After a triumphant pilot event in 2022, Bull City Summit (BCS) is back with a bang. This year, the festival is set to run from September 18-24 in Durham, North Carolina, and promises an even grander affair. The event features a broad spectrum of live music and panel discussions and has extended its programming to include art exhibitions, brand activations, and community events. If you thought last year was big, this year’s edition is slated to be a mammoth gathering of minds in music, the arts, science, and technology.
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The Music of Minds: Keynote Speakers
BCS 2023 has an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, led by Harvey Mason Jr., President & CEO of The Recording Academy and The Grammys. Mason will delve into the groundbreaking roles of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in the music industry. Not to be outdone, Donnie Estopinal, Founder & CEO of Disco Donnie Presents, will speak on the evolution and resilience of North American electronic music, especially in the post-Covid era. A panel led by Rick French, CEO of French West Vaughan, and moderated by Alexandra Greenberg of Falcon Publicity, will also discuss the future of entertainment advertising post-pandemic.
From Crypto to Esports: A Dive into the Future
Day two of the conference will take attendees on a whirlwind tour of future technologies. Mark Yusko of Morgan Creek Capital Management will share his insights on the upcoming “new crypto bull market,” Blockchain, and Web3. The conference will also host various panels exploring the realms of Esports, Cannabis, and even the Ethics of AI, with key speakers like Nihal Mehta of Eniac Ventures and Sig Greenebaum, the former Head of Global Live Events for Overwatch League.
The Cognitive Impact of Art and Personal Branding
BCS’s art programming will kick off with a keynote from Dabney Hailey, Founder and CEO of The Hailey Group. Hailey will enlighten audiences on how art can influence behavioral growth. Amie Thompson, President & CEO of Creative Allies, will discuss the synergy between personal branding and the visual arts industry. The lineup also features 30+ additional speakers on diverse topics including LGBTQ rights, climate change, and entrepreneurship.
Philanthropy Meets Entertainment
A special opening night benefit concert featuring North Carolina Soul Icon Lee Fields is planned for September 18. The event aims to support Families and Communities Rising (FCR), a local nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives. FCR will maintain a presence at various BCS events throughout the week to further their mission and raise awareness.
Wrapping Up: Why You Shouldn’t Miss BCS 2023
Parag Bhandari, Executive Producer of BCS and founder of UG Strategies, captures the essence of the event perfectly, “Durham is a visionary hotbed of creativity, and we’re proud to offer a diverse, purpose-led program this Fall.” If you’re eager to engage with global thought leaders, local businesses, and innovative artists, BCS 2023 is the place to be. Book your tickets now at bullcitysummit.com and follow BCS on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads for updates.
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.
