Miami Music Week is one of the world’s most significant dance-music industry events, rivaled only by events like Amsterdam Dance Event. Tens of thousands flock to Miami for massive parties played by the biggest DJs, and it’s too easy for those who intend to go there for work to get swept up in the parties and the wealth of distractions around every corner.
But with more access to the biggest movers and shakers in the industry, if you’re an aspiring DJ or producer and are serious about taking your career to the next level, it’s paramount that you stay focused and take advantage of all that MMW has to offer. Nobody knows this better than Jason Break, a DJ (J-Break) who signed music with massive labels like Black Hole Recordings and Island Def Jam, whose first time hitting MMW was two decades ago and who has since leveraged those connections and experiences to garner him top-their status in the industry.
With MMW just around the corner, we decided to sit down with J-Break to pick his brain about why DJs, artists, and producers should consider prioritizing MMW attendance and how to get the most out of their time in Miami.
What are MMW’s biggest selling points from an artist’s perspective? Why should aspiring artists and DJs go, aside from just for fun and partying?
Going to Miami during Miami Music Week allows artists to network with other music industry professionals in a relaxing and casual environment. Having the access to ask questions with your peers and possibly even your musical heroes is a second-to-none experience. Living in the digital age, you will often find that your emails go unanswered or that you have constantly unresponsive interactions with artists and labels online. Meeting these professionals in real life allows you to convey your message to engage and network with like-minded musicians.
Share a couple of career-defining connections or opportunities that have come about from attending MMW after so many years.
My first time in Miami was in 2001 when they were still hosting WMC (Winter Music Conference) in Miami. I would go to the Radisson Hotel for the convention and network with many artists and labels, passing out test pressings of my latest vinyl release to anyone willing to listen. It was a fantastic experience meeting some of my musical idols who got me into the music scene when I was a teenager in the ’90s.
Some of these artists became good friends that I still talk to regularly 20 years later, and they helped me grow as a musician throughout the years. Around 15 years ago, DJ IDeaL and I did a bootleg remix of an old BT track called “Remember” just for fun. I gave a copy to BT after he finished playing at Ultra Music Festival. A week later, he played it on his Sirius/XM radio show, and Paul Oakenfold soon after that.
A lot of artists are very approachable and would love to play your tracks.
Can you give me some networking tips or advice to ensure smaller artists meet the right people or are in the right place at the right time?
When meeting bigger artists, try to strike a conversation about something or make some small talk before just handing over your demo. Artists are just normal people.
Don’t be over eager and please try to be patient, especially if there are others around. Don’t take it personally if an artist does not seem interested or engaged with you. You don’t know how many others have approached them that day or their mood at the time. Some artists just want to relax in their downtime between big shows.
Be humble, regardless of how many songs you have that are charting or who is playing your songs.
Please don’t be scared to talk to anyone, no matter who they are. You never know who that person standing next to you could be. Finally, LISTEN. Absorb everything around you and listen closely to what they are saying. Valuable information is shared between people in the music industry for 20, 30, or 40+ years. This is priceless information and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
There’s a reason they are where they are. Becoming a successful artist isn’t just about making hits. That is only part of the music industry. Apply that to your own music career, and when you are older, share that knowledge with the younger generation.
What prep or forethought can an artist do going into MMW to ensure they get the maximum value from their encounters and networking?
Know the artists or labels you are approaching and which styles they produce, release, and DJ. It’s helpful to research beforehand and know some artists on their label. You don’t want to hand a demo of your latest dubstep track to a tech house label manager.
Ensure your demo has your full contact information in case they want to follow up with you later. This is crucial and the number one complaint I hear from labels during MMW.
Where can artists go, hang out, and network during MMW? Share any advice or anecdotes that you have from the years of attending.
JB – Check social media, Miami Music Week websites, blogs, magazines and your favorite artist’s websites to find out where they are playing. Buy early bird tickets everywhere to save money. Then plan out your days accordingly. Don’t get burned out! It’s easy to get caught up in the partying during the week, but keep a level head and pace yourself.
MMW is a marathon, not a race. Know what the artists and label managers look like because sometimes you only have a minute to approach them, so use that opportunity to have a conversation. I’ve met many artists in elevators of hotels all over Miami. Take advantage of these opportunities.
Finally, Ultra Music Festival is a great place to meet larger artists. I’ve met many artists there throughout the years, so it’s a great place to network. If you see us at an event down in Miami, come say hi! We are always looking for new artists to work with.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
