Seth Godin to Give Opening Keynote at Rethink Music 2012

Best-selling author, entrepreneur, and agent of change Seth Godin will give the opening keynote address at Rethink Music 2012. Produced by Berklee College of Music and midem April 22–24 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Rethink Music is a solutions-focused event with workshops, presentations, and panels designed to transform tomorrow's music industry.

To further promote innovation, Rethink will host a Hackers' Weekend April 21–22 in partnership with the Echo Nest. Also, the Genesis Project startup competition, sponsored by Duane Morris, will award $10,000 in legal services to the most creative business plan.

Business Week's "Ultimate Entrepreneur for the Information Age," Godin has written 13 best-selling books that have been translated into more than 35 languages. Godin writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting, leadership and most of all, changing everything. His second book, Unleashing the Ideavirus, is the most popular e-book ever published. In 2003, his book Purple Cow was the No. 1 bestselling marketing book on Amazon. His other works include The Big Red Fez, Survival Is Not Enough, Free Prize Inside, All Marketers Are Liars, The Big Moo, Small is the New Big, and Meatball Sundae. He was named one of the top 21 speakers for the 21st century by Successful Meetings magazine.

The growing roster of artists and outstanding personalities and speakers taking part in Rethink Music 2012 now include:

• Portugal. The Man
• DJ Spooky
• Olivier Robert-Murphy, Global Head of New Business, Universal Music Group
• J Sider, Founder and CEO, RootMusic.com
• Yochai Benkler, Professor for Entrepreneurial Legal Studies, Berkman Center for Internet and Society
• Elizabeth Moody, Head of Strategic Partner Development, Music Content, YouTube
• Laura Saez, SVP, Digital Sales and Commercial Development, EMI Music North America
• Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO, Kobalt Music
• Joe Killian, SVP, Music and Entertainment, Momentum
• Geoff Cotrill, CMO, Converse
• Bertrand Bodson, SVP, Global Digital Marketing, EMI Music

Music technology firm the Echo Nest is the new partner for Rethink Music's Hackers' Weekend. Hosted at Microsoft's New England Research & Development Center in Cambridge, this is a weekend for developers, designers, programmers, industry insiders, and musicians to create new and unique applications across many different platforms. After intense development over two days, three hackers winners will be selected to present their hacks at Rethink Music Conference, on Monday, April 23. Registration is required for Hackers' Weekend.

Organized in partnership with Babson College, Rethink Music's Genesis Project competition will recognize new concepts, technologies, and businesses that can move the music industry forward. Leading law firm Duane Morris LLP will provide the winning project with $10,000 in legal services, among other awards. Finalists will present their business plans at Rethink on Tuesday, April 24.

The Rethink Music 2012 updated program-at-a-glance is available online and registration is open, with special rates for students and musicians.

Produced by Berklee College of Music and midem, in association with Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet and Society and Babson College, Rethink Music is a hands-on conference designed to bring music stakeholders together to discuss business models for the future, examine copyright challenges in the digital era, and analyze technological innovation in music and its distribution. Centered around transforming the music industry, Rethink Music's programming does not just focus on discussing change, but rather making it happen.

More information can be found at rethink-music.com