Mondo.NYC 2026 opens with four days on music, AI, investment and law

Mondo.NYC 2026 starts tomorrow in Brooklyn with more than 190 speakers, 45-plus sessions and 37 emerging artist showcases focused on the future of music business, technology, finance and policy. The conference runs Oct. 13-16 and puts AI, copyright, creator rights and independent music economics at the center of the agenda.

Why it matters: - Mondo.NYC is gathering music, tech, finance and legal leaders at a moment when AI, copyright and new capital are reshaping how music is created, owned and monetized. - The conference is designed to connect established executives with emerging artists and the professionals building new business models around them. - The event’s mix of policy, investment, licensing and live discovery reflects a music industry in transition, not a single-track trade show.

What happened: - Mondo.NYC 2026 starts tomorrow and runs Oct. 13-16 at Arlo Williamsburg in Brooklyn. - The conference features more than 190 industry leaders across 45-plus conversations, keynotes and panels. - Organizers expect an audience of more than 1,000 people from music, tech and finance. - Programming includes panels, keynotes, fireside chats, workshops, receptions, networking events and 37 emerging artist showcase performances.

The details: - Julie Swidler, founder of Launchpad Advisors and former EVP, Business Affairs & General Counsel of Sony Music Entertainment, headlines the conference in conversation with journalist Rob Levine. - Recording Academy President Panos A. Panay and RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier will appear in “The Next Era of Music,” a conversation focused on innovation, creator rights, AI, copyright, policy and the economics of human creativity. - Virgin Music Group Co-CEO JT Myers and CD Baby President Molly Neuman will discuss independent artists and technology in “All Grown Up: Independent Artists and Human Creativity in the Age of Technology.” - Duetti CEO and co-founder Lior Tibon will join Billboard’s Elizabeth Dilts Marshall for “Capital Meets Independence: The Changing Economics of Independent Music.” - The speaker lineup also includes Nona Hendryx, Charles Goldstuck, Amanda Molter, Scott Cohen, Ian Harrison, Andreea Gleeson, Eric Nguyen, Dan Rys and Paul Riser. - Tuesday’s theme is “The Business of Music 1,” with sessions on investment, publishing, engagement, the state of indie, rights, revenue and reach. - Wednesday’s theme is “The Business of Music 2,” centered on creation, music tech and policy. - A major Wednesday track curated by AudioShake CEO and co-founder Jessica Powell and LANDR Audio Head of Strategy and Partnerships Daniel Rowland focuses on AI and rapid technological change. - The RIAA is hosting its 11th annual Mondo program, including “Everything You Need to Know About Music Policy in One Hour,” a U.S. Music Market session, a conversation with Rep. Becca Balint, and “The Next Era of Music.” - Thursday’s programming, presented with the Guild of Music Supervisors East, is the group’s ninth annual NYC education event on music supervision, sync, licensing and the creative community. - Thursday also includes “Still in Rotation: How Motown Legends Are Reclaiming Their Catalogs — and Their Legacy,” featuring Paul Riser. - Friday closes with the Tenth Annual CLE Music & Tech Law Symposium, powered by Michelman & Robinson LLP and Covington & Burling LLP, with participation from CDAS, Granderson Des Rocher, Lewis & Lin and the Recording Artists Project at Harvard Law School. - MondoLive adds 37 emerging artist showcases at independent New York venues and on Mondo’s YouTube channel. - The conference also includes receptions and informal networking built around in-person relationship building.

Between the lines: - The agenda shows how deeply AI has moved from a theoretical issue to a business issue for labels, publishers, artists, lawyers and investors. - The range of speakers suggests the music economy is being shaped as much by policy and capital as by creativity. - Mondo is positioning discovery of new artists alongside executive-level debate, signaling that the next phase of the industry will be defined by both infrastructure and talent.

What's next: - Mondo.NYC will spend four days turning the industry’s biggest open questions into live discussions, then close with Julie Swidler in conversation with Rob Levine. - The showcase series and networking sessions could create new business relationships for artists, executives and investors beyond the conference week. - The event’s policy and law sessions are likely to sharpen the debates around AI, rights and creator compensation that will continue after Oct. 16.

The bottom line: - Mondo.NYC 2026 is built as a snapshot of where the music business is headed: more technology, more capital, more legal pressure and a stronger push to define who benefits from the industry’s next chapter.