Winter Music Conference returns to Miami March 24-26 with a programming slate that tackles the business realities facing electronic music in 2026. The conference's two-track format splits between industry professionals and creators, with panels addressing ownership, technology, and the practical economics of building sustainable careers. Here are five sessions worth clearing your schedule for.
AlphaTheta Presents: The Art of the DJ Set – Selection, Storytelling & the Dancefloor Thursday, March 26, 4:00pm-5:00pm
With over 100,000 tracks releasing weekly, curation matters more than technical mixing ability. This panel brings Sasha, Dubfire, Alison Wonderland, and Danny Daze together to discuss how they build sets that actually move floors. The conversation goes beyond track selection into performance techniques, examining whether DJs approach sets as live remixes layering multiple elements in real time or lean into traditional mixing styles. Expect discussion on effects, looping, and how modern performance tools shape momentum and narrative across a set. Lars Schlichting moderates a conversation that should reveal how each artist's creative process differs based on genre and audience.
View this post on Instagram
Create Music Group Presents: From Founding to Exit Wednesday, March 25, 5:00pm-6:00pm
Create Music Group walks through the full lifecycle of building and selling a label, from initial deal structures to attracting acquisition interest. Zach Jaffe, Thomas Garcia, and Eric Nguyen from Create join Will Holland from Enhanced Music, producer Dzeko, and Jessica Wilson from The Circuit Group and mau5trap to break down what actually creates value in a label business. The panel covers talent development, growth challenges, operational optimization, and what major labels and private equity firms look for when evaluating potential acquisitions. This session targets anyone running or considering starting an imprint who wants to understand how independent labels scale without losing their identity or IP control.
The Circuit Group Presents: Scaling the Underground – Independence, IP, and the Future of Electronic Music Thursday, March 26, 1:00pm-2:00pm
The Circuit Group's leadership examines how independent electronic music scales globally while maintaining cultural integrity and ownership. James Sutcliffe and Dean Wilson from The Circuit Group join Rida Naser Greene from SiriusXM to discuss how artists and label founders build long-term careers and retain IP control in an industry that increasingly pressures independents to give up ownership for distribution and marketing support. The conversation draws on The Circuit Group's ecosystem spanning management, labels, services, publishing, and partnerships to map out sustainable business models that allow underground artists to reach wider audiences without compromising their creative vision or signing away their catalogs.
The Artist As A Startup – Disrupt, Breakthrough, and Grow Wednesday, March 25, 1:00pm-2:00pm
Early career artists need startup thinking and the ability to execute across multiple roles simultaneously. Megan Venzin from Resin Agency, David Rishty from Palm Tree Records, Raphael Aflalo from Djaayz, Jeff Stempeck from SoundOn at TikTok, Dominic Kerley from LabelWorx, and Pierre-Alban Mulliez from Claimy break down the skills required to cut through noise in an oversaturated market. The panel covers using AI to accelerate workflow, deploying disruptive tactics to advance careers, and building infrastructure that supports growth without burning out. This session addresses the practical realities of being a one-person operation trying to compete with established acts who have full teams behind them.
The Pop Up Shop – Creating Revenue, Building Brand, and Empowering Fans Wednesday, March 25, 4:00pm-5:00pm
Merchandise represents significant revenue and brand extension opportunity when executed properly. Aaron Day from Amaze, Sandflower Dyson from Sprayground, Max Weinberg from Interscope, Jesse Kirshbaum from Nue Agency and Beats + Bytes, and Erik Schneider from Twos Group discuss creating unique merch, structuring brand partnerships, and building retail environments that strengthen fan relationships. The conversation moves beyond basic tour merch into how artists and labels use physical products to grow market share and create touchpoints that extend beyond streaming platforms and social media. This panel targets anyone looking to build merch strategies that generate income while reinforcing brand identity.
Winter Music Conference runs March 24-26, 2026 at the Kimpton EPIC Hotel in Downtown Miami. The conference concludes Thursday before Ultra Music Festival begins March 27 at Bayfront Park.
Connect with Winter Music Conference: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X
