Variety Executive Music Editor Jem Aswad kickstarts the Mondo 2025 conference.
DMN partner Open on Sunday has been on the ground in Brooklyn to bring you the latest from Mondo 2025. Here’s a rundown of the highlights.
(Photos taken by Open On Sunday cofounder & President Malcolm Thompson, with Open On Sunday Copyright Specialist Kevin Dyndan also snapping shots. Both have been on the floor at the Mondo NYC Music Conference, which took place October 14th-17th, 2025.)
On day one, Jem Aswad, Executive Music Editor at Variety, kickstarted the Mondo 2025 Conference with a ‘State of the Music Business’ panel.
The “Fireside Chat” between Concord COO Victor Zaraya and Larry Miller, Clinical Professor of the Music Business Program at NYU Steinhardt (and Executive Director of Sony Audio Institute), included a discussion on how independent artists are tackling the challenges presented by a highly interconnected world, while leveraging the opportunities it offers.
Panelists also discussed the aftermath of new technology empowering artists to find and connect with global audiences. As a result, the music ecosystem has never been more complicated or more democratic. Another upbeat takeaway was that music revenues in the US and Europe have become more stable, and trust in the music market is strengthening among investors.
The team also attended an interview by Jason Feinberg, head of KOSIGN at Kobalt, as he spoke to legendary artist Henry Rollins.
Jason Feinberg interviews Henry Rollins.
Titled “Building the Artist Enterprise,” the interview dove into the strategies that turn art and creativity into a career. Rollins shared a behind-the-scenes look at building a business around music, writing, and performance. Speaking about making tough financial calls, protecting rights, and staying creative under pressure, Rollins unpacked the realities of staying true to your vision, the lessons he’s learned, and the strategies he developed to make independence work.
On Day Two, the conversation with Pieter Van Rijn, CEO of Downtown Music, and Larry Miller delivered insights on how businesses are supporting the rising needs of independent artists and how technology supports dynamic changes.
Downtown Music CEO Pieter van Rijn in conversation with NYU Steinhardt’s Larry Miller.
After Downtown Music’s December 2024 announcement of its proposed acquisition by UMG-owned Virgin Music Group, the next step in the company’s journey grows more interesting. Van Rijn and Miller shed light on how a collaboration between Downtown and Virgin will offer diverse tools that benefit the current generation of artists.
DMN TV also covered the one-on-one discussion with RIAA CEO Mitch Glazier and freshly appointed co-head of Apple Music, Ole Obermann.
One on One: Apple Music’s Ole Obermann & RIAA’s CEO Mitch Glazier.
The two industry leaders joined heads to discuss the state of the music industry and where it’s headed.
Kickstarting Day Four of Mondo 2025 conference today, Mondo’s tradition of keynote presentations brought together Jem Aswad (Executive Music Editor at Variety) and Elizabeth Matthews (Chief Executive Officer of ASCAP).
The discussion covered the evolving music business landscape and its wide-ranging impact on composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers. Attendees also brushed up on their collective licensing knowledge, with ASCAP pointing to a string of innovations benefiting of songwriters, composers, music publishers, and licensees across all media platforms.
One Friday, attorneys and industry leaders engaged with topics such as generative AI, valuation, litigation, ethics, contracts, touring, advocacy, superfans, reputation risk, rights management, and more as part of Mondo’s Music & Tech Law Symposium.
