NOTE: Spaces for this are sold out—however a limited number of walk up tickets will be available at each event. Doors at 7:15, speakers start at 7:30.
Down with algorithmic listening, down with royalty theft, down with AI-generated music. In this five-week series, we’ll explore what it means to decentralize music discovery, production, and listening from capitalist economies. Each week, we’ll engage with readings and hear from guest panelists about the role of independent labels, sound archives, radio, music publications, live music/DJ collectives and alternative streaming platforms for music consumption/discovery. Participants will have the option to contribute to a peer-sharing sound library at Bathers informed by these discussions. Musician, music nerd, or casual listener—all are welcome. Organized by Stephanie Dukich & Manasa Karthikeyan
SPEAKERS
Sudan Tapes Archive, DJ Juanny & Amor Digital, Gabriel Lopez, Dark Entries Records, Psychic Radio, Marshall Gu, Fault Radio/Studio Aurora, Cherub Dreams Records, Dandy Boy Records, Endzeit, Parameter, Glint Music, David Seubert, No Bias + more TBA!
LOCATION
Bathers Library
2310 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA
LOGISTICS
Each Tuesday will start with a discussion and working group session from 6-7p.m. We'll send out optional weekly readings to pair with each week's topic (radio, sound archiving, piracy, labels, live/DJ collectives, music publications) to discuss as a group. Readings will range from DIY case studies and articles about streaming to sound/archival studies texts. Participants can use this time to peer-share music and actually move their music libraries off of streaming. In addition, we hope to set aside time to work towards creating a shared music lending library at Bather's. What will this look like (physical hard drive or digital repository)? How will this function? What limitations/constraints should we consider?
From 7:30-9 p.m., we'll hear from speakers from a range of backgrounds (academics, writers, party starters, archivists, DJs, label heads) about their work and how it relates to the week's topic of music decentralization, followed by a panel/Q&A. Some topics we'll cover include challenges to non-capitalist forms of music engagement, public response, and how to sustain this work. Participants with a pass will have automatic entry to the entire speaker series and some additional seats will be available at the door.