Interested in Sharing Your Industry Knowledge?
Share What You Know. Help the Next Generation of Artists.
The Electric City Music Conference is looking for experienced music-industry professionals willing to share real knowledge, honest perspective and practical advice with working musicians, creators and aspiring professionals. Join us as a panelist, speaker or mentor during the 2026 conference in Scranton.
What does an ECMC panelist, speaker or mentor do?
Panelists, speakers and mentors at the Electric City Music Conference share practical music-industry experience with artists and aspiring professionals during free educational programming in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Participants may join moderated panels, lead focused conversations, deliver a keynote-style session or offer direct guidance through small-group mentoring.
Choose the way you want to contribute.
You do not have to be a traditional “conference speaker” to be valuable here. ECMC uses several formats so experienced professionals can contribute in the way that fits them best.
Panelist
Join other experienced voices for a candid, moderated conversation about a specific part of the music business. Bring your perspective, examples, mistakes, lessons and real-world experience.
Speaker / Keynote
Lead a focused session, share your story or break down a topic in greater depth. This format is ideal for professionals with a useful framework, perspective or career story artists can learn from.
Mentor
Work more directly with artists or aspiring professionals in one-on-one or small-group conversations. Mentoring is about listening, asking good questions and giving useful perspective based on your experience.
Who are we looking for?
ECMC values people who have actually done the work. You do not need a household name or a major-label title. You do need useful experience, credibility, a willingness to be candid and something meaningful to teach.
Agents, talent buyers, promoters, venue operators, tour managers and festival organizers.
Managers, coaches, label professionals and people who help artists make better career decisions.
Publicists, journalists, radio professionals, marketers and content strategists.
Producers, recording engineers, live-sound professionals and studio operators.
Working DJs, beatmakers, electronic artists, producers and creative entrepreneurs.
Professionals who can help artists understand technology, AI, finance, business, monetization and emerging tools.
Your knowledge has more value when someone else can use it.
ECMC’s educational sessions are offered free to attendees. An artist does not have to buy an expensive conference badge just to ask a working professional a question or hear advice that could save years of trial and error.
We want useful, accessible and honest conversations. Less jargon. Less gatekeeping. More practical information from people who have actually been there.
Why participate?
- Give back to the music community.
- Help independent and emerging artists avoid common mistakes.
- Meet other experienced professionals.
- Build new relationships and collaborations.
- Share your work and perspective with a new audience.
- Help keep music-industry education free and accessible.
Join a long list of experienced ECMC voices.
Past speakers and panelists have represented booking, management, touring, media, radio, live entertainment, artist development, technology, production and the artist side of the business.
Past ECMC speakers and panelists have included Eva Alexiou-Reo of Fata Booking Agency, Christian Wagner of Good Fight Entertainment, Lou Plaia, co-founder of ReverbNation, Mark Woodbridge and Erick Droegmoeller of Word Is Bond, Will Beekman of the F.M. Kirby Center, Frank Polumbo of Motionless In White, Bret Alexander of The Badlees, Michael Cloeren of the PA Jazz Festival, Freddie Fabri of Cumulus, Rich Howells of NEPA Scene, Mike Lello of Highway 81 Revisited, Tori Thomas of 97.9X, Josh Balz, John Phillips, Sean Mott, Dave McWane of Big D and the Kids Table, Kris Jones and many more.
Topics artists actually want help with.
If you have real experience in one of these areas, there is probably a useful ECMC conversation waiting to happen.
2026 Panelist, Speaker & Mentor Application
Tell us who you are, what you know and where you think you can be most useful. You can indicate interest in panel discussions, mentoring, keynote-style sessions or more than one format.
What happens after you apply?
Submitting the form starts the conversation. ECMC will review your experience and topic ideas against the needs of the 2026 educational lineup.
Tell us your expertise.
Give us enough context to understand your background and the subjects you can speak about with authority.
We build the right fit.
ECMC may match your experience to a panel, mentoring session, workshop or speaker format that makes sense.
Come ready to be useful.
The best ECMC sessions are candid, practical and generous. Bring real stories, useful advice and a willingness to answer honest questions.
ECMC panelist and speaker FAQ
Quick answers for music-industry professionals interested in participating in the 2026 conference.
When is the 2026 Electric City Music Conference?
The full Electric City Music Conference & Steamtown Music Awards takes place September 10–12, 2026 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Educational conference programming is scheduled for September 11–12.
What types of industry professionals can apply?
ECMC welcomes experienced professionals from booking, touring, management, promotion, venues, media, marketing, recording, production, live sound, radio, technology, DJing, entrepreneurship and other fields relevant to working artists.
Do I need to be a famous music-industry executive?
No. Useful real-world experience, credibility and a willingness to share honestly matter more than having a famous title.
What is the difference between a panelist, speaker and mentor?
Panelists join moderated group discussions. Speakers or keynote presenters lead focused sessions. Mentors work more directly with attendees in one-on-one or small-group conversations.
Are ECMC educational sessions free for attendees?
Yes. ECMC’s panels, keynote sessions and educational programming are offered free to attendees, and mentoring opportunities are also available at no cost.
What should I put in my application?
Include your professional background, organization or business if applicable, a current website or URL, and the subject areas where you can offer useful expertise.
Can I apply for more than one type of role?
Yes. The current application allows you to indicate interest in being a panelist, participating in mentoring sessions and delivering a keynote.
If you have something useful to teach, we want to hear from you.
Help make music-industry knowledge more accessible to the artists who need it. Join ECMC in Scranton and bring your experience into the conversation.