FMQB hosted its first Triple A Conference in Boulder, CO last week at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa, and by all accounts, it was a rousing success. As always, the conference provided an opportunity for everyone in the Triple A community to share ideas, network, have fun and see some great live music in the process. The overall vibe showed that the spirit of camaraderie and musical integrity is still alive and thriving in the close-knit format.
FMQB CEO Fred Deane, T Bone Burnett, World Café host/producer David Dye andFMQB Sr. Director of Triple A Jack Barton.
FMQB hosted its first Triple A Conference in Boulder, CO last week at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa, and by all accounts, it was a rousing success. As always, the conference provided an opportunity for everyone in the Triple A community to share ideas, network, have fun and see some great live music in the process. The overall vibe showed that the spirit of camaraderie and musical integrity is still alive and thriving in the close-knit format.
The Conference kicked off on Wednesday with an opening address from FMQBCEO Fred Deane, who paid homage to the Triple A gathering in Boulder and the Triple A community in general, and punctuated his address by announcing plans for FMQB “to continue this tradition of Boulder in 2010.” Next came the keynote session with World Café host/producer David Dye interviewing musician/producer T Bone Burnett, who had some words of wisdom for the programmers and industry professionals working in Triple A. After that, the Opening Reception featured a performance from newcomer Michael Nappi, followed by a full evening at Boulder’s legendary Fox Theatre. Wednesday’s performances included Paolo Nutini, Mindy Smith and Andrew Bird on the main stage, with Marcy Playground and Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sonson the outside second stage. After the festivities on “The Hill” were over,Conference attendees retired back to the St. Julien for a rockin’ Pro.qb Late Night Lounge performance from Needtobreathe.
Thursday morning opened with the panel New Horizons: Creating a Cooperative New Media Future with moderator Ruth Presslaff of Presslaff Interactiv, as well as a performance from Jack Savoretti. Thursday’s luncheon in the outdoor tent featured sets from newcomers Angel Taylor and Zee Avi, while Five For Fighting also came back to the Conference for a special “thank you” performance as main man John Ondrasik acknowledged the Triple A format for launching his career almost a decade ago. Thursday afternoon’s panel wasThe 2009 Triple A Listener Survey: How the music business competes with LIFE, moderated by John Bradley & Dave Rahn of SBR Creative Media, along with a set from Tim Brantley. The cocktail party offered a performance from The Features, and then everyone headed to the Fox Theater again for main stage acts Gomez, Howie Day (who did a solo acoustic set) and Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam, plus second stage acts Matt Morris and Bob Schneider. The Pro.qb Late Night Lounge featured a performance by Oscar winners The Swell Season.
On Friday, as the weather continued to hold up for the last day of the Conference, the day began with The Innovator’s Dilemma with moderator Paul Marszalek of Media Mechanics, plus a performance from Catherine MacLellan. The noon luncheon featured sets by Crosby Loggins and Charlie Mars. That was followed by the Pro.qb Music Meeting hosted by WFUV’s Rita Houston andKFOG’s Kelly Ransford, where a group of KBCO/Boulder listeners as well as industry professionals weighed in on new music and enjoyed a performance by Nelo. The Friday cocktail party offered a performance from A Fine Frenzy and a screening of clips fromR.E.M. Live at the Olympia.
After that, many attendees headed to the Boulder Theater for an E-Town show taping with David Gray and Harper Simon, followed by the final Fox Theater lineup of Yonder Mountain String Band, Ingrid Michaelson and Serena Ryder on the main stage andWill Hoge and Joshua James on the second stage. Anya Marina closed out the Conference by performing at the final Pro.qb Late Night Lounge.
As many of us said our goodbyes in the lobby of the St. Julien on Saturday morning, we look forward to coming together again next summer, when the 2nd Annual FMQB Triple A Conference will take place in August 2010. The exact dates will be announced in the coming months.
“It was great to see the outpouring of support that the Triple A community regularly gives this event, and even greater to once again be a part of the amazing camaraderie this community has in its pursuit of great music and amazing radio,” said FMQB Sr. Director of Triple A Jack Barton. “I’m so stoked that we’re already working on next year, planning even more compelling panels and scheming with Fox Theatre crew to make it the best year of music to date. The amount of gratitude I have to my Triple A colleagues for turning out in force cannot be measured in words.”
Deane comments, “All of us at FMQB know what this event means to the passionate people of the Triple A community. We know what this event represents with its rich history and unremitting integrity. We know the power of this community and its ability to transcend industry trends and cycles, but most of all we recognize and respect its fervor for the music, the spirit of the format and the solidarity of its people.”
You can view photos from the event here.
