2014 Schedule
Interactive: March 7–11  •  Film: March 7–15  •  Music: March 11–16

It Takes Money to Make Money: Alternative Funding

#sxsw #altfunding

Financing shouldn't be a dirty word. It's an integral part of the music business, and perhaps the most overwrought topic facing the industry as traditional models give way to 360, equity investments, crowdfunding, self-funding, and royalty advances. Understand exactly what makes each of these tools different, unique, and advantageous.

Presenters

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MODERATOR

Eli Ball

CEO

Lyric Financial

Eli Ball is the founder and CEO of Lyric Financial. He has had the privilege of working with acclaimed artists that include Ray Charles, Jason and the Scorchers, Rosanne Cash and Herbie Hancock. During the late 80′s and early 90′s his studio was ground zero for the burgeoning Memphis underground scene, providing a creative laboratory for future stars Al Kapone, DJ Paul (3-6 Mafia). 8-ball & MJG, Jazzy Pha, and The North Mississippi Allstars.

In 1996, Eli began a new career as an investment banker. Through his studies and work, Eli began to recognize that the music industry could benefit from the financial tools that Wall Street had been using successfully in other industries for years, and Lyric Financial was born. Today Lyric helps labels, songwriters, artists, and publishers achieve financial freedom through advance funding models.

In 2007, Lyric Financial relocated to Nashville, where Eli now lives with his wife, Mary Unobsky.

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John Strohm

Sr Counsel

Loeb & Loeb LLP

John is a music business lawyer who primarily represents recording artists, producers, and songwriters, including several Grammy winners. Prior to becomeing a lawyer, John was a professional musician and a member of the bands The Lemonheads and Blake Babies.

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Benji Rogers

Pres & Founder

PledgeMusic

Benji Rogers is an independent musician from London who has been making his own records since 1999. In 2009, Benji founded PledgeMusic, the leading international direct-to-fan platform offering artists a unique way to engage their fans in the music making process while interacting with a global audience of music super fans, resulting in chart topping albums worldwide. This year Benji was recognized on Billboard’s 40 Under 40 Power Players list.

Ben Cary

CFO

INgrooves

Ben serves as Chief Financial Officer for Isolation Network, Inc. Prior to joining Isolation Network, he was a Managing Director with Broadway Advisors, LLC, a boutique management consulting firm focused solely on advising and assisting financially and operationally troubled companies. Before this role, Ben was a director with Prometheus Partners, a private equity fund established to invest in growth companies within fragmented industry sectors undergoing consolidation.

Ben has over 20 years of experience in financial management, including roles with Trinity Capital, Broadview International, Goldman Sachs, Metromedia International and Coopers & Lybrand. He earned an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School and a BS in Accounting from the University of Southern California. He is a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and held Series 7 & 63 certifications.

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