Music Tectonics has announced full programming for its 2026 conference, set for October 27-29 in Santa Monica, California. This year’s theme, “Growing the Music Market for All,” centers on whether technology can expand the overall market for music rather than simply redistribute existing revenue, according to the announcement.
Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis will deliver a keynote fireside chat, with sessions addressing AI licensing models, royalty collection gaps, catalog valuation, Roblox and fandom, and direct-to-fan revenue. Additional participants include Dani Deahl of BandLab, Bridget Ferris of ElevenLabs, Andrew Kahn of the Yamaha Music Innovations Fund, and Jessica Meehan of Roblox.
The event will also host its annual Swimming with Narwhals startup competition, with finalists Cadence IO, EquitX, Resolut and Visuals.fm, alongside investor panels and speed networking. New this year, law firm Morrison Foerster will run an invite-only VIP program at the venue’s Marion Davies Guest House for senior executives from labels, publishers, private equity and catalog investment firms, the organizers say.
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Emily Frances, rockpaperscissors.biz.