From print purist to blog babe: Nightranger at Digital Music Forum West

As one whose love of music was cultivated on cassette tapes and who began writing about it on a typewriter (and who admittedly was once averse to social networking and the web in general as a medium on par with print), we weren't sure we were the right person to be on a panel about music blogging at the Digital Music Forum West event at the Roosevelt Hotel this week. But then our pal Heidi Richman (who'll be moderating the panel tomorrow afternoon) pointed out that there are many like us. Writers, industry types and even fans who've ultimately given up their old school notions and snobbery to discover that the music experience can be enhanced by online exposure, downloading and critique in ways we never imagined. We're still learning, but we're excited to do so.

As the description of the panel we'll be part of tomorrow suggests, music blogs like this one are more and more, "serving as trusted filters and digital tastemakers like independent radio of the past."

We'll be sharing our experience and evolution as a journo working in print and the challenges and transitions of working on the web, and hopefully, get enlightened by our fellow panelists:

Anthony Batt, Founder, & Chief Creative Officer, BuzzMedia
Justin Gage, Founder, Aquarium Drunkard / Autumn Tone Records
Francis Ten, Founding Band Member, West Indian Girl
Larry Weintraub, CEO, Fanscape
Moderator.

The first day of the forum, put on by Digital Music Wire is in full swing as of this post. But Thursday has some other interesting panels and speakers. (Ours by the way, begins at 3:55 p.m.)

Here, a couple of the most promising:

9:00am - 9:45am
 THE FUTURE OF INTERNET RADIO


Panelists:
Dave Conway, Founder, Little Radio

Johnie Floater, General Manager, Media, Live365

Kurt Hanson, Publisher, RAIN / CEO
AccuRadio
Jim Rondinelli, SVP of Strategic Development
Slacker
Moderator: David Oxenford, Partner, Davis, Wright, Tremaine

9:55am - 10:40am
 THE "SOCIAL STRIP": SOCIAL MEDIA & THE SUNSET STRIP


Panelists:
Nic Adler, Owner, The Roxy Theatre

Charlie Amter, Marketing Director, The Andaz

Tyson Cornell, Marketing Director, Book Soup

Nathan Levinson, Marketing Director, The Viper Room

Alf LaMont, Director of Marketing and Development, The Comedy Store 

Moderator: Kyra Reed, Co-Founder, MarKyr Media 


4:45pm - 5:30pm 
 SOCIAL MEDIA 2.0: 
WILL THE NEXT PHASE OF SOCIAL MEDIA BENEFIT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?


Panelists:

Josh Brooks, VP, Content & Programming, Playlist.com

Barry Layne, COO, ARTISTdirect Internet Group

Tom Carolan, Founder, Total Live Music

Jaclyn Ranere, Director, Interactive Marketing, The Orchard
Moderator:
Alan Miller, Co-Owner/CEO Filter Creative Group, Co-Publisher
Filter Magazine

See full panel topics/schedule and register at:
http://www.digitalmusicforum.com/west