“The Hudson Valley has long been intertwined with the American music industry. It goes back further than you think. Staying power is what this is all about – building an artist/fan relationship that outlasts trends, evolves with the artist, and spans generations. The music that comes out of this region has always been less about reading charts and more about channeling a vibe, and a conference works similarly: it’s the unspoken connections that help us navigate to where we’re going,” – David Hoffman
The Hudson Valley Music Summit returns after a seven-year hiatus for a full-day industry conference and live showcase on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center (480 North Bedford Road, Chappaqua, NY 10514) in New York. The day features panels, networking, and live music.
Hudson Valley entrepreneur David Hoffman, a veteran conference producer and lifelong musician and songwriter, founded and produces the Summit and has never kept his two worlds entirely separate: he is known for opening corporate events with a few blues licks from the harmonica he keeps at his hip. His work spans music and investment management; he launched The Summit in 2019, drawing about 200 attendees from across the Hudson Valley and beyond.
He has assembled a strong lineup of industry leaders to discuss the future of artist-fan management. 40 speakers, 10 panels, 4 networking breaks — the people who book, manage, license, and promote music in this region, in one room for one day.
MFM President Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi; Kingston Chapter leader Stephen Johnson; and legal adviser Barry Heyman, who will be on the Music Rights Management panel, will attend and be available for any music business-related questions.
It’s a great opportunity for Hudson Valley freelance musicians to network and meet each other.
The full agenda is set:
9:05 — The day opens with a look at the Hudson Valley music scene: Jimmy Fink, Stefanie May of the Capitol Theatre, and Jennifer Glickman of the Bearsville Theater
11:25 — Touring Roundtable, with Mike Campbell of Dayglo Presents
1:10 — Music Rights Management: royalties, licensing, and who gets paid
3:30 — Managing the Digital Fan Relationship, moderated by Casper Schadt of Sony Music
4:50 — Manager’s Roundtable to close the panels
5:30 — Closing Showcase: concludes with live performances by featured artists Alex Cano, Dan Zlotnick, and Hunter Road.
- A Look at the Hudson Valley Music Scene: Explores regional original music, venues, and media support, moderated by Tom Zlabinger (APME NY), with panelists including Jimmy Fink (107.1 The Peak), Stefanie May (The Capitol Theatre), and Jennifer Glickman (Bearsville Theater).
- 21st Century Musician: Diversifying and Building a Long Career: Discusses sustaining a modern career, moderated by Alexandra Greenberg (Falcon Publicity), and featuring experts such as Emily White (Collective Entertainment), Russ Rieger (Not Dead Yet Media), Lee Dannay (Thirty Tigers/Recording Academy), and Sam Stauff (Mercy College). [1, 2]
- Licensing Update: Moving Beyond Commercials: Focuses on sync and expanded licensing opportunities with moderator Janine Small and panelists Joel Feinberg (DeWolfe Music), Mike Boris (Jaded Melody), and Mark Berry (AMG).
- Reimagining the 21st Century Record Label: Examines modern independent distribution and label operations featuring Mona Kayhan (The Bridge Studio), Anna Bond (Secretly Distribution), and Peter James (Manic Kat Records).
- Manager’s Roundtable & Additional Speakers: Offers insights into artist-manager partnerships and legacy management with participants like Rebecca Shapiro (Shore Fire Media), Anna Canoni (Woody Guthrie Publications), Lou Plaia (Hot Rats Entertainment), Liz Penta (Emcee Artist Management), and Jeremy Weiss (Launch Music Conference)
Tickets: Get tickets on Eventbrite — use code GOLD26 for 20% off.
Full agenda: hudsonvalleymusicsummit.com/
