March 27-28, 2009.  Almost 400 attendees at the 2009 MEIEA conference at Berklee College of Music in Boston broke records for both student and active member participation.  Approximately 300 students and 100 faculty from more than 70 colleges and universities from all over the US, including 36 students and 2 faculty from Jewel & Esk (Edinburgh, Scotland), gathered at Berklee College of Music to attend sessions, workshops, and clinics on topics ranging from the “new” entertainment economy with Harold Vogel and Peter Gotcher to turntable techniques with Stephen Webber.

Featuring some of the biggest names in the music industry including Hunter Williams, Vice President of Royalty Distribution & Research SESAC; Keyvan Peymani, COO, Nettwerk Music Group; Jim D'Addario Chairman & CEO, D’Addario Strings; and Danny Goldberg, Manager of Nirvana and founder of Artemis Records, this year’s conference was a rousing success for all that attended.

Along with thought provoking dual keynote speeches on Friday and Saturday the conference featured panel discussions as well as a broad range of academic paper sessions.  Two new features for 2009 were a series of workshops for faculty called “Hot Topics In Faculty Development” that focused on a wide range of interests including preparing for tenure, budgeting a music business program, and developing online curriculum and a series of clinics for students that included contract negotiations, twittering, and digital production.  Congratulations go to the NYU MEISA chapter for winning the MEISA National Marketing Contest for the second year running.  Thanks to all that attended and made this year an uncontested success.