Billboard Music & Money Symposium to Feature Keynote Q&A Session with Mitchell Leib, President of Music and Soundtracks Walt Disney Pictures and Television/Buena Vista Music Group

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New York, NY (PRWEB) February 28, 2007

Billboard, the world's most trusted source of music, video and digital entertainment news, charts, reviews, and analysis, today announced that Mitchell Leib, President of Music and Soundtracks for Walt Disney Pictures and Television/Buena Vista Music Group will participate in an exclusive keynote Q&A session at the Billboard Music and Money Symposium, in association with Loeb and Loeb, on Thursday, March 1st at the St. Regis hotel in New York City. During the one-day event, Leib will discuss the correlation of music in film and TV with Tamara Conniff, Billboard's executive editor and associate publisher. In addition, he will speak about his Grammy Award-nominated soundtrack for the hit TV show, "Grey's Anatomy."

"Disney is a unique entertainment company because of its unparalleled brand, but also because there is such an effective collaboration among the divisions," says Leib. "Disney projects benefit from multiple entities working together to maximize revenues from ancillary proceeds, while at the same time creating enormous cross-platform marketing and promotional opportunities."

In his dual role--in which he functions as part "creative executive and part diplomat,"--Leib provides comprehensive music support to Disney filmmakers; optimizes ancillary development of Disney's soundtrack interests; and seeks out third-party opportunities to acquire and produce soundtracks.

Leib grew Disney's Hollywood Records into a soundtrack powerhouse that bolstered the entire Buena Vista Music Group. While producing soundtracks for Disney Company Films, Leib also established Hollywood's primacy as a third party acquiring and producing soundtracks for other film companies, particularly Paramount Pictures. Paramount's "Mission Impossible II," "Zoolander," and "Save the Last Dance" were accompanied by Hollywood Records soundtracks; and "Music From the Motion Picture Save the Last Dance" was certified double platinum.

"Mitchell Leib's incredible creativity and longevity has propelled the music and soundtrack business to new heights," says Conniff. "Leib is a true visionary who unites the powers of music and film, fully engaging consumers in the ultimate entertainment experience. This keynote Q&A will definitely be a highlight of the day."

Gathering the top thought leaders from the music, legal and financial fields, the Billboard Music and Money Symposium examines financial realities that make and break the music industry. This elite event is attended by over 250 executives from record labels, publishing firms, marketing and promotion companies, as well as artist managers and attorneys. This symposium also features the information necessary for music executives to connect with emerging talent and production companies in need of financial resources.

Program highlights include:

•     Keynote Q&A with Ken Lombard - In this exclusive interview, Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, will discuss how the company has made a transformative impact on the entertainment industry by providing a new and convenient way for consumers to discover, experience and acquire all genres of great music as well as exceptional books and films.
•     Keynote Q&A with Steve Schnur - In an exclusive Q&A session, Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing for Electronic Arts (EA), will discuss the convergence of music and interactive entertainment. He will also make an EA announcement that will further close the gap between bands and fans.
•     View From the Top: The State of the Digital/Mobile Revolution - Thought leaders will discuss the state of the industry including the affects of mobile, social networking, and video, as well as the pains of content acquisition and licensing, emerging business models, and where the money really is.
•     Overpriced, or still the best bet? The economics of building a music publishing company for fun or profit - Leading experts will talk about how consolidation has affected the music publishing landscape, the art of acquiring music publishing catalogs, and the impact of digital on the value of a song.
•     Hard to Handle: The Business of Management - As the major record companies continue to consolidate, managers are increasingly taking over duties traditionally done by labels including marketing and A&R. Industry leaders will discuss the future of management, consolidation, and the art of the deal.
•     Show Us the Money: Venture Capitalists Talk Strategy - Suddenly it's the late 90s all over again for tech start-ups. Companies like MySpace and YouTube are receiving valuations of $1 billion despite limited operating histories. So is the rise of Web 2.0 also fueling Internet bubble 2.0? Investors will debate the soundness of current investment strategies. How are bets changing? What categories are hot?
•     Coming to You Live: The Financial Rewards of Touring - Consumers may not be buying round discs anymore, but live events continue to draw droves of fans. Industry experts will discuss profit margins, artist advances, merchandizing rights, and why the live experience means more than ever before.

For more information on the Billboard Music & Money Symposium, visit http://www.billboardevents.com or contact Margaret O'Shea at 646-654-4698 or bbevents @billboard.com. For information on registration and group discounts, contact Erin Parker at 646-654-4643 or eparker @billboard.com. For sponsorship information, contact Karl Vontz at 415-738-0745 or sponsorships @billboard.com. For press credentials, please contact Megan Levinson at 212-255-8455 or Megan @rosengrouppr.com. For hotel information, contact The St. Regis Hotel at 212-753-4500.

About Billboard

Now in its 112th year, Billboard is the world's premier weekly music publication and a diverse digital, events and brand, content and data licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video, gaming, media, digital and mobile entertainment issues and trends. Billboard is the flagship property for the Billboard Information Group, which also consists of Billboard.biz, Billboard.com, Billboard Chart Alert, Billboard Information Network (BIN), Billboard Directories, Billboard Books, Billboard Licensing & Events and Radio & Records. Billboard's many strategic partners include Microsoft, Reuters, Sirius Satellite Radio, Telemundo, Univision Radio, ABC Radio Networks, Azteca America and Billboard sister companies Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. These partnerships leverage Billboard's proprietary data, charts and information resources to develop broadcast entertainment, digital and mobile platforms and contextual commerce applications that expand Billboard's franchise and consumer reach.

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