15th Annual Sunset Sessions

Celebrating it's 15th year, Sunset Sessions is a music industry-only event that brings together over 800 radio programmers, top music supervisors, record companies, artist managers, publishers, and booking agents from across the country. One slot with all performance fees waived has been reserved for Sonicbids artists. All other labels and artists must pay $2,500-$8,000 in fees. Selected artists may be broadcast, interviewed, and streamed, by the radio and media outlets who attend each year./n/nJUST ANNOUNCED: Lucinda Williams has been added to the 15th Annual Sunset Sessions' lineup. Other confirmed performers include Jimmy Cliff, Everlast, Eve 6, and The Parlotones.

Celebrating its 15th year in 2012, Sunset Sessions is an industry-only conference that brings together professionals from all branches of the music industry to expose them to the freshest new talent and treat them to some legendary favorites. One showcase slot has been reserved with all performance fees waived for a Sonicbids artist. All other artists and labels (whether independent or major) are required to pay a $2,500-$8,000 fee for a performance spot. Selected Sonicbids artists will also qualify to be included in future Sunset Sessions events.

2011's selected artist, Bushwalla had the following to say about his experience at Sunset Sessions last year:

My experience at Sunset sessions was amazing. Michele Clark and her crew are the ambassadors of cool. They treat their performers great and as a performer you also get the opportunity to witness amazing acts. I was in the front row for Sia, Black Dub and k.d. lang. Such an amazing time! Also on a networking standpoint I left SS with a slew of new contacts. From music supervisors to radio personalities that came from all over. Through my first SS experience I started to get played on local San Diego radio along with an opportunity to open for Fitz and the Tantrums. SS is well worth the time and there's great food!!

Sunset Sessions offers the chance to perform in front of a captive audience (they literally take attendance before each performance) of top industry tastemakers from radio stations, music supervisors from film, TV, commercials and video games, along with record companies, managers, publishers, and the press. The 2011 Sunset Sessions was attended by over 800 industry professionals.

Some of 2012's confirmed industry attendees include:

• Livia Tortella – Co-President and COO, Warner Brothers Records


• Gene Rumsey – President, Concord Music Group


• Kevin Lyman – Founder, Warped Tour


• Dennis Constantine – Program Director, KFOG


• Marianne Good – Music Supervisor, Lifetime Networks


• Sky Daniels – Program Director, KCSN


• Greg Hammer – Managing Director, Red Bull Records (AWOLNATION, Innerpartysystem)


• Kevin Zinger – Co-Founder, Suburban Noize Records (Saigon, Mickey Avalon, La Coka Nostra, Glasses Malone)

Artists who perform at Sunset Sessions have the opportunity to be interviewed, streamed, and broadcast by the various radio, internet, press, and media outlets who attend and cover the event each year. Last year coverage was provided by Fox News, ABC News, San Diego Magazine, The Recording Academy, Citybeat, The San Diego Tribune and radio stations across the country, with live and recorded broadcast feeds on KPRI, 91X and NBC.

Past performers include Stevie Nicks, Chris Isaak, Stephen Stills, The Black Keys, Jack Johnson, Ryan Adams, Jewel, The Zac Brown Band, Melissa Etheridge, Unwritten Law, Jason Mraz, k.d. lang, Unwritten Law, Joss Stone, Toots & the Maytals, Pete Yorn, Ziggy Marley, Roseanne Cash, The John Butler Trio, Five for Fighting, Third Eye Blind, Rick Springfield, John Waite, Ozomatli, Needtobreathe and many, many more.

Past attendees/panelists include Daniel Glass (Founder of Glassnote Records, Phoenix, Mumford & Sons, Two Door Cinema Club), Gary Arnold (Senior VP of Best Buy), Danny Goldberg (President of Gold Village Entertainment, Steve Earle, The Hives, Tom Morello), Bill Silva (Bill Silva Entertainment, Hollywood Bowl), Bill Armstong (Co-founder of SideOneDummy Records, Gaslight Anthem, Gogol Bordello, Flogging Molly), and many, many more.

Check out the video below for a history of Sunset Sessions, and the artists it has helped to break and launch over the years. Also check out more about Sunset Sessions from the San Diego Tribune, Grammy365, and FMQB.