Name: 🚀 LAUNCH PAD OR FLIGHT SCHOOL? Education vs. Real-World Experience
Start: 2026-04-24T13:30:00-0400
End: 2026-04-24T14:20:00-0400

Individual showcase stage tickets linked in each performance slot. Weekend Badges for Conference & Festival admission can be found at https://www.launchmusicconference.com/lancaster/

🚀 LAUNCH PAD OR FLIGHT SCHOOL? Education vs. Real-World Experience

Friday April 24, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT

CommonWealth Ballroom 3

Do you need a degree? Or just experience? This panel explores how formal education, hands-on work, mentorship, and self-directed learning can work together — not compete — in building a long-term career. Discover how to combine knowledge and action to prepare for real success in the evolving music industry.

Speakers

Randy Nichols

President & CEO, Fly South Music Group, Force Media Managment

Randy Nichols has guided artists to multiple Gold records and Grammy nominations. He is regularly invited to speak about artist management, live streaming, merchandise, and technology at conferences including SXSW, CMJ, LAUNCH Music Conference, Montauk Music Festival, as well as multiple... Read More →

Shawn Young

Director of Music Industry Studies, Professor of Music, York College of Pennsylvania

Shawn Young, PhD is director of Music & Entertainment Industry Studies at York College of Pennsylvania. After serving in the U.S. Army Band and working in the music industry as a performer, promoter, and manager, Dr. Young entered the world of higher education and has not looked back... Read More →

Chris Keeney

Immersive Music/Media Group

Chris is a professional guitarist, recording engineer, and educator, based in Lancaster, PA. As a musician, he has recorded or performed with a wide variety of national and international artists and groups over the past 20 years. In addition to guitar, he is also an oudist, and... Read More →

Lou Plaia

Founder, Artist Services Specialist, Hot Rats Entertainment

Plaia launched Hot Rats Entertainment in 2022 to provide consulting and various artist services for solo Artists, Bands, Songwriters, Producers and Managers. At Hot Rats, he also manages the Spinefarm/Universal recording artist, Deadlands, a female-fronted metalcore band.
From... Read More →

Dr. Ulf Oesterle

Director of Marketing; Professor, After Dark Presents; Murray State University

Ulf Oesterle has spent a career operating at the intersection of the music business and higher education. Oesterle spent nearly two decades teaching at Syracuse University while also managing artists, running an independent record label, curating and hosting a commercial specialty... Read More →

Goldie Harris

Internship Coordinator Hofstra University, Director of Streaming & Commerce at EMPIRE

Goldie Harris is a music executive, strategist, DJ, and educator currently serving as Director of Streaming & Commerce at EMPIRE, where she helps shape streaming strategy and commerce outcomes for artists across all genres. At EMPIRE, Goldie works closely with internal teams and DSP... Read More →

Monika Julien

Education, Drexel University

Terry Tompkins

Education, Management, Talent Buying, Analytics, Hofstra University

Terry Tompkins has been a professional and professor in the music industry for the past 25 years. He began his career as an artist manager and worked as a talent buyer, journalist, record label president, festival organizer, A&R Rep and Professor of Music Industry. Tompkins is... Read More →

Friday April 24, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
CommonWealth Ballroom 3

Conference

LAUNCH Music Conference & Festival 2026