus on his production career, his resume quickly grew to include both legendary hip-hop acts (such as Public Enemy, Nas) as well as contemporary hit-makers (including Lil Baby, Pooh Shiesty). He has also garnered attention for his online video series on production and music business know-how. @djpain1 all social media.
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DSCRIBEmusicDSCRIBEmusic is an award nominated recording engineer, national expert in teaching digital audio to youth/Hip Hop Ed, and consultant dedicated to sharing knowledge & wisdom with youth. He's a Professional Creative with a collaborative mind for business and creating something from nothing.
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Godxilla
Recording EngineerFrom coast to coast, this super producer and beat battle champion has worked with some of the biggest names in music and entertainment. Godxilla has also released multiple indie recordings from his indie label Ton Of Soul Records. With over 30 years of recording experience Godxilla is one of the go to consultants in the Great Lakes Region.
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Roy ElkinsRoy is a well-known music technology entrepreneur who has been leading industry innovations for nearly thirty years. He is also the Founder and CEO of Broadjam Inc., serving independent musicians and industry giants alike. Broadjam.com, the company's popular independent web site now hosting over 180,000 artists and 700,000 songs, has become one of the most influential music sites in the independent music world.
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Jessica FortuneMade in England, Jessica Fenner aka Fortune, came from a family that loved throwing parties with live music, dancing and 200 or so happy people - sparking her passion for music events! Playing several instruments, early years were also influenced by local Bristol artists like Massive Attack, Roni Size, and the eruption of rave culture. Steve Silk Hurley's Jack Your Body landed at #1 on the top 40 charts, The Prodigy and Carl Cox were household names and by 16 she was involved with early rave promoters Transition. The young music fan was hooked. 1993, just turned 19, Fortune headed to California with $140 and a suitcase. Little sign of England's electronic music culture, Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" bumped out of cars and clubs, East battled West, and she pursued her hip-hop education. Returning to England a year later a new genre was sweeping the nation – jungle. Her life revolved around weekends absorbing artists blowing up the clubs: Grooverider, Sasha, LTJ Bukem. Six months later she landed in Milwaukee. A fixture in the city's emerging club scene, she took up djing in '99, quickly landing underground hip-hop residencies, and developing her style to include house, techno and broken beats. She played noted establishments across the States, including San Francisco's infamous The EndUp; Minneapolis's First Ave; Chicago's SpyBar, The Mid, Primary and many performances at the legendary Smart Bar, as well as sets in Spain and Bristol. Festivals include multiple appearances at Spring Awakening, Wavefront, Winter Warmer, Even Furthur and Summerfest. A testament to her range, she's been booked as direct support for a diverse selection of top tier artists, notably Audiojack, Claude VonStroke, Colette, Cassy, Catz & Dogz, Derrick Carter, Derrick May, Gaiser, Green Velvet, Honey Dijon, J.Phlip, Joey Beltram, Johnny Fiasco, Justin Martin, Kaskade, Kate Simko, Kenny Glasgow, Kid Sister, KiNK, Kool Keith, Pezzner, Superjane. In 2009 as music venues closed and promoters moving on due to recession, Fortune quit her six year residency at last standing Milwaukee club Three, shifting focus to her promotions company and keeping house and techno events alive in the city. Started as For U Events in '05, rebranded as Apart in 2011, she produced non-stop weekly parties and larger scale events, implemented an internship and mentoring program, and founded Apart Artists, originally a collective, now an agency representing 12 dj/producers. Apart's mission: grow diverse, inclusive, music community, shine light on emerging talent and promote a diverse stream of globally established artists. Fortune's mission: Facilitate happiness through music, whether as a dj, promoter, agent or mentor. "Since those childhood family parties, I've seen music and dance bring people together, creating the happiest times. Making that available, moments to dance together, smile, or just close ones eyes … that's what moves me."