FUTURE FORWARD: IMS WANTS TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT
- The Bottom Line

The Interfusion Music Summit is as five day converence designed for music industry professionals like recording artists, professional DJs, producers, record labels, and others working within the music industry. the five day event will feature knowledgable guest speakers and offer various discussion panels and workshops. Pool parties, DJ Sets, and live performances are also planned for the inagural IMS which is set to kick off at the Quality Inn & Suites on Spetember 21 and run throught September 25th.

Several well-known recording artists are scheduled to participate, including Georgie Progie, Debby Holiday, Pepper MaShay and disco legend Linda Clifford. The performance parties are open to the public. Behind this ambitious undertaking is the dynamic duo of Allen Edwards and DJ Corey D. In a phone interview with The BottomLIne, Corey D describet the ispiration behind the 2011 IMS

TBL: How did the Idea for IMS come about?
DJ Corey D: I started thinking about it mostly after 2006. [That year] I produced on of the parties for Billboard [during the magazine's annual] Dance Music Summit in Las Vegas. When Billboard [stopped having the Dance Music Summit], we thought maybe we should do something here in Californial for people on the west coast. Also, with the economy the way it has been for the past few years, we just felt there was a need for this. We are hoping it will gro into somthing big.

TBL: Why is IMS taking place in Cathedral City as apposed to Palm Springs?
DJ Corey D: IMS is actually presented by Cathdral City. The decision was made after talking to some of the poeple we work with who live in Cathedral City. They came to us with an idea and we came at them with an idea and then we all sat around a table by the pool and figured out which was best. From there we went to the city council in Cathedral City and pitche the idea.

TBL: Who can benefit form attending IMS?
DJ Corey D: The IMS Schedule is intended for up and coming artists, record label promoters, venues and anybody who is in the music industry. The industry is different than it was five years ago. It's different than it was ten years ago. Most people in the public don't know that, but if you're in the industry, you know about the wave of change that it's going through. Some people have been very successful in this new world of music, and some people have sort of failed. And some people are trying to lokd on to the way things used to be instead of embracing what is new. So the summit is basically about getting all these people together and figuring out where to go from here.

TBL: There does seem to be a lot of confusion about how to move forward in this new economy.
DJ Corey D: Every artist I work with has said to me at one point or another, "I wish the Internet woul go away." I finally had to be blunt with them and say, "That's never going to happen." It really is all about how you look at it. Ten years ago you needed a booking agent to find work, but today you can go on Facebook, create your own profile and book yourself. "The Internet is not destroying your career" I tell them, "It's actuallly helping, in a different way."

TBL: So the conference will help attendees see that?
DJ Corey D: Right. Those are the kind of things were touching on. One of the biggest speakers we have is the vice president of ReverbNation. He's going to be speaking about marketing yourself.

TBL: What other speakers do you have?
DJ Corey D: The big names we have speaking include Harry Towers [of Deet promotions in New York]. He will be talking specifically about artist development. He was in record promtion with various record labels and has worked with Gloria Gaynor, Janet Jackson, you name it, he has worked with them. So I think he's pretty qualified for that. Georgie Progie is doing a workshop on what is needed to produce your own music. We have a lot of people who, if you are in the industry know wha they are.

TBL: Parties are a big part of the IMS as well. Can you tell us what to expect?
DJ Corey D: We have all the incredibly talented people who are coming into town for the conference. Debby Holiday is performing, Georgie Porgie, Michael Butera (who is a new singer from canada). Pepper MaShay will also be performing. Several DJs are coming in; Scott Mann, G Cavelle, Jeremy Martorano from Majik Boys. Just like everyone else, they're looking for an audience. We are holding the classes during the day and then in the evening some of the labels are producing their own parties at diffeent venues in town.

TBL: You are pretty well known as a DJ as well. WIll you be spinning duing the week?
DJ Corey D: (Laughing). I am not scheduling myself anywhere, but I'm sure that I will be filling somewhere as needed.

August, 2011
Eric Ornelas