How to make it in America!
Dream big is what your coach told you, so you include America in your target sheet but where to begin? What’s the culture like, and how do you setup a business, what legal matters do you have to deal with, how does your song get played on the radio, and how can you tour all around the country? Dieuwertje and Karin from Dutch Music Export will find out for you.
They invited Thomas Deelder who is currently the creative director of CTM publishing and based in Los Angeles, Budi Voogt who has a ton of experience in the VS as the former CEO of bitbird and artist manager of San Holo and Ben Shprits Vice President at Wasserman Music, which has developed remarkable touring careers for some of the most exciting names in electronic music today. We want to hear all about their success in the market but also looking to find out about those moments they wish, if they knew back then what to know now, do all over again. We are sure you walk out with a ton of idea’s and motivation to get started
Panelists
Thomas Deelder
Thomas Deelder relocated from his native The Netherlands to Los Angeles 10 years ago. He managed the careers of artists Afrojack and Far East Movement amongst others. In 2016 he joined the ranks of CTM Publishing as their Creative Director. In this role he oversees artists like Scott Storch, Fisher, Avedon, Chris Lake and established an ever-growing publishing portfolio with artists across the globe.
Budi Voogt
Over the past decade Budi has scaled businesses in the music industry, as an artist manager (of San Holo, among others) and CEO of labels Heroic and bitbird. He runs Striking Signal, a family fund focused on tech/web3, specialized in decentralized finance (DeFi), marketplace and consumer technology businesses. He is also incubating MusicCareers, the fastest growing job site for the music industry.
Ben Shprits
Ben Shprits is a Vice President at Wasserman Music, and has developed remarkable touring careers for some of the most exciting names in electronic music today, including Fred again.., Charlotte de Witte, KSHMR, CAMELPHAT, Gorgon City, Dom Dolla and John Summit. Shprits began his career working alongside veteran agent Wayne Forte at Entourage Talent, where he rose to become VP of the company at the age of 27. In 2012, he joined dance agency AM Only, recognizing the potential of the electronic music genre. His unique strategic ability to build careers from the ground up allowed him to build his roster rapidly and become one of the most sought-after agents in the business. Shprits remained with this expanding team as AM Only was acquired by Paradigm in 2015, and Paradigm sold its music division to Wasserman in 2021. Shprits is based in Los Angeles, where he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.
Moderators
Karin Koopmans
Karin Koopmans started her working career as an intern at Universal Music, which led her working as a music professional in the industry for 15 years. Being a assistant manager for White Mountain Management, marketing manager at Ampco Flashlight Holding, Head of Music All Stars Management (Spinnin’ Records), Dance division Roar Management in Los Angeles, General Manager of dj’s Oliver Heldens & Sam Feldt, founding member of the Heartfeldt Foundation and member of the AFEM Green Initiative. Karin sees music as the ultimate communicator to bring positive change in the world.
Dieuwertje Heuvelings
Dieuwertje Heuvelings is a music professional, teacher, writer and podcast host from the Netherlands. For the last 14 years she worked as an interviewer, a Spotify playlist editor, an A&R at Arista Records in New York and as a Music Supervisor for TV shows & Commercials. ‘Auxiety’, her recently published debut novel about the rise of Dutch hip hop in the streaming era was shortlisted for the ‘Best Young Adult Book’ of 2021.