Celebrity Hitz TV, in partnership with the University of Minnesota School of Music, has officially announced the inaugural Minnesota Music Conference, scheduled to take place in April 2027.
The landmark event aims to position itself as the premier music industry gathering in the region, bridging the gap between academic insight, cutting-edge technology, and real-world commercial success for local and regional artists.
The conference is designed to address a critical challenge facing the local music community: connecting highly talented regional creators with the mechanics of the global music market.
In an exclusive interview, Mr. Joseph Marshall Agyepong, CEO of Celebrity Hitz TV, shared his motivation for launching the ambitious project.
“Our vision is to build the premier music industry conference in the Midwest in partnership with the University of Minnesota School of Music, dedicated to education, artist development, innovation, and preserving Minnesota’s extraordinary musical heritage. Minnesota has been the center of producing some of the best music producers in the world.”
Mr. Agyepong emphasized that while the state boasts a dense and highly active community of musicians, independent artists frequently lack a clear roadmap for scaling their careers beyond regional borders.
“There are a lot of artists in Minnesota, but most lack direction on how to promote their songs in the global market,” Agyepong noted. “How to market their songs, streaming benefits, and the reasons why you need a manager, a PR team, and other foundational support to become the artist you want to be.”
A core component of the conference’s foundation is its direct collaboration with institutional leaders. Agyepong confirmed he has held multiple strategy meetings with the Director of the University of Minnesota School of Music, Parrick Warfield, to align the conference’s educational curriculum with industry realities.
According to Agyepong, the university administration has expressed strong support and a willingness to collaborate deeply to ensure the event serves as a sustainable engine for building the state’s broader music infrastructure.
The event will also serve as a tribute to the region’s historic contributions to global pop and urban music, looking to the legacy of local legends—most notably Prince—as a standard for creative excellence and global impact.
Conference Highlights
The organizers are planning a major multi-day conference. The April 2027 program is expected to feature:
- 175+ Speakers: Prominent music, arts, media, and technology executives, alongside leading creative entrepreneurs.
- 50+ Specialized Panels & Fireside Chats: Covering the intersection of artistic creation, business development, and legal frameworks.
- Interactive Workshops & Networking: Designed to facilitate direct connections between emerging artists and established industry professionals.
Program Tracks
The curriculum is built around the modern, multi-faceted music business, ensuring that creators understand both traditional industry practices and emerging digital trends. Programming will include:
- Advanced Music Production: Insights into the techniques that have historically defined the “Minnesota sound.”
- Artist Management & PR: Understanding the critical roles of management and public relations in building a sustainable music career.
- Global Marketing & Streaming Optimization: Exploring platform algorithms, streaming revenue, audience growth, and international distribution strategies.
- AI in Music & Emerging Technology: Examining the practical applications and legal implications of artificial intelligence in music creation and publishing.
- Music Law & Business Infrastructure: Deep dives into copyright, songwriting royalties, licensing, and revenue opportunities for independent creators.
Uniting the Ecosystem
The organizers intend for the conference to serve as a central hub for the Midwest music industry, bringing together professionals who rarely have a unified platform in the region.
Attendees are expected to include musicians, DJs, artist managers, music video directors, entertainment lawyers, producers, educators, and technology innovators.
“There is more we can do,” Agyepong concluded, “but we just have to start first to build our industry into the global market.”
Registration details and venue information for the April 2027 conference are expected to be announced later this year by Celebrity Hitz TV and the University of Minnesota School of Music.
